The Acute Impact of Sit-stand Desks on Post-meal Blood Sugar Levels

NCT ID: NCT02913079

Last Updated: 2018-10-17

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 14 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2016-09-30
• Study Completion Date: 2018-09-30

Brief Summary

Context and Rationale: Uninterrupted sitting is associated with increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, and death, even among people who are physically active. These relationships are likely due to increases in post-meal blood sugar observed when people sit for long periods (e.g. > 1 hour) without interruption. In contrast to sitting, standing results in large reductions in post-meal blood sugar levels. Our group has recently shown that sit-stand desks result in large (e.g. 2.5 hour/day) reductions in occupational sitting time. Taken together, these findings suggest that sit-stand desks may help to reduce post-meal blood sugar levels. However, this has yet to be examined in the field. Theoretical Approach and Objectives: The objective of this randomized crossover study is to determine whether people have lower blood sugar when using a sit-stand desk, in comparison to a desk that can only be used while sitting. Methods and Procedures: Sixteen participants will be asked to wear a continuous glucose monitor to measure their blood sugar levels during 2 separate conditions. During one condition, they will be asked to use a sit-stand desk to sit and/or stand as much as they like during 1 workday. During the other condition, they will be asked to work at a seated desk for 1 workday. Participants will be provided with identical meals to eat during each of the two conditions. We hypothesize that participants will have lower blood sugar levels on the day when they use the sit-stand desk, in comparison to the day using a traditional seated desk. Significance and Future Use: If our results support this hypothesis, this would suggest that sit-stand desks may be a useful way to reduce blood sugar levels in people at risk for diabetes. This could also lead to larger population-based interventions studying the health impact of sit-stand desks.

Conditions

Insulin Sensitivity; Glucose Tolerance; Sedentary Behaviour; Physical Activity

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Primary Study Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Sit-stand desk

During this condition, participants will sit or stand as much as they like throughout a workday.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Sit-stand desk

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Sitting

During this condition, participants will work in the sitting position only.

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Sitting desk

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Interventions

Sit-stand desk

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Sitting desk

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• To participate in this study, participants must be between the ages of 20 and 65, and have access to a sit-stand desk (depending on your workspace, we may be able to provide you with a sit-stand desk during the study if you do not already have one).

Exclusion Criteria

• Participants will be excluded if they are currently taking any diabetes medications targeting blood sugar or insulin sensitivity as this will impact our primary outcome of postprandial glucose. Participants will also be excluded if they are unable to stand or walk independently, as these are secondary outcomes in the present study.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 20 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 65 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

University of Prince Edward Island

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Travis Saunders

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

University of Prince Edward Island

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada

Countries

Canada

Other Identifiers

6006774

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id