University of Houston Awarded $3.8M Grant to Expand Access for Prediabetes Prevention

University of Houston Awarded $3.8M Grant to Expand Access for Prediabetes Prevention

HOUSTON, Aug. 20 – The University of Houston has received a $3.8 million award from the National Institutes of Health to launch a five-year study evaluating whether continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) can be an effective and accessible tool for preventing or delaying progression to Type 2 diabetes among underserved populations.

With an estimated 115 million U.S. adults living with prediabetes, researchers and clinicians from UH Health, the University’s academic health enterprise, will work with community partners to test how CGMs can be used as an effective and accessible tool for preventing Type 2 diabetes.

“This is not just about rolling out new technology—it’s about putting an actionable diabetes prevention tool in the hands of people who have historically had limited access to these advances,” said Lola Adepoju, leader of the study and executive director of the Humana Integrated Health Systems Science Institute at UH. “As diabetes care continues to advance, we have an opportunity to close some of these access gaps and make sure people who could benefit most aren’t the last ones to gain access.”

Turning Real-Time Data into Action

According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly 80% of people with prediabetes don’t know they have the condition, potentially missing a critical window to make changes that could prevent or delay Type 2 diabetes. Even after diagnosis, the challenge is turning that diagnosis into action. CGMs provide a real-time window into how blood sugar responds throughout the day, helping patients better understand how their daily habits affect their health.

“CGMs help patients connect everyday choices — what they eat, how much they move and how well they sleep — with what’s happening inside their bodies,” Adepoju said. “That feedback is immediate and personal, which can give people the information and motivation they need to make healthier choices before prediabetes progresses to Type 2 diabetes.”

Researchers will examine whether those insights translate into measurable health improvements. The study will track changes in blood sugar awareness, health behaviors and HbA1c, a key measure of glucose control, as well as whether participants return to normal glucose levels or delay progression to Type 2 diabetes.

Expanding Access Through Community Health

Even as CGMs become more widely available, cost remains a significant barrier for some people. The devices are not typically covered by insurance for prediabetes, and while some are now available over the counter, the out-of-pocket costs can still prevent patients who could benefit from the technology from getting it.

Adepoju’s team hopes to close that gap by working with Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and community partners to broaden access to CGMs, while training community health workers to help patients understand and use the technology effectively.

“If this study is successful, prediabetes care could become more proactive and accessible, combining earlier intervention, effective technology and ongoing support tailored to each patient’s needs,” Adepoju said. “We also hope to show insurers and policymakers the value of covering CGMs for people with prediabetes, particularly those who may not be able to afford these devices on their own.”

The focus on prevention, technology and community-based care also makes the study a natural fit for the UH Health mission.

“This study reflects exactly what UH Health is about — bringing together researchers, clinicians and community partners to turn new ideas into better health and healthcare,” said Dr. Jonathan McCullers, vice president for health affairs at UH and dean of the Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine. “By pairing innovative research and technology with community-based care, we have an opportunity to improve how we prevent chronic disease while expanding access to the tools that can help people live healthier lives.”