Nestoras Mathioudakis, MD MHS

10/27/2025

Exciting news from our team! Our recent JAMA study tested an AI-powered Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) and showed that a fully automated, digital approach can achieve results comparable to traditional human-coach programs.

Thank you to Dr. Leigh Perreault, a leading researcher in for her insightful JAMA editorial on our trial. She highlighted the key question we’re now tackling: how to bring these programs into real-world practice—expanding access while maintaining effectiveness over time.

As more AI-based prevention programs become available, we’ll continue learning what works best, for whom, and how to deliver diabetes prevention at scale.

💬 Editorial: An AI-led diabetes prevention program matched the effectiveness of human-led intervention, with greater adoption and maintenance, highlighting its potential for scalable impact on diabetes prevention.

https://ja.ma/4ou84rw

10/27/2025

vs. Human coach for prediabetes: our randomized trial finds a tie.

In 368 adults with prediabetes, an AI-led Diabetes Prevention Program (Sweetch) matched human coach–led programs at 12 months on CDC benchmarks:
- 5% weight loss
- 4% weight loss plus 150 minutes/week of activity (tracked by actigraph wrist monitor)
- A1C drop of at least 0.2%

Why this matters:
- One of the first head-to-head randomized tests of AI vs humans in prediabetes (a condition affecting more than 1 in 3 U.S. adults)
- Shows AI can help deliver proven prevention at scale—alongside clinicians

Grateful to our study participants, my research team, collaborators, and JAMA for publishing this work. Johns Hopkins Medicine. This National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) funded study provides new evidence that may reshape how we approach prediabetes prevention and behavior change at scale. Studies like this remind us why research saves lives – not just by discovering new treatments, but by revealing new ways to deliver proven interventions at scale.

Among adults with and overweight or , referral to a fully automated -led program was noninferior to referral to human-led coaching in achieving a composite outcome based on weight reduction, physical activity, and HbA1c.

https://ja.ma/48HwcCk

10/17/2025

I’m excited to announce the publication of our article in Clinical Diabetes, detailing a transformative state-wide initiative aimed at enhancing participation in the Diabetes Prevention Program ( ) and Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support ( ) services.

This 4-year initiative (2021-2024), funded by the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC), was a collaborative effort between Johns Hopkins Medicine and the University of Maryland Medical System, known as the Baltimore Metropolitan Diabetes Regional Partnership. In just the first year of the program, we saw significant increases in referrals and participation thanks to targeted investments and innovative quality improvement strategies!

It's important to note that participation in these evidence-based programs remains low across the U.S., not just in Maryland. We hope this initiative serves as a valuable playbook for other health systems and public health departments looking to expand vital services for individuals with and .

This article describes and evaluates a multipronged strategy to expand use of the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) and diabetes self-management education

10/29/2024

Excited to share findings from our recent study on the use of dexamethasone for COVID-19 in people with diabetes. Unlike in other hospitalized patients, we found that dexamethasone did not improve survival or recovery time for patients with diabetes. However, there was no higher risk of dangerous spikes in blood sugar levels.

For patients with more severe COVID-19 and diabetes, we actually saw slower recovery with dexamethasone, indicating the need for more research in this area.

AbstractBackground. Patients with diabetes have higher mortality from COVID-19 compared to the general population. Dexamethasone, a potent glucocorticoid u

09/25/2024

Excited to share our latest findings from the Johns Hopkins Medicine Multidisciplinary Diabetic Foot and Wound Clinic!

We anticipated that diabetic foot ulcers would lead to worsening blood glucose control, but our study found no significant rise in A1C levels during active wound periods compared to wound-free times. Intensive management by our team may have played a key role in maintaining stable glucose levels during these challenging periods.

Our focus remains on providing comprehensive care to help people with diabetes stay healthy, even when faced with complications like . , , .

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/heart-vascular-institute/vascular-surgery/diabetic-wound-clinic

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1499267124001795?via%3Dihub

08/21/2024

Grateful to TRIO-Maryland Chapter, Inc./ An Organ Transplant Support Group for the opportunity to discuss related diabetes and share insights on its diagnosis and management with such a dedicated group. It was a pleasure to highlight the impactful work being done through the JHM Diabetes Prevention & Education Program, especially in supporting patients with or undergoing solid organ transplantation. Programs like our and are vital in helping our transplant patients achieve better outcomes. Thank you for the warm reception and the chance to contribute to this important discussion. Johns Hopkins Brancati Center.

08/13/2024

05/16/2024

🚀 Exciting News! 🚀

We've just published our clinical trial protocol comparing an AI-powered digital Diabetes Prevention Program ( ) with the standard human coach-based DPP. This study aims to see if artificial intelligence can provide a scalable, cost-effective way to combat prediabetes, a problem that affects more than 1 in 3 U.S. adults.

Enrollment of 368 participants complete, and results are expected in early 2025. Stay tuned for more updates!

Read more here: https://trialsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13063-024-08177-8

JJHM Diabetes Prevention & Education ProgramJJohns Hopkins Brancati CenterRReading Hospital - Tower Health

Background Prediabetes is a highly prevalent condition that heralds an increased risk of progression to type 2 diabetes, along with associated microvascular and macrovascular complications. The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) is an established effective intervention for diabetes prevention. Howeve...

04/25/2024

🌟 Exciting News! 🌟 I had the honor of being a guest on the American Academy of Pain Medicine podcast to discuss the innovative world of in medicine.

Here are some key takeaways from our conversation:
- Overview of AI and Machine Learning: We explored how these technologies work and their integration into healthcare practices.

- Current Applications in Healthcare: We discussed real-world examples where AI is making strides, such as in diagnostics and personalized treatment plans, as well as helping make healthcare easier and more efficient (for example, helping clinicians with documentation).

-Areas of Uncertainty and Challenge: While AI offers tremendous potential, we also delved into the ethical and practical challenges it presents.

- Future Potential: The possibilities are vast, from revolutionizing patient care to enhancing disease prediction and management.

As we continue to embrace new technologies, it is important to consider how tools like AI can be used responsibly to improve health outcomes, particularly for those managing diabetes.

Let’s stay informed and optimistic about the future of healthcare technology!

👉 Listen to the full podcast here...

Join us for a riveting exploration into the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence (AI) in interdisciplinary pain medicine. This episode of the Pain Matters Podcast features a thought-provoking discussion on the transformative potential...

03/06/2024

Excited to share our latest research study, published in JAMA Network, looking at the connection between use of diabetes technologies and the development of diabetic retinopathy in adults with type 1 diabetes. Our study revealed that continuous glucose monitors ( ) use was independently linked to a lower odds of developing . This study emphasizes the importance of integrating diabetes technologies into clinical practice to improve outcomes for patients with . For those interested, you can access the full study here.

This cohort study examines the association of use of continuous glucose monitoring and insulin pumps with diabetic retinopathy among patients with type 1 diabetes.

01/31/2024

Episode 30: Prediabetes Print PDF Home | Podcast | Episode 30: Prediabetes On today’s podcast, Dr. Kalyani welcomes Dr. Nes Mathioudakis, who will be speaking with us about prediabetes. Dr. Mathioudakis is an endocrinologist at Johns Hopkins focusing his clinical practice on the care of patients w...

01/25/2024

Proud to share results of our latest research study, 3 years in the making, involving an international team of experts trying to identifying novel markers to improve prediction of cardiovascular disease in . There are some signals of promising markers, but we need more rigorous studies to understand how well these markers help to enhance our ability to identify patients at risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/newsroom/news-releases/2024/01/international-consortium-identifies-biomarkers-that-improve-prediction-accuracy-of-cardiovascular-disease-risk-in-people-with-type-2-JHM Diabetes Prevention & Education Program

Respiratory illnesses continue to increase across the nation, resulting in rising hospitalizations. Effective 1/12/2024, mandatory masking will resume for patients, visitors and employees in all Johns Hopkins Medicine locations in the state of Maryland. Masking is required regardless of vaccination....