Objectives Diabetes is a major global public health concern. The development of prevention strategies for diabetic complications is a particularly important issue. Therefore, we have developed an internet-based behaviour change program designed to improve lifestyle for the prevention of diabetic complications. The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of this program in Japanese diabetes patients.

Methods The participants were 14 diabetic patients (mean age: 48.8 ± 8.9 years, 13 male, one type 1, mean duration of diabetes: 15.8 ± 10.3 years, mean HbA1c: 7.68 ± 1.07%) who had visited Kurume University Hospital. All participants received a pedometer and access to an internet-based check-plan-action (CPA) lifestyle change program. As part of the CPA program, participants were asked to select one of two courses (physical activity and/or nutrition) and set two or three corresponding behaviour goals. Over the next 12 weeks, participants monitored their goal attainment and daily step count.

Results Of the initial 14 participants, 11 (78.6%) completed the program. Total caloric intake, (Pre: 2237.5 ± 315.9, Post: 1850.0 ± 334.9 [kcal/day], p < 0.001) and salt intake (Pre: 12.5 ± 1.3, Post: 11.4 ± 1.5.9 [g/day], p < 0.005) were significantly decreased after 12 weeks. Other dietary behaviours, physical activity behaviours, and sedentary behaviours did not change significantly. Uric acid (Pre: 5.8 ± 1.2, Post: 5.3 ± 1.4 [mg/dL], p < 0.05) was significantly improved after 12 weeks. Sixty-four percent of the participants logged into the program at least once per week, with the same proportion self-monitoring their dietary and physical activity behaviours at least once during this time.

Conclusions This internet-based CPA lifestyle change program produced short-term, beneficial effects on diabetic patients’ dietary behaviours. In addition, the program’s completion rate and usability was sufficient and acceptable.

Acknowledgments This study was supported by two Health and Labour Sciences Research Grants (PI: Koji Yamatsu and PI: Shuzo Kumagai) from Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in Japan.

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