Pilot RCT: FQHC Intervention for Uptake of CGM in Low-Income Adults With T1D

NCT ID: NCT06487962

Last Updated: 2025-08-12

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 30 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2024-05-28
• Study Completion Date: 2026-08-01

Brief Summary

Low-income adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D), despite their disproportionate burden of acute complications (hypoglycemia and diabetes ketoacidosis) and related emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and death, remain largely disenfranchised from continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), an efficacious technology to mitigate these inequities. To increase CGM uptake in low-income, adults with T1D receiving diabetes management in federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), this pilot randomized control trial (RCT), will assess the feasibility of our study protocol, including our multi-level intervention informed by the Socio-Ecological Model.

Detailed Description

Low-income adults with T1D experience a disproportionate burden of life-threatening, acute complications with high rates of related emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and death. Use of CGM may mitigate these inequities. Yet, low-income adults with T1D have exceptionally low levels of CGM use. This reflects social determinants of health (SODH), as framed by the multiple levels of the Socio-Ecological Model (SEM). The SEM's healthcare provider level is a main driver in Hispanic disenfranchisement from CGM. With a severe shortage of endocrinologists, primary care providers are increasingly managing T1D although many report inadequate confidence in titrating insulin and using CGM. With limited access to endocrinology, low-income, Hispanic adults with T1D thus often receive diabetes management in FQHCs with scant or no access to CGM. Hence, to foster equitable uptake of CGM in the most vulnerable adults with T1D, a 4-year, mixed-methods, feasibility study with a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) is underway to primarily assess the feasibility of the SEM-guided, 6-month intervention (targeting the individual, family/social networks, and healthcare provider levels). The SEM-guided intervention was refined by our Community Advisory Board. Refinements were informed by qualitative research exploring SDOH barriers to CGM uptake in low-income adults with T1D from the perspectives of four stakeholder groups.

The individual level of the intervention, guided by the Information-Motivation-Behavioral-Skills Model, fosters essential acquisition of information, motivation, and behavioral skills for CGM uptake through two principal approaches: (1) 4-week, personalized, CGM sessions with a RN/ certified diabetes care and education specialist (CDCES); and (2) subsequent virtual peer educator-led support groups, integrating CGM education, through study month six. The family/social networks level leverages social support to promote critical support in CGM uptake with a family member co-attending the 4-week sessions and participant engagement in peer-led support group sessions, respectively. The provider level of the intervention is designed to promote enhanced cultural competency in intervention delivery and provide clinical support for CGM informed by rigorous training in T1D management and CGM via Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes).

A total of 11 FQHC sites were randomized to deliver the intervention (n=6) or control (n=5) conditions with a total enrollment goal of 30 low-income adults with T1D (sites having roughly equivalent enrollment rates). The feasibility of the study protocol (e.g., recruitment and retention yields, data collection procedures, intervention implementation, and intervention acceptability, among others) will be routinely assessed. Significant intervention signals in terms of physiological (e.g., A1C and time within, above, and below range glucose range), psychosocial (e.g., quality of life and family support), and behavioral (CGM adherence) outcomes from baseline to 3- and 6-months post-baseline will be assessed. The long-term goal of this study is to inform a large, multi-site RCT, and with successful results, provide a model for CGM uptake in low-income adults with T1D for FQHCs nationally

Conditions

Type 1 Diabetes

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: OTHER
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) Intervention Arm

The intervention arm comprises participants receiving care from FQHC sites randomized to deliver the intervention. This arm will receive the 6-month, SEM-informed intervention to promote CGM uptake and maintenance.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

CGM Intervention

Intervention Type: DEVICE

The intervention has 4 components with CGM uptake and maintenance as a primary focus. (1) Participants will visit their primary care provider (PCP) at baseline and 3- and 6-months post-baseline (or more frequently as needed) for review of CGM data and insulin therapy adjustments as indicated. Intervention providers received rigorous training in T1D management and CGM via Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes). (2) After each PCP visit, the CDCES will follow-up with participants to ensure participant understanding of the education/instructions provided at the PCP visit. (3) Next, participants will receive 4-weekly sessions of culturally sensitive, intensive CGM education and training led by a CDCES with accompaniment of a supportive family member or friend. (4) Virtual group support sessions, led by a peer educator, will follow over 5 months. During this period, the peer-led sessions will take place every two weeks and then move to every three weeks.

Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose (SMBG) Arm

The SMBG control arm comprises participants receiving care from FQHC sites randomized to deliver the control condition. This arm will receive the 6-month control condition.

Group Type: OTHER

SMBG Control Condition

Intervention Type: OTHER

The SMBG control condition consists of 3 components delivered over 6 months. (1) Participants will visit their PCP at baseline and 3- and 6-months post-baseline (or more frequently as needed) for review of SMBG data and insulin therapy adjustments as indicated. Control providers received rigorous training in T1D management via Project ECHO. (2) Commencing after the first PCP visit, participants will have 4-weekly telehealth visits for knowledge and skills reinforcement for SMBG. (3) CDCES support phone calls will follow over 5 months. During this period, the support phone calls will take place every two weeks and then move to every three weeks.

Interventions

CGM Intervention

The intervention has 4 components with CGM uptake and maintenance as a primary focus. (1) Participants will visit their primary care provider (PCP) at baseline and 3- and 6-months post-baseline (or more frequently as needed) for review of CGM data and insulin therapy adjustments as indicated. Intervention providers received rigorous training in T1D management and CGM via Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes). (2) After each PCP visit, the CDCES will follow-up with participants to ensure participant understanding of the education/instructions provided at the PCP visit. (3) Next, participants will receive 4-weekly sessions of culturally sensitive, intensive CGM education and training led by a CDCES with accompaniment of a supportive family member or friend. (4) Virtual group support sessions, led by a peer educator, will follow over 5 months. During this period, the peer-led sessions will take place every two weeks and then move to every three weeks.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

SMBG Control Condition

The SMBG control condition consists of 3 components delivered over 6 months. (1) Participants will visit their PCP at baseline and 3- and 6-months post-baseline (or more frequently as needed) for review of SMBG data and insulin therapy adjustments as indicated. Control providers received rigorous training in T1D management via Project ECHO. (2) Commencing after the first PCP visit, participants will have 4-weekly telehealth visits for knowledge and skills reinforcement for SMBG. (3) CDCES support phone calls will follow over 5 months. During this period, the support phone calls will take place every two weeks and then move to every three weeks.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Low-income status
• Documented diagnosis of T1D
• 18 years of age or older
• Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) primary care provider
• English or Spanish-speaking And at intervention sites
• Willingness to wear a CGM sensor
• Adult family member or friend, who will give consent to participate in the study and co-attend the 4-week intervention sessions
• Reported difficulty in using CGM if current or past use of CGM

Exclusion Criteria

• Pregnancy or planning to become pregnant
• Lactation
• Serious illness that may prevent study participation (e.g., severe depression)
• Less than 6 months life expectancy
• Alcohol abuse or dependence
• Uncorrected hearing or vision impairment

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

NIH

Sponsor Role: collaborator

University of Connecticut

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Kelley Newlin Lew

Associate Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Community Health Center, Inc.

Middletown, Connecticut, United States

Treasure Coast Community Health

Vero Beach, Florida, United States

Countries

United States

Other Identifiers

24-08-011-910

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id