AutoZone Partners With Virta Health to Help AutoZoners Reverse Type 2 Diabetes and Prediabetes

At one year, AutoZoners experience long-term blood sugar control and clinically-significant weight loss while eliminating over half of diabetes medications

Denver, CO (December 1, 2022) — Type 2 diabetes reversal leader Virta Health revealed promising one-year outcomes from its partnership with AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE: AZO), the leading retailer and distributor of automotive replacement parts and accessories in the Americas.

Over the past twelve months, AutoZoners living with type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, and obesity have achieved transformative results with Virta, including:

• Medication Deprescription: Type 2 diabetes patients eliminated over half of diabetes medications (excluding metformin), including a 73% reduction in insulin prescribed after 12 months.
• Blood Sugar Reduction: Estimated HbA1c (a measure of average blood sugar) improved by 1% on average for diabetes patients. Every one-point decrease in HbA1c reduces the risk of long-term diabetes complications—such as eye, kidney, and nerve disease—by up to 40%.
• Clinically Significant Weight Loss: Across all groups, patients saw at least 8% weight loss on average (5% is the benchmark for FDA-approved weight-loss drugs and what is considered clinically significant). AutoZoners enrolled in Virta’s obesity program experienced 9% weight loss. 

Through its virtual care platform, Virta Health medical providers and health coaches deliver nutrition counseling, behavioral change support, and continuous medical supervision. All recommendations are catered to each AutoZoner’s budgetary needs and dietary preferences. As lifestyle changes take hold, patients can often reduce or eliminate the need for costly diabetes medications, including insulin. For AutoZoners and their loved ones across the country, this can mean massive quality of life improvements and even cost savings from fewer medications.  

Matt Harmon, Vice President Benefits, Compensation, and HR Systems, Customer Satisfaction at AutoZone, describes how partnering with Virta has impacted the health of AutoZoners.

“Our number one prescription drug spend is on diabetes medications, not to mention the huge impact of diabetes on health, quality of life and productivity for our AutoZoners. With Virta, we’re saving money for AutoZoners and the company, but more importantly, we’re helping to truly change people’s lives. We’ve never seen these types of results before—compared to previous offerings, it is like going from farm league to the big leagues.”

Harmon shared more on the partnership in a recent video interview. 

AutoZone currently offers Virta’s type 2 diabetes reversal, prediabetes reversal, type 2 diabetes management, and obesity and weight loss solutions to eligible AutoZoners at no-cost. 

For more on how Virta Health partners with employers, health plans, and government agencies to help transform the lives of people living with type 2 diabetes and related chronic diseases, visit www.virtahealth.com.