Virta Health’s Reversal Treatment Prevents Progression to Type 2 Diabetes in 97% of Prediabetes Patients, New Research Shows
Two-year results further illustrate the effectiveness and sustainability of Virta’s intervention in reversing a variety of metabolic conditions
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (March 2, 2021)—Today Virta Health, the type 2 diabetes reversal leader, announced the publication of new peer-reviewed research in Nutrients. In this publication, Virta reports best-in-class outcomes in diabetes prevention, with only 3% of trial participants progressing to type 2 diabetes (T2D) and over half achieving prediabetes reversal during the first two years. Further, the trial saw strong retention, with 75% of patients retained at the two-year mark.
Notably, these figures far exceed outcomes reported for the National Institutes of Health Diabetes Prevention Program (NIH DPP) and its real-world translation, the National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP)—considered the gold standard in prediabetes treatment.
According to the CDC, an estimated 88 million Americans, or about one-third of the population, have prediabetes. Of those patients, as many as 30% will progress to T2D within five years. Today’s publication shows that this high progression rate is not inevitable.
Key outcomes demonstrating the success of Virta’s approach include:
- Progression to type 2 diabetes: Over two years, just 3% of Virta’s patients progressed to type 2 diabetes. In the NIH DPP trial, approximately 8% in the lifestyle intervention, 15% in those treated with metformin, and 22% in the control group progressed to T2D.
- Prediabetes reversal: During the two-year period, 52% of Virta patients achieved prediabetes reversal, by reducing HbA1c below the diagnostic threshold for prediabetes without medication. Reaching this result, even temporarily, is associated with significantly lower risk of T2D progression, cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction, stroke, and death.
- Weight loss: Virta patients experienced an average weight loss of 11.3% at two years, more than doubling the NDPP’s 5% goal for prediabetes.
- Retention: One and two-year trial retention was 80% and 75%, respectively. For context, NDPP one-year retention was 13.2%.
“The overwhelming number of patients who either achieve normal blood sugar or avoid progression to type 2 diabetes further demonstrates the effectiveness of Virta’s reversal treatment on a variety of metabolic conditions,” said Dr. Robert Ratner, Chief Medical Officer at Virta Health. “Nutrition modifications can be hard to sustain, but the remarkable adherence and retention demonstrate both the acceptability and durability of the Virta approach in both prevention and treatment of diabetes."
Today’s news supports Virta’s recent expansion of clinical offerings. Virta now offers T2D reversal, prediabetes reversal, and obesity treatment to members of its enterprise, health plan, and government customers. The company also offers diabetes management, with personalized guidance and an option for a seamless transition to Virta’s T2D reversal treatment when patients are ready.
“Before joining Virta five years ago, I’d tried everything to get my prediabetes under control, but my numbers kept creeping up,” said Cathy McKinnis, a clinical trial participant. “Thanks to Virta, I’ve reversed my prediabetes and lost 50 pounds. This treatment really works, and Virta provides the support to make it last.”
For more information on Virta’s research and treatment to reverse type 2 diabetes and prediabetes, please visit www.virtahealth.com.
About Virta Health:
Virta Health helps people reverse type 2 diabetes and other chronic conditions. Current approaches manage disease progression through increased medication use and infrequent doctor visits. Virta reverses type 2 diabetes through innovations in technology, nutrition science, and continuous remote care from physicians and behavioral experts. In clinical studies, 94% of patients reduce or eliminate insulin use, and weight-loss exceeds FDA benchmarks by 150%. Virta works with the largest health plans, employers, and government organizations and puts 100% of its fees at risk based on clinical and financial outcomes. To learn more about how Virta is transforming lives by reversing type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases, visit www.virtahealth.com or follow us on Twitter @virtahealth.
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