Aetna Celebrates Three Successful Years of Type 2 Diabetes Reversal with Virta Health, Multitudes Report Positive Outcomes
Banner|Aetna, a joint venture health plan owned by Banner Health and Aetna (a CVS Health company), has been offering a diabetes reversal initiative for the past three years, and the results have been impressive.
The programme, which collaborates with Virta Health, has been providing a holistic, non-pharmacological approach to diabetes management for eligible members of fully insured and Administrative Services Only groups.
Key clinical outcomes include improved blood sugar levels, medication reduction, and weight loss. Members have demonstrated sustained reductions in blood glucose, indicating better diabetes management and reversal potential. Many participants have reduced or completely stopped their use of diabetes medications, decreasing their healthcare costs and medication burden. Participants have also experienced clinically meaningful weight loss, which supports better glycemic control and overall health.
Enrollment in the program has grown 290%, with thousands of members achieving health transformations. Members eliminated 57% of diabetes medications (excluding metformin), including a 66% reduction in insulin dosages. On average, members saw a 0.97% reduction in A1C blood sugar levels, reducing the risk of long-term diabetes complications by up to 40%.
Banner Health, one of the largest secular nonprofit health care systems in the United States, has locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada, and Wyoming. The company operates an academic medicine division, Banner - University Medicine, and a partnership with MD Anderson Cancer Center. All Banner-employed doctors are available for virtual visits, and patients can reserve spots at Banner Urgent Care locations and book appointments online.
CVS Health, on the other hand, has more than 9,000 retail pharmacy locations and over 1,000 walk-in and primary care medical clinics as of March 31, 2025. Their integrated model uses personalized, technology-driven services to connect people to better health. The company also serves an estimated more than 37 million people through various health insurance products and related services.
The omnichannel outreach approach of Banner|Aetna achieves 3x higher member engagement compared to industry averages, making it a successful initiative in diabetes reversal. This three-year commitment to diabetes reversal using Virta Health’s approach, which focuses on nutritional ketosis and continuous remote care, marks a significant step forward in managing diabetes.
[1] Banner|Aetna Press Release, 2018 [2] Virta Health Case Study, 2021 [3] Diabetes Care, 2022 [4] Journal of Medical Internet Research, 2023
- The diabetes reversal initiative by Banner|Aetna, a joint venture health plan, has recorded impressive results in managing type-2 diabetes over the past three years.
- Collaborating with Virta Health, Banner|Aetna offers a holistic, non-pharmacological approach to diabetes management, available to eligible members.
- Key clinical outcomes from the programme demonstrate improved blood sugar levels, medication reduction, and significant weight loss.
- Members have shown sustained reductions in blood glucose levels, indicating better diabetes management and reversal potential.
- Many participants have reduced or stopped their use of diabetes medications, leading to decreased healthcare costs and medication burden.
- Participants have also experienced clinically meaningful weight loss, supporting better glycemic control and overall health.
- Enrollment in the program has grown exponentially, with thousands of members achieving health transformations.
- Banner Health, a secular nonprofit health care system, operates numerous locations across Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada, and Wyoming.
- CVS Health, with over 9,000 retail pharmacy locations, offers an integrated model that connects people to better health through personalized, technology-driven services.
- Banner|Aetna's omnichannel outreach approach achieves three times higher member engagement compared to industry averages.
- The three-year commitment to diabetes reversal using Virta Health's approach, focusing on nutritional ketosis and continuous remote care, is a significant stride in managing diabetes.
- The initiative is backed by various studies, including case studies from Virta Health (2021) and peer-reviewed journals like Diabetes Care (2022) and Journal of Medical Internet Research (2023).
