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A predictive model using sedentary behavior and simple clinical data accurately identified office workers at risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus.  

A study published in June 2025 issue of Primary Care Diabetes reported that sedentary behavior (SB) is a major risk factor contributing to the high prevalence and underdiagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2).  

Researchers developed a mathematical model for early identification of office employees at risk of DM2 using objective data on SB.  

They carried out a cross-sectional study using a cross-validation approach. Anthropometric data, including sex, age, and BMI, along with sleep duration (hours) and SB patterns—measured by ActivPAL3M devices—were collected. The SB patterns included sedentary breaks and time spent in bouts of varying lengths. Data from 81 office employees with DM2 and 132 with normal glucose metabolism (NGM) were analyzed. The likelihood of DM2 was estimated using generalized linear models (GLM), specifically logistic regression.  

The results showed that 5 non-invasive clinical variables—sex, age, BMI, sleep time (hours), and sedentary breaks under 20 minutes (number/day)—were significantly associated with DM2 and showed no collinearity. The validated mathematical model accurately identified 94.58% of individuals with DM2 and 97.99% of those with NGM. Sensitivity reached 94.58%, and specificity was 97.99%. The model also supported the creation of a preventive tool to suggest changes in SB patterns based on anthropometric data to lower DM2 risk.  

Investigators concluded that integrating SB measures into primary care could improve the risk of early detection of DM2. 

Source: primary-care-diabetes.com/article/S1751-9918(25)00074-9/abstract