The Effects of Mobile-App-Based Low-Carbohydrate Dietary Guidance on Postprandial Hyperglycemia in Adults with Prediabetes

Introduction Postprandial hyperglycemia is independently associated with many adverse complications, while diets with a low glycemic load are beneficial in improving post-meal glucose levels. This study aims to determine if mobile-app-based low-carbohydrate dietary guidance will reduce exposure to postprandial hyperglycemia in adults with prediabetes. Methods This single-blind, randomized controlled pilot study included 100 participants (39 men; mean age 53.6 ± 11.9 years) and was performed in the PKU Care CNOOC Hospital, China. The intervention group ( n = 57) received low-carbohydrate dietary guidance through a moblie app (CAReNA) for 3 months, while the control group ( n = 43) only received health education on a diabetic diet. The primary outcome was change in time of postprandial hyperglycemia between baseline and 3 months. Results The study revealed that the mean time in postprandial hyperglycemia (> 7.8 mmol/l [140 mg/dl]) monitored by flash glucose monitoring changed from 3.27 h/day at baseline to 2.34 h/day at 3 months in the intervention group and from 3.08 h/day to 2.96 h/day in the control group, with a between-group difference of − 0.81 h/day ( P