Telemedicine for Reach, Education, Access, and Treatment for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH · Oct 1, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This study tests a new telemedicine program called TREAT-ED to help emerging adults (ages 18–25) with type 1 diabetes learn and use self-management skills. It’s a small, single-group pilot where groups of about eight participants meet online for four sessions (each 30–45 minutes). Sessions are led by diabetes care educators and use real glucose data to help with practical learning and decision-making. The goal is to see if this group, online approach can boost engagement in diabetes education and improve health outcomes over the first six months.

Who can join: people aged 18–25 with type 1 diabetes who can use videoconferencing, plan to stay under care at participating sites, and can give informed consent. People are not eligible if they don’t have type 1 diabetes, are outside the age range, can’t participate via telemedicine, or have other factors that might interfere with participation. The study will look at how many education sessions participants attend (the main result) and several secondary outcomes, including feelings of empowerment, readiness to transition to adult care, confidence in managing diabetes, diabetes-related distress, and blood sugar control (A1c 7% or lower). For those using continuous glucose monitoring, the study will also check time in the target glucose range and track diabetes-related health care visits. The trial is at the University of Pittsburgh, with enrollment ongoing and results anticipated around 2026; de-identified data will be available to approved researchers after publication.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (ICD10 E10.xx, O24.0x)
• • 18 to 25 years of age at time of study enrollment
• • Able to communicate via videoconferencing platform
• • Intending to maintain status as a patient at participating clinical sites throughout the study duration
• • Able to provide informed consent
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Do not have a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes (ICD10 E10.xx, O24.0x)
• • Less than 18 or older than 25 years old at time of enrollment
• • Do not intend to maintain their care at participating clinical sites throughout the duration of the study
• • Are unable to communicate via telemedicine
• • Has other concerns that may interfere significantly with their ability to participate in the intervention (ongoing health issues, personal events, etc.)