Caption: Anna Schmotzer, assistant director of experiential learning in the School of Pharmacy and former participant of the Group Lifestyle Balance Diabetes Prevention Program, walking on campus.
By Afsana Dhali
Photography by Rayni Shiring/University of Pittsburgh
One in three American adults has prediabetes, yet most don’t know it. For those at risk, a diabetes diagnosis can feel inevitable. But a pharmacist-led initiative at the University of Pittsburgh is proving that with the right support, prevention is within reach.
The Group Lifestyle Balance Diabetes Prevention Program (GLB-DPP), an approved curriculum in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) at Pitt, is spearheaded by pharmacist and trained lifestyle coach Natalie Capozzolo. The program offers faculty and staff a structured, yearlong path to better health. Now in its ninth cohort, the program has already helped nearly 100 Pitt employees lose weight, improve their blood sugar levels and, in some cases, reverse prediabetes entirely.
“The program kept me on task and made me accountable,” said Anna Schmotzer, assistant director of experiential learning in the School of Pharmacy, who participated in the program last year.
Capozzolo, who has been with Pitt since 2019, previously worked in retail pharmacy and medication therapy management before stepping into her role overseeing the My Meds Comprehensive Medication Management program created by Lucas Berenbrok, vice chair for education and associate professor, School of Pharmacy, and supported by Pitt’s Office of Human Resources. She launched GLB-DPP at the height of the Covid pandemic in September 2020, seeing it as an opportunity for pharmacists to engage more deeply with patients.
“Pharmacists have a wealth of knowledge about chronic disease prevention, but in many settings, we don’t always have the time to engage patients in meaningful lifestyle conversations,” Capozzolo explained. “This program gives us that space—it’s a way to help people make changes that could prevent them from needing medication.”
GLB-DPP follows an evidence-based approach emphasizing lifestyle balance. Participants work toward a 5-7% reduction in body weight through healthy eating and increased physical activity, with coaching and group support to help sustain momentum. The first 12 weeks involve weekly meetings, followed by biweekly sessions and then monthly check-ins.
“That first phase is crucial,” Capozzolo said. “It’s where we see the biggest shifts in mindset and habits.”
The program provides participants with health and fitness-related tools to stay engaged. “We used to give everything out at the beginning, but we realized phasing the incentives helped keep people engaged longer,” Capozzolo noted. “The retention rate improved because participants had something to look forward to at each stage of the program.” In addition to phased incentives, participants get Wellness Incentive Awards via the UPMC Health Plan for attending classes—currently up to $100.
For many participants, the benefits go beyond blood sugar control. One Pitt employee discovered a diabetes diagnosis through routine biometric screening Capozzolo recommended when he was signing up for the prevention program. A year later, he had lost 20 pounds—and reversed his diagnosis. Others have shed 40 pounds or more, reduced the dose of or eliminated blood pressure medication and improved their cholesterol levels.
Despite the program’s success, lifestyle changes aren’t always easy. Social factors, like family habits and lack of accountability, can make it harder for participants to stay on track. However, Capozzolo notes that having a cohort serves as an effective base of support, making it easier for individuals to hold each other accountable and make more progress.
Currently open to Pitt employees and their adult dependents with a prediabetes diagnosis or who have elevated risk via a validated risk test, GLB-DPP may soon expand. Capozzolo hopes to add a third annual cohort and is exploring new initiatives, including a diabetes self-management education program for those already diagnosed.
“Natalie was always encouraging and answered questions that the group had,” Schmotzer said. “She made losing weight fun, and shared the importance of a healthy lifestyle. It’s been six months since my sessions have ended, and I continue with her words of wisdom and still track everything, i.e., walking, and foods that I eat. This program has truly been an incredible journey for me, one that I will refer friends and family to do.”
Capozzolo currently recruits participants for this program twice a year, in July/August and October/November. Anyone interested in learning more can contact mymeds@pitt.edu.