Background:
With a prevalence of 7-8%, Diabetes mellitus Type 2 (Dmt2) is one of the most frequent chronic diseases in Germany. The Dmt2 prevention program aha! 2.0 („ab heute anders“) literately translated “change right now!” has been launched in 2014 in the German federal state Schleswig-Holstein. Aha! aimed at identifying individuals with a high risk for Dmt2 and delaying or even preventing the onset of the disease by offering physician-based support and a lifestyle intervention. Eligible individuals are identified using the FINDRISK-Questionnaire.  

Method:
The study is arranged as a prospective multicenter evaluation in a pre-post design. Drug treatment is not being considered. From July 2014 until December 2016, 942 individuals (667 female, 275 male) with a FINDRISK-Score ≥ 7 enrolled in the aha!-program. Two third of the persons tested showed more than 14 points in the FINDRISK-Test. 18,3% of the females and 14,6 % of the males showed more than 20 points.
aha!-participants received an „aha“-lifestyle-intervention-kit“ as a starting device. The aha!-startset is a 12-weeks intervention program observing and positively influencing the person´s lifestyle. The aha!-startset included the “chip-list”, a physical activity journal, a thera-fitness-tape and a measure-tape. The ChipList® displays food and exercise actions in terms of 100kcal. Chips show either a smile for highly nutritious food or a frown for food that should be consumed less frequently. Test subjects were advised to monitor their daily energy intake und expenditure by means of the diary in 100-kcal-equivalents and their daily step-counts as shown by the pedometer and use a nutrition- and motion-diary. Additionally body weight and waist measurements were to  be self-monitored once a week in the diary. Follow-up was  at 12 months.
Preliminary Results:
In an interim evaluation data of 107 participants who completed the 15-months program was analyzed. The results reveal insights into the potential success of the program. Gender-stratification is included in the evaluations. Comparisons were assessed via a Wilcoxon-Test. Outcomes include body weight, Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference. Measurements at baseline and 15-months after the start of the 3-months intervention (12 months follow-up) were compared. The 107 completers showed statistically significant reductions in body weight, BMI, waist circumference.
The 107 completers (66 female, 41 male) showed statistically significant reductions in body weight, BMI and waist circumference in the 15- months follow up: Body weight was reduced by 4,5 (SD: 6,7; p=0.001) in the female group, 3.8 kg (SD: 11.6; p=0.002) in the male group, BMI: female: 1,6 points (SD 2,4) male: 1.2 points (SD: 3.5; p=0.002) and waist circumference female: -6.1 cm (SD: 7.0; male -4,9 (SD 7,2).
Conclusion: 
These first results indicate that aha! is likely to be an effective intervention for reducing Dmt2-risk factors in the German population with an elevated Dmt2-risk. The final results of aha! will be published in 2018.
Conflict of Interest:
I have no potential conflict of interest to disclose

aha!: “change right now!” Prospective study evaluating persons at risk for diabetes type 2 in a community setting