An observational study in Prevention, sponsored by University of St.Gallen. Recruiting at 1 site in Switzerland. Open to participants aged 45 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-01-28.
Sponsored by University of St.Gallen · Observational
The GLOW UP study is a single-center, prospective, observational case-control study conducted in St. Gallen, Switzerland. The primary aim of the study is to examine to what degree lifestyle data collected from wearable devices and a smartphone app can identify individuals with prediabetes (vs. normoglycemic) in a real-world setting. The study also aims to characterize variability in lifestyle and glycemic patterns and to examine how between- and within-person differences relate to diabetes risk; to identify personalized predictors of early metabolic dysregulation. The study also evaluates new image-based meal tracking algorithms for predicting glycemic control and examines how reminder messages influence adherence to a \~4-week meal logging protocol.
The study aims to enroll 200 adults aged 45 years and older with a BMI of at least 25 kg/m² and no known diagnosis of diabetes, including 100 participants with prediabetes and 100 normoglycemic (metabolically healthy) controls. Participants will be classified at the baseline visit using HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) tests, with prediabetes defined as HbA1c 5.7-6.4% and/or FPG 5.6-6.9 mmol/L, and normoglycemia defined as HbA1c \<5.7% and FPG \<5.6 mmol/L, following clinical standards. During the \~4-week observational period, participants will be asked to wear a smart ring, a wrist-worn smartwatch, and a blinded continuous glucose monitor (CGM). Participants will be asked to log/take-images of their meals via a study app and to complete brief questionnaires (e.g., tracking mood, stress, and contextual meal annotations) via ecological momentary assessments. FPG and HbA1c samples will be collected at baseline to classify participants as prediabetic or normoglycemic, and again at follow-up (\~4 weeks), which will serve as the primary outcome to evaluate associations between lifestyle and wearable-derived data and diabetes risk status.
University of St.Gallen is the lead sponsor of 5 studies on the registry; 3 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Adults ≥45 years with BMI ≥25 kg/m², German-speaking residents of Switzerland, without known diabetes, recruited from GP practices, community and workplace channels, and general public advertisements.
Exclusion Criteria:
Adults aged ≥45 years with BMI ≥25 kg/m². FPG 5.6-6.9 mmol/L and/or HbA1c 5.7-6.4% (clinical prediabetes thresholds). No known type-2 diabetes diagnosis.
Adults aged ≥45 years with BMI ≥25 kg/m². FPG \<5.6 mmol/L and HbA1c \<5.7% (normoglycemic; no prediabetes). No known type-2 diabetes diagnosis.
Diabetes risk status (prediabetic vs. normoglycemic)
Prediabetic (FPG levels 5.6-6.9mmol/L and/or HbA1c levels 5.7%-6.4%) Normoglycemic (FPG levels \<5.6mmol/L and HbA1c levels \<5.7%)
Time frame: At follow-up, week 4
Diabetes risk at alternative FPG and HbA1c thresholds
Participants will also be classified using alternative FPG and HbA1c thresholds based on the observed distribution of glycemic values in the resulting study sample (e.g., high-risk prediabetes FPG ≥6.0 mmol/L, HbA1c ≥6.0%). Additionally, continuous FPG and HbA1c values will be analyzed.
Time frame: At follow-up, week 4
Metabolic phenotypes
Metabolic phenotypes defined based on a combination of FPG, HbA1c, body mass index (BMI) and visceral fat levels.
Time frame: At follow-up, week 4
Continuous glycemic control
Continuous glucose levels (mmol/L) over the \~4-week period to characterize dynamic glucose patterns.
Time frame: Up to 4 weeks
Lifestyle profiles
Lifestyle patterns derived based on nutrition (e.g., macro-nutrient composition), physical activity, sleep, stress levels (e.g., survey-based, HR/HRV).
Time frame: Up to 4 weeks
Adherence to image-based food tracking
Number of meal logs completed
Time frame: Up to 4 weeks
Plan to share: Undecided
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University of St.Gallen