Smart Alerts Help Doctors Catch Prediabetes Risks Earlier

What Was Studied and Why It Matters

Millions of Americans have prediabetes — blood sugar levels that are higher than normal but not yet in the diabetes range. Without action, many will develop type 2 diabetes and face serious heart disease risks. The problem? Doctors are often too busy to catch and address every risk factor during a short office visit.

Researchers from a large Midwestern health system wanted to know whether a computer-based alert system could help. They tested a tool called a Clinical Decision Support (CDS) system — essentially a smart reminder that pops up on a doctor's screen during patient visits to flag unaddressed heart risks.

How the Study Worked

34 primary care clinics were randomly split into two groups:

• Half received the CDS alert tool, which flagged patients with prediabetes who also had at least one uncontrolled heart disease risk factor
• Half did not receive the tool, serving as a comparison group

When a patient with prediabetes came in for a visit, the tool showed their doctor a quick summary of up to six modifiable risk factors — things like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, and weight — along with personalized treatment suggestions. The study ran from late 2016 through the end of 2019.

What the Early Results Showed

Before the full results were published, the research team conducted interviews with doctors and clinic staff to understand what would make the tool work well in the real world. Their key findings included:

• Doctors were more likely to use alerts that felt relevant and not intrusive
• Getting clinic staff involved early helped build trust in the system
• Personalizing recommendations to individual patients made the alerts feel more useful than generic reminders

What This Means for Patients

If you have prediabetes, this research is encouraging news. It suggests that the right technology, when designed thoughtfully, can help your doctor notice and act on heart risks that might otherwise be missed during a busy appointment.

This is especially important because managing prediabetes isn't just about blood sugar. Heart disease is one of the leading complications for people with prediabetes and diabetes alike. Tools that help doctors track blood pressure, cholesterol, and other risk factors mean you get more complete care — not just a number on a lab report.

For patients already monitoring their health at home — whether checking blood pressure, blood sugar, or managing medications — having organized, reliable supplies matters. MDS Diabetes offers a wide range of diabetes management supplies to help you stay consistent between doctor visits.

Bottom Line

This study tested a computer alert system designed to help primary care doctors better manage heart disease risks in patients with prediabetes. Early groundwork showed that when these tools are built with doctor input and kept relevant, they're much more likely to be used — and that means patients get faster, more personalized care. Full results from this trial are expected to confirm whether the tool truly improves outcomes for the thousands of patients involved.