An interventional study of Hourly 3-Minute Light Walking Breaks and Hourly Stair-Climbing Exercise Snacks in Prediabetes, sponsored by St. Louis University. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 69 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-29.
Sponsored by St. Louis University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
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Among 390 studies in Prediabetic State with a site in United States — 83 open to participants now, 107 under way, 2 of them phase 3. Prediabetic State · United States.
Among the 390 studies in Prediabetic State with a site in United States, this one is the 287th largest by planned enrollment of the 362 interventional ones that give a count, is one of 39 that started in 2026, is one of 288 with no phase, reaches primary completion later than 56 of the 106 other live ones, and was the 387th registered.
918 studies on the registry are indexed under Prediabetic State; 231 are open to participants now.
Browse Prediabetic State studies →83 of the 390 studies in Prediabetic State with a site in United States are open now. Recruiting first, the newest first:
Rahul Sachdeva · Sites in United States
Ages 18+ · Healthy volunteers
University of South Florida · Sites in United States
Ages 18–70
Morehouse School of Medicine · Sites in United States
Ages 12+ · Healthy volunteers
Penn State University · Sites in United States
Ages 25–65
Eli Lilly and Company · Sites in United States, Argentina, China and 9 more countries
Ages 18+
A study can be open while its sites in United States have not opened yet or have stopped. Only those recruiting at a site in United States →
Of the 144 Prediabetic State studies recruiting now, 51 (35%) set no upper age limit and 83 (58%) stop at 75 or younger; 12 take children under 18; 54 take healthy volunteers.
This study: 18 Years to 69 Years · all sexes · no healthy volunteers.
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390 studies; the count open now beside each. This study's row is marked.
A study in two phases is counted once above. Listed by phase, each with its combined phases: Phase 1 22 · Phase 2 25 · Phase 3 16 · Phase 4 16
First in 1996; this study’s year is marked. 39 started in 2026.
By drug class, each counting the studies that test any of its medicines:
This study's planned enrollment of 20 is below the median of 62 across 762 interventional studies indexed under Prediabetic State.
Median enrollment 54 across the 362 interventional studies, 188 across the 28 observational. Of the 258 that completed or were terminated, 89 (34%) have results posted.
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35 of 390 have an industry lead sponsor. The 10 most frequent:
St. Louis University is the lead sponsor of 156 studies on the registry; 17 are open to participants now.
Of its 19 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 15 (79%) have results posted.
St. Louis University has 1 study filed under Prediabetic State — fewer than ten, so there is no comparison to draw.
45 of the studies in Prediabetic State with a site in United States that are under way reach primary completion within a year, 0 of them phase 3. Phase 3 first, then by date:
| Study | Primary completion |
|---|---|
| NCT06995378University of California, Los AngelesStudy EHR Risk Stratification Tools | 2026-11 |
| NCT05165706Stanford UniversityLongitudinal Multi-Omic Profiles to Reveal Mechanisms of Obesity-Mediated Insulin Resistance | 2026-11-30 |
| NCT07450118University of DelawareNested Pilot Study Comparing Two Treatments to Reduce Type 2 Diabetes Risk in At-Risk Delawareans | 2026-12 |
| NCT05067621Yale UniversitySemaglutide Effects in Obese Youth With Prediabetes/New Onset Type 2 Diabetes and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease | 2026-12 |
| NCT07868432Tufts UniversityGlycemic Impact of NNS Via the Gut Microbiome | 2026-12 |
Add all 45 to your calendar (.ics) → With an account.
Among the 390 studies in Prediabetic State with a site in United States, from their registry updates:
This tab as a report to print or save as PDF → With an account.
This study will examine whether very short bouts of stair climbing performed throughout the day can improve blood sugar control and cardiovascular health in adults with prediabetes. Participants will complete three separate study visits in random order: uninterrupted sitting, sitting interrupted by 3-minute light walking breaks each hour, and sitting interrupted by brief stair-climbing exercise "snacks" each hour.
During each visit, the research team will measure glucose, insulin, blood lipids, markers of inflammation and oxidative stress, and blood-vessel function. Continuous glucose monitors, blood samples, heart-rate and blood-pressure measurements, vascular ultrasound, and questionnaires will be used to assess the participants' responses.
The goal of the study is to determine whether brief stair-climbing breaks may be a practical way to reduce the negative effects of prolonged sitting and improve metabolic health in adults with prediabetes.
This is a single-site, randomized, counterbalanced crossover pilot study evaluating the acute metabolic, vascular, and behavioral effects of interrupting prolonged sitting with brief stair-climbing exercise snacks in adults with prediabetes. A total of 20 participants will complete all three experimental conditions in randomized order, with a washout period of at least 7 days between visits.
The three experimental conditions are: (1) uninterrupted sitting, (2) sitting interrupted each hour by a 3-minute light walking break, and (3) sitting interrupted each hour by a brief stair-climbing exercise snack consisting of approximately 20 seconds of stair ascent at a fast but safe self-selected pace.
Participants will attend each experimental visit after an overnight fast. Two standardized meals will be provided during each approximately 6-hour experimental visit: Meal 1 at the beginning of the postprandial testing period and Meal 2 approximately 180 minutes later. Metabolic responses will be assessed using continuous glucose monitoring and serial blood sampling for glucose, insulin, lipids, inflammatory markers, and oxidative stress markers. Vascular responses will be assessed using noninvasive ultrasound. Heart rate, blood pressure, ratings of perceived exertion, symptoms, and participant-reported feasibility and acceptability will also be assessed.
The study is designed to determine whether brief hourly stair-climbing exercise snacks improve postprandial glucose and insulin responses and other cardiometabolic outcomes compared with uninterrupted sitting and light walking breaks, and to explore the feasibility and acceptability of this approach in adults with prediabetes.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Age 18 to 69 years, inclusive. (BMI) 25.0 to 40.0 kg/m², inclusive.
Objectively confirmed prediabetes based on at least one of the following:
Able to understand study procedures and provide written in English.
Able to safely perform repeated walking and vigorous stair-climbing activity based on medical history, resting vital signs, PAR-Q+ responses, investigator assessment, and medical clearance when required.
Able to safely undergo repeated venous blood collection and IV-catheter placement.
Able to safely consume the standardized study meals. Willing and able to complete all three experimental conditions and comply with fasting, dietary, physical-activity, medication, and pre-visit standardization instructions.
Exclusion Criteria:
below 25.0 kg/m² or above 40.0 kg/m². Diagnosed type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus. Laboratory findings that do not confirm prediabetes or that suggest diabetes, including ≥6.5%, fasting plasma glucose ≥126 mg/dL, or 2-hour plasma glucose ≥200 mg/dL during a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test.
Cardiovascular, pulmonary, musculoskeletal, neurological, or other medical conditions that would preclude safe participation in the walking or stair-climbing interventions.
Resting vital signs, current symptoms, or other screening findings indicating that exercise participation would be unsafe.
Pregnancy, plans to become pregnant during the study period, or breastfeeding. Current use of medications that may substantially affect glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, body weight, study outcomes, or safe participation, including insulin, glucose-lowering medications, GLP-1 receptor agonists, pharmacologic weight-loss medications, systemic , or other medications judged by the investigator to interfere with study outcomes or safety.
to vascular ultrasound, repeated blood collection, IV-catheter placement, or exercise participation.
Food allergies, intolerances, or dietary restrictions that prevent safe consumption of the standardized study meals.
Known allergy or severe skin sensitivity to adhesives used with continuous glucose monitors.
Bleeding disorder, current anticoagulant use, history of anemia, recent blood donation, recurrent fainting during blood collection, difficult venous access, or another condition judged to create unacceptable risk from repeated blood sampling or IV-catheter placement.
Inability to safely perform repeated walking or stair climbing. PAR-Q+ result requiring further medical evaluation when the participant does not obtain required written medical clearance.
Any other condition or finding that, in the judgment of the Principal Investigator or qualified study investigator, would make participation unsafe or substantially interfere with completion of study procedures.
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.
What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.
A blood test of average blood sugar over the past two to three months, given as a percentage or in mmol/mol. 6.5% (48 mmol/mol) or more is the usual threshold for diabetes, normally confirmed by a second test.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
BMI (body mass index)
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.
What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
HbA1c
A blood test of average blood sugar over the past two to three months, given as a percentage or in mmol/mol. 6.5% (48 mmol/mol) or more is the usual threshold for diabetes, normally confirmed by a second test.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Corticosteroids (steroids)
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraindication
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Participants will remain seated throughout the approximately 6-hour experimental visit, except as needed for study procedures. At the time points corresponding to activity bouts in the walking and stair-climbing conditions, participants will remain seated. This condition serves as the sedentary control condition.
Participants will interrupt prolonged sitting with a 3-minute light walking break at approximately 30, 90, 150, 210, 270, and 330 minutes during the approximately 6-hour experimental visit. Walking breaks will therefore occur at 60-minute intervals.
Behavioral: Hourly 3-Minute Light Walking Breaks
Participants will interrupt prolonged sitting with brief stair-climbing exercise snacks at approximately 30, 90, 150, 210, 270, and 330 minutes during the approximately 6-hour experimental visit. During each bout, participants will ascend approximately three flights of stairs at a fast but safe self-selected pace for about 20 seconds.
Behavioral: Hourly Stair-Climbing Exercise Snacks
Participants will interrupt prolonged sitting with a 3-minute light walking break at approximately 30, 90, 150, 210, 270, and 330 minutes during the approximately 6-hour experimental visit. Activity breaks are therefore separated by approximately 60 minutes. Participants will otherwise remain seated except as required for study procedures.
Participants will interrupt prolonged sitting with brief stair-climbing exercise snacks at approximately 30, 90, 150, 210, 270, and 330 minutes during the approximately 6-hour experimental visit. During each bout, participants will ascend approximately three flights of stairs at a fast but safe self-selected pace for about 20 seconds. Participants will not run or skip steps, and use of the handrail will be permitted as needed.
6-Hour Postprandial Glucose Area Under the Curve (AUC)
Plasma glucose will be measured from a fasting venous blood sample obtained before Meal 1 and from serial venous blood samples collected every 30 minutes through 360 minutes after Meal 1 completion. Meal 1 completion will define the start of the postprandial period, and a second standardized meal will be provided at approximately 180 minutes. Plasma glucose AUC will be calculated across the 6-hour experimental period and compared among uninterrupted sitting, hourly 3-minute light walking breaks, and hourly stair-climbing exercise snacks.
Time frame: From fasting baseline before Meal 1 through 360 minutes after Meal 1 completion
6-Hour Postprandial Plasma Insulin Area Under the Curve (AUC)
Plasma insulin will be measured from a fasting venous blood sample obtained before Meal 1 and from prespecified serial venous blood samples collected through 360 minutes after Meal 1 completion. Meal 1 completion will define time 0, and a second standardized meal will be provided at approximately 180 minutes. Insulin AUC will be calculated across the 0- to 360-minute experimental period and compared among uninterrupted sitting, hourly 3-minute light walking breaks, and hourly stair-climbing exercise snacks.
Time frame: From fasting baseline before Meal 1 through 360 minutes after Meal 1 completion
6-Hour Postprandial Plasma Free Fatty Acid Response
Plasma free fatty acids will be measured from prespecified serial venous blood samples collected during each experimental visit. A fasting baseline sample will be obtained before Meal 1, followed by postprandial sampling through 360 minutes after Meal 1. Free fatty acid responses across the postprandial period will be compared among uninterrupted sitting, hourly 3-minute light walking breaks, and hourly stair-climbing exercise snacks.
Time frame: From fasting baseline before Meal 1 through 360 minutes after Meal 1 completion
6-Hour Postprandial Plasma Triglyceride Response
Plasma triglycerides will be measured from prespecified serial venous blood samples collected during each experimental visit. A fasting baseline sample will be obtained before Meal 1, followed by postprandial sampling through 360 minutes after Meal 1. Triglyceride responses across the postprandial period will be compared among the three experimental conditions.
Time frame: From fasting baseline before Meal 1 through 360 minutes after Meal 1 completion
Postprandial Plasma Malondialdehyde (MDA)
Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of oxidative stress, will be measured from prespecified venous blood samples collected during each experimental visit. A fasting baseline sample will be obtained before Meal 1, with postprandial assessment through 360 minutes after Meal 1. MDA responses will be compared among uninterrupted sitting, hourly 3-minute light walking breaks, and hourly stair-climbing exercise snacks.
Time frame: From fasting baseline before Meal 1 through 360 minutes after Meal 1 completion
Postprandial Plasma Inflammatory Cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6)
Plasma tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) will be measured from prespecified venous blood samples collected during each experimental visit. A fasting baseline sample will be obtained before Meal 1, with postprandial assessment through 360 minutes after Meal 1. TNF-α and IL-6 responses will be compared among uninterrupted sitting, hourly 3-minute light walking breaks, and hourly stair-climbing exercise snacks.
Time frame: From fasting baseline before Meal 1 through 360 minutes after Meal 1 completion
Change in Superficial Femoral Artery Diameter
Superficial femoral artery diameter will be assessed using noninvasive Duplex ultrasound before and after each experimental condition. B-mode ultrasound images will be used to quantify arterial diameter, and changes will be compared among uninterrupted sitting, hourly light walking breaks, and hourly stair-climbing exercise snacks.
Time frame: Baseline before Meal 1 and at the end of the 6-hour experimental period, approximately 360 minutes after Meal 1 completion
Change in Superficial Femoral Artery Blood-Flow Velocity
Superficial femoral artery blood-flow velocity will be assessed using Doppler ultrasound before and after each experimental condition. Changes in blood-flow velocity will be compared among uninterrupted sitting, hourly light walking breaks, and hourly stair-climbing exercise snacks.
Time frame: Baseline before Meal 1 and at the end of the 6-hour experimental period, approximately 360 minutes after Meal 1 completion
Change in Superficial Femoral Artery Shear Pattern
Superficial femoral artery shear patterns will be derived from vascular ultrasound measurements obtained before and after each experimental condition. Changes in shear patterns will be compared among uninterrupted sitting, hourly light walking breaks, and hourly stair-climbing exercise snacks.
Time frame: Baseline before Meal 1 and at the end of the 6-hour experimental period, approximately 360 minutes after Meal 1 completion
Heart Rate Response to Activity Bouts
Heart rate will be recorded immediately before and immediately after each walking or stair-climbing bout, with measurements obtained at corresponding matched time points during the uninterrupted-sitting condition. Heart rate responses will be compared among the three experimental conditions.
Time frame: Immediately before and immediately after activity bouts at approximately 30, 90, 150, 210, 270, and 330 minutes after Meal 1 completion
Rating of Perceived Exertion During Activity Bouts
Rating of perceived exertion will be assessed using the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale (6-20) immediately after each walking and stair-climbing bout. Higher scores indicate greater perceived exertion. Ratings will be used to characterize perceived exercise intensity across the active conditions.
Time frame: Immediately after activity bouts at approximately 30, 90, 150, 210, 270, and 330 minutes after Meal 1 completion
End-of-Study Acceptability and Practicality Questionnaire Responses
Participants will complete the RISE UP End-of-Study Acceptability, Practicality, and Potential Adoption Questionnaire after the final experimental visit. Items assess acceptability, enjoyment, practicality, confidence, perceived usefulness, and willingness for future adoption. Agreement items use a 5-point response scale ranging from 1 (Strongly disagree) to 5 (Strongly agree). Higher scores indicate greater agreement with the individual statement. Because the questionnaire includes both positively and negatively worded items and no overall score will be calculated, higher scores do not uniformly indicate a better or worse outcome. Individual questionnaire items will be summarized separately.
Time frame: After completion of the final experimental visit, approximately 3 to 6 weeks after enrollment
Participant-Reported Barriers and Facilitators to Implementation
Participants will report perceived barriers and facilitators to implementing brief stair-climbing exercise snacks in daily life using questionnaire items and open-ended responses. Closed-ended barrier items use a 5-point response scale ranging from 1 (Strongly disagree) to 5 (Strongly agree), with higher scores indicating greater agreement that the specified factor represents a barrier. Open-ended responses will be summarized qualitatively. No overall barriers or facilitators score will be calculated.
Time frame: After completion of the final experimental visit, approximately 3 to 6 weeks after enrollment
Plan to share: Yes — De-identified individual participant data underlying the results reported in the primary publication may be shared upon reasonable request to the Principal Investigator, subject to institutional policies, applicable ethical and privacy requirements, and execution of an appropriate data-use agreement when required.
Supporting information: Study protocol, Statistical analysis plan
Time frame: Beginning 6 months after publication of the primary study results and continuing for 5 years.
Access criteria: De-identified individual participant data underlying the published results and selected supporting materials may be made available to qualified researchers upon reasonable request to the Principal Investigator. Requests should include a scientifically sound proposal describing the planned analyses and intended use of the data. Access will be subject to applicable Saint Louis University policies, ethical and privacy requirements, and execution of a data-use agreement when required. Data will not include direct participant identifiers.
Start is estimated for Oct 2026; primary completion for Jul 2027, 9 months later.
Of 378 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Prediabetic State, half reached primary completion within 25 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 12 and three quarters within 38. This study's planned 9 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 424 studies reached it within 23 months; a quarter within 11 and three quarters within 37.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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