Pre DiabetesNCT05585190
Stand up for Your Health With a Sit-stand Desk
A study testing Sit-Stand Desk at Work in people with Pre Diabetes and Obesity, run by Medical College of Wisconsin at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
More than 84 million - or 1 out of every 3 U.S. adults - have prediabetes, a condition that if not treated often leads to type 2 diabetes within five years. Average medical expenditures among diabetics are about 2.3 times higher than expenditures for people without diabetes. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 79 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Pre Diabetes, Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome
- What is being tested?
- Sit-Stand Desk at Work
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 198 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 6 Feb 2023to 31 Dec 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 79 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Overweight or obese (body mass index of 25 kg/m2 or higher)
- Employees with "sedentary" jobs, defined as spending at least 75% of their (8 hours or more) workday sitting at a desk (at home or in an office)
- Defined as "at-risk" for diabetes, defined as either:
- Prediabetes (HbA1c of 5.7% to 6.4%) or a fasting glucose of 100 to 125 mg/dL
- Having one or more additional risk factors: (beyond BMI>25)
- Age 45 years or older
Show all 10Show fewer
- Family history of diabetes mellitus in a first-degree relative
- Physical inactivity (no structured exercise activity)
- History of gestational diabetes, hypertension, or dyslipidemia
- African American, Alaska Native, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander ethnicity
Who cannot join
- Established cardiovascular disease (myocardial infarction, coronary stent, coronary artery bypass grafting, cardiac transplant, or angina)
- Established congestive heart failure or cardiomyopathy
- Established peripheral vascular disease
- Established diabetes (HbA1c ≥ 6.5% or on diabetes medications or insulin)
- Chronic musculoskeletal disorders involving the lower extremities, such as arthritis of the knees or hips, or regular use of ambulatory assist devices such as a walker or cane
- Neuropathy of any etiology
Show all 19Show fewer
- Positional syncope or history of orthostasis
- Less than 4 days/week at any single office (or work-from-home) location.
- Current use of a standing desk for work
- Tobacco use within the previous 12 months
- Current illicit drug use or excessive alcohol use (defined as more than 14 drinks/week for women, more than 28 drinks/week for men)
- Steroid use ≥21 days/year
- Fasting triglyceride level ≥ 500 mg/dL
- Thyroid disease
- Uncontrolled or untreated hypertension(>150/90 mm Hg)
- Pregnant or lactating (or plans to become pregnant in the next 6 months)
- LDL cholesterol ≥ 190mg/dL
- Currently enrolled or plans to diet or join a weight loss program over the next 6 months.
- Non-English speaker
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53226
Jacquelyn P Kulinski, MD, 414-955-6896, jakulinski@mcw.edu
Ryan Kacala, 414-955-6885, rkacala@mcw.edu
About this study
Official title: Stand Up for Your Health: A Randomized Study
More than 84 million - or 1 out of every 3 U.S. adults - have prediabetes, a condition that if not treated often leads to type 2 diabetes within five years. Average medical expenditures among diabetics are about 2.3 times higher than expenditures for people without diabetes. Physical inactivity and elevated body mass index (BMI) are major risk factors for the disease. Sedentary behavior is becoming increasingly prevalent with the growth of a 'work from home' culture, most recently driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. Cross-sectional epidemiologic data report significant associations between high amounts of sedentary (sitting) time and prevalent cardiovascular disease and diabetes. In our pilot study of 15 subjects with sedentary office jobs, 6 months of sit-stand desk use resulted in a 23% improvement in insulin resistance, most substantial in those who decreased daily sitting by over 90 minutes/day. Additional improvements in vascular endothelial function and triglyceride levels were seen without any change in exercise activity, step counts, or body weight. These findings not only corroborate epidemiologic findings on this topic but suggest causality and warrant a randomized control trial.
The investigators hypothesize that adult subjects at-risk for diabetes will improve insulin sensitivity, metabolic and vascular (endothelial) health with a sit-stand desk intervention at work (whether in the office or at home), in the context of a randomized, controlled trial. The investigators will randomize 198 sedentary office workers with a BMI≥25 at risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus in a 1:1:1 ratio of three groups: (a) sit-stand desk intervention targeting 2 hours standing per day; (b) sit-stand desk intervention targeting 3 hours standing per day; or (c) control arm over 6 months. The block randomization design will allow for important dose-response analyses.
The investigators will objectively quantify standing time, sedentary time, sedentary bouts, daily steps, and exercise activity times using a compact and re-usable accelerometer that adheres to the subject's thigh. This will provide objective assessments of activity levels and sedentary times for 7 full days each at baseline, 3 and 6 months. The device is equipped with an inclinometer to classify posture (sitting verses standing).
- Conditions
- Pre Diabetes, Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome, Sedentary Behavior
- Being tested
- Control, Sit-Stand Desk at Work
- Keywords
- Pre Diabetes, Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome, Cardiovascular, Sit-stand desk, Physical Activity, Overweight, Sedentary, Standing desk, Insulin resistance
- Medical subject headings
- Glucose Intolerance, Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome, Sedentary Behavior, Motor Activity, Overweight, Insulin Resistance
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
ControlOther
No intervention.
Sit-Stand Desk at WorkOther
Subjects will receive a sit-stand desk at their work location.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Control | Other | Subjects will not receive a sit/stand desk for the duration of the study and will be asked to follow their normal work day routine. Receives: Other: Control |
| 2-Hour Group | Active comparator | Sit-stand desk intervention group, subjects are asked to maintain the desk in the standing position at LEAST 2 hours each work day. Receives: Other: Sit-Stand Desk at Work |
| 3-Hour Group | Active comparator | Sit-stand desk intervention group, subjects are asked to maintain the desk in the standing position at LEAST 3 hours each work day. Receives: Other: Sit-Stand Desk at Work |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Insulin sensitivity (HOMA-IR)
Determine if use of a sit-stand desk improves insulin sensitivity and ascertain if there is a dose-response relationship with changes in sedentary time.
Measured: change from baseline to 6 months
Secondary outcomes (3)
HbA1c
Determine if use of a sit-stand desk improves HbA1c.
Measured: change from baseline to 6 months
fasting glucose
Determine if use of a sit-stand desk improves fasting glucose.
Measured: change from baseline to 6 months
fasting insulin level
Determine if use of a sit-stand desk improves (reduces) fasting insulin levels.
Measured: change from baseline to 6 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted18 Oct 2022
- Study start6 Feb 2023
- Primary completion31 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Pre DiabetesStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Medical College of WisconsinThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 198 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Medical College of Wisconsin
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Jacquelyn Kulinski, Medical College of Wisconsin
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05585190
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 44431
- Status last verified
- Apr 2026
- First submitted
- 15 Oct 2022
- Last updated
- 4 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes
Publications
Bodker A, Visotcky A, Gutterman D, Widlansky ME, Kulinski J. The impact of standing desks on cardiometabolic and vascular health. Vasc Med. 2021 Aug;26(4):374-382. doi: 10.1177/1358863X211001934. Epub 2021 Apr 5.
PubMed 33813968Hammad M, Shankar S, Gao Y, Kulinski J. Stand up for your health: Rationale and design for a randomized controlled trial. Contemp Clin Trials. 2026 Feb;161:108216. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2026.108216. Epub 2026 Jan 6.
PubMed 41506470
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 4 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Stand Up for Your Health: A Randomized Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05585190
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 44431
- Conditions
- Pre Diabetes, Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome, Sedentary Behavior
- Keywords
- Pre Diabetes, Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome, Cardiovascular, Sit-stand desk, Physical Activity, Overweight, Sedentary
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 198 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Medical College of WisconsinUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 6 Feb 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 18 Oct 2022 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
More than 84 million - or 1 out of every 3 U.S. adults - have prediabetes, a condition that if not treated often leads to type 2 diabetes within five years. Average medical expenditures among diabetics are about 2.3 times higher than expenditures for people without diabetes. Physical inactivity and elevated body mass index (BMI) are major risk factors for the disease. Sedentary behavior is becoming increasingly prevalent with the growth of a 'work from home' culture, most recently driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. Cross-sectional epidemiologic data report significant associations between high amounts of sedentary (sitting) time and prevalent cardiovascular disease and diabetes. In our pilot study of 15 subjects with sedentary office jobs, 6 months of sit-stand desk use resulted in a 23% improvement in insulin resistance, most substantial in those who decreased daily sitting by over 90 minutes/day. Additional improvements in vascular endothelial function and triglyceride levels were seen without any change in exercise activity, step counts, or body weight. These findings not only corroborate epidemiologic findings on this topic but suggest causality and warrant a randomized control trial.
The investigators hypothesize that adult subjects at-risk for diabetes will improve insulin sensitivity, metabolic and vascular (endothelial) health with a sit-stand desk intervention at work (whether in the office or at home), in the context of a randomized, controlled trial. The investigators will randomize 198 sedentary office workers with a BMI≥25 at risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus in a 1:1:1 ratio of three groups: (a) sit-stand desk intervention targeting 2 hours standing per day; (b) sit-stand desk intervention targeting 3 hours standing per day; or (c) control arm over 6 months. The block randomization design will allow for important dose-response analyses.
The investigators will objectively quantify standing time, sedentary time, sedentary bouts, daily steps, and exercise activity times using a compact and re-usable accelerometer that adheres to the subject's thigh. This will provide objective assessments of activity levels and sedentary times for 7 full days each at baseline, 3 and 6 months. The device is equipped with an inclinometer to classify posture (sitting verses standing).
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Control | Other | Other: ControlSubjects will not receive a sit/stand desk for the duration of the study and will be asked to follow their normal work day routine. |
| 2-Hour Group | Active comparator | Other: Sit-Stand Desk at WorkSit-stand desk intervention group, subjects are asked to maintain the desk in the standing position at LEAST 2 hours each work day. |
| 3-Hour Group | Active comparator | Other: Sit-Stand Desk at WorkSit-stand desk intervention group, subjects are asked to maintain the desk in the standing position at LEAST 3 hours each work day. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 79 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (10 listed)
- Overweight or obese (body mass index of 25 kg/m2 or higher)
- Employees with "sedentary" jobs, defined as spending at least 75% of their (8 hours or more) workday sitting at a desk (at home or in an office)
- Defined as "at-risk" for diabetes, defined as either:
Key exclusion criteria (19 listed)
- Established cardiovascular disease (myocardial infarction, coronary stent, coronary artery bypass grafting, cardiac transplant, or angina)
- Established congestive heart failure or cardiomyopathy
- Established peripheral vascular disease
- Established diabetes (HbA1c ≥ 6.5% or on diabetes medications or insulin)
- Chronic musculoskeletal disorders involving the lower extremities, such as arthritis of the knees or hips, or regular use of ambulatory assist devices such as a walker or cane
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| ControlNo intervention. | Other | Control |
| Sit-Stand Desk at WorkSubjects will receive a sit-stand desk at their work location. | Other | 2-Hour Group, 3-Hour Group |
Primary outcome
Insulin sensitivity (HOMA-IR)
Time frame: change from baseline to 6 months
Determine if use of a sit-stand desk improves insulin sensitivity and ascertain if there is a dose-response relationship with changes in sedentary time.
3 secondary outcomes
HbA1c
Time frame: change from baseline to 6 months
fasting glucose
Time frame: change from baseline to 6 months
fasting insulin level
Time frame: change from baseline to 6 months
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 4 May 2026.
- Background: PubMed 33813968Bodker A, Visotcky A, Gutterman D, Widlansky ME, Kulinski J. The impact of standing desks on cardiometabolic and vascular health. Vasc Med. 2021 Aug;26(4):374-382. doi: 10.1177/1358863X211001934. Epub 2021 Apr 5.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 41506470Hammad M, Shankar S, Gao Y, Kulinski J. Stand up for your health: Rationale and design for a randomized controlled trial. Contemp Clin Trials. 2026 Feb;161:108216. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2026.108216. Epub 2026 Jan 6.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Sit-Stand Desk at Work in people with Pre Diabetes and Obesity, run by Medical College of Wisconsin at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 10 inclusion and 19 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Jacquelyn Kulinski, MD (414-955-6896, jakulinski@mcw.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Insulin sensitivity (HOMA-IR) (time frame: change from baseline to 6 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05585190, which also lists 2 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 4 May 2026.