Diabetes Prevention

Diabetes Prevention

Diabetes Prevention

Helping People Understand Their Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

Helping People Understand Their Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

Helping People Understand Their Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

Millions of people around the world are living with type 2 diabetes, and many of them don’t even know they’re at risk. It’s not until symptoms become serious that they seek help, by which point prevention is no longer an option, only management. Behind every late diagnosis is a missed opportunity—a moment when a simple nudge, a bit of awareness, or a timely insight could have changed someone’s health journey entirely.

At Ada Health, we explored how design can close that gap, setting out to answer a simple but profound question: How might we help people become aware of their risk early enough to do something about it?

Millions of people around the world are living with type 2 diabetes, and many of them don’t even know they’re at risk. It’s not until symptoms become serious that they seek help, by which point prevention is no longer an option, only management. Behind every late diagnosis is a missed opportunity—a moment when a simple nudge, a bit of awareness, or a timely insight could have changed someone’s health journey entirely.

At Ada Health, we explored how design can close that gap, setting out to answer a simple but profound question: How might we help people become aware of their risk early enough to do something about it?

Millions of people around the world are living with type 2 diabetes, and many of them don’t even know they’re at risk. It’s not until symptoms become serious that they seek help, by which point prevention is no longer an option, only management. Behind every late diagnosis is a missed opportunity—a moment when a simple nudge, a bit of awareness, or a timely insight could have changed someone’s health journey entirely.

At Ada Health, we explored how design can close that gap, setting out to answer a simple but profound question: How might we help people become aware of their risk early enough to do something about it?

Solution

Designing a Preventive Health Experience That Motivates Action

Designing a Preventive Health Experience That Motivates Action

Designing a Preventive Health Experience That Motivates Action

Our goal wasn’t to reinvent diabetes prevention; it was to close the awareness gap by helping users recognize their risk early and act on it meaningfully. We focused on building an experience that was personalized, efficient, and trustworthy, using Ada’s strengths in health data and guidance to connect people to the right next step at the right time.

Our goal wasn’t to reinvent diabetes prevention; it was to close the awareness gap by helping users recognize their risk early and act on it meaningfully. We focused on building an experience that was personalized, efficient, and trustworthy, using Ada’s strengths in health data and guidance to connect people to the right next step at the right time.

Our goal wasn’t to reinvent diabetes prevention; it was to close the awareness gap by helping users recognize their risk early and act on it meaningfully. We focused on building an experience that was personalized, efficient, and trustworthy, using Ada’s strengths in health data and guidance to connect people to the right next step at the right time.

Personalized Entry Points

Personalized Entry Points

Personalized Entry Points

Behind the scenes, we use triggers to passively identify users who may be at risk based on factors like age, BMI, and family history. Once risk is detected, users are presented with tailored messages inside the app that reference known risk factors and encourage them to explore their personal risk, making the insight feel timely, relevant, and actionable.

Streamlined Risk Assessment

Streamlined Risk Assessment

Streamlined Risk Assessment

To reduce friction, we designed a lightweight risk assessment based on the American Diabetes Association’s validated questionnaire. We use available user data like age and sex to pre-fill answers, and include a review step to ensure transparency and allow users to update outdated info. This minimizes effort while reinforcing trust.

To reduce friction, we designed a lightweight risk assessment based on the American Diabetes Association’s validated questionnaire. We use available user data like age and sex to pre-fill answers, and include a review step to ensure transparency and allow users to update outdated info. This minimizes effort while reinforcing trust.

To reduce friction, we designed a lightweight risk assessment based on the American Diabetes Association’s validated questionnaire. We use available user data like age and sex to pre-fill answers, and include a review step to ensure transparency and allow users to update outdated info. This minimizes effort while reinforcing trust.

Explaining Results Clearly

The results screen first explains what the user’s risk means, supported by simple language, clear visuals, and medically validated copy. It also outlines the factors influencing their risk, helping users understand not only the outcome but why it applies to them. This focus on clarity ensured users felt informed without being overwhelmed.

The results screen first explains what the user’s risk means, supported by simple language, clear visuals, and medically validated copy. It also outlines the factors influencing their risk, helping users understand not only the outcome but why it applies to them. This focus on clarity ensured users felt informed without being overwhelmed.

The results screen first explains what the user’s risk means, supported by simple language, clear visuals, and medically validated copy. It also outlines the factors influencing their risk, helping users understand not only the outcome but why it applies to them. This focus on clarity ensured users felt informed without being overwhelmed.

Personalized Next Steps

The experience then adapts based on the user’s assessed risk. For low-risk users, the app recommended maintaining healthy habits with practical tips and further reading. For high-risk users, it offered direct pathways to care—such as ordering lab tests or connecting with prevention programs. This ensured every user had a clear, relevant action to take.

Scalable Framework for Prevention

While the flow was designed for type 2 diabetes, the risk assessment framework was built to be scalable. The same approach could be applied to other conditions where early detection matters, such as cervical cancer or chronic kidney disease. This extended the impact of the work beyond a single condition.

Result

Turning Insight Into Action — For Users and the Business

Designing for prevention is inherently complex. You’re not solving an urgent problem, you’re solving before the problem exists. That’s why success in this space isn’t just about clicks or completions—it’s about shifting mindsets, building trust, and nudging people toward action at the right time.


We didn’t expect overnight transformation. But by focusing on clarity, relevance, and respect for the user’s health journey, we were able to create a feature that quietly made a big impact—both for the people using it, and for Ada’s strategic direction.

High Engagement, Even Without Promotion

The diabetes risk assessment launched in the US without any marketing campaigns. Within 3 months, it reached 7% of all users and became the 5th most-used feature in the app. Of those who entered the flow, 85% converted and 68% completed it, showing strong interest and engagement.

A Tool That Drives Awareness and Motivation

71% of users who completed the assessment were identified as high risk, confirming the accuracy of our risk triggers. Many users reported increased motivation to improve their health, often expressing a new awareness of their risk and a desire to change their behavior.

Now a Core Feature in Ada’s Preventive Strategy

This project helped define a new direction for Ada: identifying at-risk users and activating them toward care. The diabetes experience now serves as a blueprint for other areas, including COVID-19 antiviral treatments and cancer screening initiatives in partnership with large health systems.

Designed for Scale and Sustainability

By integrating with existing care providers instead of building our own programs, the solution is scalable across conditions and regions—creating value for both users and enterprise partners.

Next: Supporting Users Beyond the Risk Score

We’re now exploring how to better support users after the assessment, with personalized guidance that adapts to their readiness, motivation, and health goals—whether they’re high or low risk.

Design Decisions

Balancing Trust, Personalization, and Usability

Designing for health means every interaction carries weight. Users aren’t just scanning a menu or booking a ride—they’re engaging with something personal, often vulnerable. With that in mind, we made a series of intentional design decisions to balance clarity, sensitivity, and motivation throughout the experience.

Personalization Without Overstepping

One of the key challenges was how to deliver personalized risk messages without making users feel exposed. We deliberately kept the home screen language broad and non-intrusive, while onboarding nudges were more specific and referenced known risk factors. This balance ensured that messages felt relevant and trustworthy without crossing into overly personal or invasive territory.

Designing for Simplicity and Clarity

The risk assessment was intentionally kept short and transparent, with pre-filled answers based on known user data. To maintain trust, we added a review step so users could confirm or update information before proceeding. This approach reduced friction, minimized the effort required, and reassured users that they were in control of their own health information.

Communicating Risk Without Alarm

When presenting results, we carefully designed the screen to inform without causing unnecessary worry. We worked with medical experts and UX writers to ensure the language was clear, calm, and actionable. Visual hierarchy guided users’ attention from the risk level to its meaning and then to the recommended next steps, helping them understand their situation without feeling overwhelmed.

Connecting Users to Real-World Care

Instead of attempting to build a prevention program in-house, we chose to partner with trusted providers. This decision positioned Ada not just as an information source but as a facilitator of real care. By guiding users toward programs and resources already available, we created a bridge between digital awareness and offline action, making the solution more credible and impactful.

Closing Thoughts

Designing for prevention is a long game—it’s not about fixing what’s broken, but about creating the conditions for people to stay well. This project challenged me to design with empathy, precision, and strategic clarity. It also reminded me that the most meaningful health interventions often start with something simple: awareness.


By helping people understand their risk earlier, we opened the door to healthier decisions, better outcomes, and a product that can grow beyond a single condition. This wasn’t just about type 2 diabetes—it was about setting the foundation for a preventive health experience that truly puts people first.