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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04828785

Food As MedicinE for Diabetes

The investigators propose a single-site, open-label, Phase II, community-based randomized clinical explanatory trial to test the efficacy of a medically tailored meal (MTM) interventions for adults with food insecurity and T2DM (Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus). While the efficacy of MTM needs to be established, given the nature of the population served by MTM, it is important to design the study to enhance the external validity/generalizability of the findings as much as possible. The investigators will recruit 200 participants from the referral list of Community Servings, a Boston-based MTM provider, and randomly assign them to MTM (N=100) or usual care + monthly food subsidy (N=100). MTM intervention will consist of 6 months of weekly delivery of 10 ready-to-eat meals (approximately half an individual's weekly food intake), along with telephone-based lifestyle intervention that prepares participants for the post-treatment period. The usual care + food subsidy recipients will receive usual care along with 6 months of a $40/month food subsidy.

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Key information

Conditions

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Endocrine System Diseases Glucose Metabolism Disorders Metabolic Diseases Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, United States

About this study

Food insecurity, "lack of access to enough food for an active, healthy life", affects over 20% of the 30 million Americans with diabetes. Food insecurity is more common in racial/ethnic minorities and those with lower socioeconomic status. Moreover, food insecurity is associated with worse diabetes control and increased complications, even after adjusting for other risk factors. Food insecurity is a major contributor to disparities in diabetes outcomes.

Medically tailored meal (MTM) delivery programs are a promising intervention for individuals with diabetes and food insecurity. MTM programs deliver fully prepared food, tailored by a registered dietitian nutritionist to the specific medical needs of the individual, and provide education to help optimize disease self-management. Food insecurity is typically addressed with food subsidies-offering additional financial resources that can be spent on food. While both food subsidies and MTM can increase healthy food access, MTM can help overcome other barriers to diabetes management including lack of time, ability, knowledge, and skills needed to prepare appropriate meals. The use of these programs is often called 'food as medicine', as the purpose is to provide exactly the foods needed to help prevent diabetes complications. MTM are receiving increasing public attention, but there are, as of yet, no full-scale trials to test its effects on diabetes outcomes when compared with other food insecurity interventions.

Our research team has developed a medically tailored meal intervention that combines provision of healthy food, tailored to the specific nutrition needs of the individual, with an evidence-based lifestyle intervention that uses the period of meal delivery as springboard to improve diabetes self-management, both while receiving meals and after meal delivery is completed.

This study is an explanatory-focused randomized trial to assess a community-based medically tailored meals intervention (n=200). It will be conducted among diverse participants referred for medically tailored meals. Adults with type 2 diabetes, Hemoglobin A1c between 7.0% and 12.0%, and BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 (≥ 23 kg/m2 for those with Asian ancestry) will be enrolled and randomly assigned to intervention or usual care + food subsidy. The intervention group will receive meal delivery and its attendant lifestyle intervention for 6 months, while the usual care + food subsidy group will receive a $40/month food subsidy, along with usual diabetes care.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
  • Hemoglobin A1c ≥ 7.0% and ≤ 12.0% in last 12 months
  • Experiencing food insecurity as indicated by 2-item Hunger Vital Sign
  • English speaking
  • BMI ≥25 kg/m^2 (≥ 23 kg/m^2 if self-report Asian ancestry)
  • No plans to move from the area for at least 1 year
  • Free living to the extent that participant has control over dietary intake
  • Willing and able to provide written informed consent and participate in all study activities

Exclusion criteria

  • Participant in diabetes, nutrition, or weight research intervention in last 12 months
  • Another family member or household member is a study participant. Only one member of each household may take part in this study.
  • Considering bariatric surgery in the next year or prior bariatric surgery in the past 2 years
  • Lack of safe, stable residence and ability to store meals
  • Lack of telephone
  • Pregnancy/breastfeeding or intended pregnancy in the next year
  • History of malignancy, other than non-melanoma skin cancer, unless surgically or medically cured > 5 years ago or in remission. Patients with localized prostate and breast cancer diagnosed during the course of routine screening will not be excluded.
  • Advanced kidney disease (estimated creatinine clearance < 30 mL/min)
  • Known drug or alcohol misuse in the past 2 years
  • Known psychosis or major psychiatric illness that prevents participation with study activities
  • Intermittent use of medications (e.g., oral or intravenous glucocorticoids) that are likely to affect blood sugar

Treatment and study plan

MTM

Other

weekly home meal delivery; an explanation of the medical tailoring of the meals; and a 6-session telephone lifestyle intervention change program designed to complement the period of meal delivery and prepare for the period after meal delivery with behavioral and skill-building approaches to sustain the benefit of the intervention.

Food Subsidy

Other

$40/month food subsidy

Primary outcomes

  1. Hemoglobin A1c at Month 6

    Time frame: 6 months

    Hemoglobin A1c Level

Secondary outcomes

  1. Hemoglobin A1c at Month 12

    Time frame: 12 months

    Hemoglobin A1c Level

  2. Food Insecurity Score at Month 6

    Time frame: 6 months

    Food Insecurity Score. Score ranges from 0-10, with higher scores indicating greater food insecurity.

  3. Food Insecurity Score at Month 12

    Time frame: 12 months

    Food Insecurity Score. Score ranges from 0-10, with higher scores indicating greater food insecurity.

  4. Health-Related Quality of Life Score as assessed by PROMIS (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System)-29 at Month 6

    Time frame: 6 months

    The PROMIS-29 includes seven health related quality of life domains (Physical Functioning, Anxiety, Depression, Fatigue, Sleep Disturbance, Social Functioning, and Pain), and the pain domain has two subdomains (interference and intensity). Raw scores, except pain intensity, are transformed using the T-score metric based on the item response theory calibrations in which scores have a mean of 50 and standard deviation of 10 for the general population in the US. A higher PROMIS T-score implies more of the concept being measured; i.e., a higher PROMIS score on physical function indicates better functioning, whereas a higher score on depression indicates more severe depressive symptoms. Will report overall score and scores for each domain. From these data we will also calculate a PROMIS-Preference (PROPr score) (PROPr scores range from -0.022 (worst) to 1.0 (best)).

  5. Health-Related Quality of Life Score as assessed by PROMIS-29 at Month 12

    Time frame: 12 months

    The PROMIS-29 includes seven health related quality of life domains (Physical Functioning, Anxiety, Depression, Fatigue, Sleep Disturbance, Social Functioning, and Pain), and the pain domain has two subdomains (interference and intensity). Raw scores, except pain intensity, are transformed using the T-score metric based on the item response theory calibrations in which scores have a mean of 50 and standard deviation of 10 for the general population in the US. A higher PROMIS T-score implies more of the concept being measured; i.e., a higher PROMIS score on physical function indicates better functioning, whereas a higher score on depression indicates more severe depressive symptoms. Will report overall score and scores for each domain. From these data we will also calculate a PROMIS-Preference (PROPr score) (PROPr scores range from -0.022 (worst) to 1.0 (best)).

  6. Diabetes Distress Score as assessed by PAID (Problem Areas in Diabetes)-11 at Month 6

    Time frame: 6 months

    Score ranges from 11-55 with higher scores indicating greater diabetes distress

  7. Diabetes Distress Score as assessed by PAID-11 at Month 12

    Time frame: 12 months

    Score ranges from 11-55 with higher scores indicating greater diabetes distress

  8. Depressive Symptom Score at Month 6

    Time frame: 6 months

    Depressive Symptoms as assessed by PROMIS SF (Short Form) v1.0 - Depression 4a. Raw scores are transformed using the T-score metric based on the item response theory calibrations in which scores have a mean of 50 and standard deviation of 10 for the general population in the US. A higher PROMIS T-score implies more of the concept being measured; i.e., a higher PROMIS score on depression indicates more severe depressive symptoms.

  9. Depressive Symptom Score at Month 12

    Time frame: 12 months

    Depressive Symptoms as assessed by PROMIS SF v1.0 - Depression 4a. Raw scores are transformed using the T-score metric based on the item response theory calibrations in which scores have a mean of 50 and standard deviation of 10 for the general population in the US. A higher PROMIS T-score implies more of the concept being measured; i.e., a higher PROMIS score on depression indicates more severe depressive symptoms.

  10. Frequency of self-reported hypoglycemia at Month 6

    Time frame: 6 months

    Categorized by number of episodes on prior 3 months

  11. Frequency of self-reported hypoglycemia at Month 12

    Time frame: 12 months

    Categorized by number of episodes on prior 3 months

  12. Frequency of self-reported severe hypoglycemia at Month 6

    Time frame: 6 months

    Categorized by number of episodes on prior 3 months

  13. Frequency of self-reported severe hypoglycemia at Month 12

    Time frame: 12 months

    Categorized by number of episodes on prior 3 months

Other outcomes

  1. Bodyweight at Month 6

    Time frame: 6 months

    Bodyweight measured in Kg

  2. Bodyweight at Month 12

    Time frame: 12 months

    Bodyweight measured in Kg

  3. Systolic Blood Pressure at Month 6

    Time frame: 6 months

    Systolic blood pressure in mm Hg

  4. Systolic Blood Pressure at Month 12

    Time frame: 12 months

    Systolic blood pressure in mm Hg

  5. Diastolic Blood Pressure at Month 6

    Time frame: 6 months

    Diastolic blood pressure measured in mm Hg

  6. Diastolic Blood Pressure at Month 12

    Time frame: 12 months

    Diastolic blood pressure in mm Hg

  7. Diet Quality Score at Month 6

    Time frame: 6 months

    Diet Quality as assessed by Brief Dietary Assessment Scale. This score is comprised of 3 sections (or subscales) used to assess dietary patterns. Subscales are scored independently. The subscales are: Vegetables, Fruit, Whole Grains, and Beans subscale (range 0 - 20), Drinks, Desserts, Snacks, Eating Out, and Salt subscale (range 0- 20), and Fish, Meat, Poultry, Dairy, and Eggs subscale (range 0-10): Total score equals the sum of the 3 subscales. For subscales and total score, higher scores indicates better diet quality.

  8. Diet Quality Score at Month 12

    Time frame: 12 months

    Diet Quality as assessed by Brief Dietary Assessment Scale. This score is comprised of 3 sections (or subscales) used to assess dietary patterns. Subscales are scored independently. The subscales are: Vegetables, Fruit, Whole Grains, and Beans subscale (range 0 - 20), Drinks, Desserts, Snacks, Eating Out, and Salt subscale (range 0- 20), and Fish, Meat, Poultry, Dairy, and Eggs subscale (range 0-10): Total score equals the sum of the 3 subscales. For subscales and total score, higher scores indicates better diet quality.

  9. Cost-Related Medication Underuse at Month 6

    Time frame: 6 months

    Any affirmative response to cost-related medication underuse items

  10. Cost-Related Medication Underuse at Month 12

    Time frame: 12 months

    Any affirmative response to cost-related medication underuse items

  11. ARMS-D (Adherence to Refills and Medications Scale-Diabetes) Medication Adherence Score at Month 6

    Time frame: 6 months

    Medication Adherence as assessed by 7-item ARMS-D scale. Scores range from 7 to 28, with higher scores indicating more problems with adherence.

  12. ARMS-D Medication Adherence Score at Month 12

    Time frame: 12 months

    Medication Adherence as assessed by 7-item ARMS-D scale. Scores range from 7 to 28, with higher scores indicating more problems with adherence.

  13. Diabetes Self-Care Activities Medication Adherence Score at Month 6

    Time frame: 6 months

    Medication Adherence as assessed by 1-item summary of diabetes self-care activities measure. Scores range from 0-7 with higher scores indicating better adherence.

  14. Diabetes Self-Care Activities Medication Adherence Score at Month 12

    Time frame: 12 months

    Medication Adherence as assessed by 1-item summary of diabetes self-care activities measure. Scores range from 0-7 with higher scores indicating better adherence.

  15. Food/Medication Trade-offs at Month 6

    Time frame: 6 months

    Single item-indicators of trading off medication for food or food for medication. An affirmative response indicates the presence of a trade-off.

  16. Food/Medication Trade-offs at Month 12

    Time frame: 12 months

    Single item-indicators of trading off medication for food or food for medication. An affirmative response indicates the presence of a trade-off.

  17. Housing Insecurity at Month 6

    Time frame: 6 months

    Self-report of being worried about losing housing

  18. Housing Insecurity Score at Month 12

    Time frame: 12 months

    Self-report of being worried about losing housing

  19. Transportation Barriers at Month 6

    Time frame: 6 months

    Self-report of transportation barriers to attending medical appointments

  20. Transportation Barriers at Month 12

    Time frame: 12 months

    Self-report of transportation barriers to attending medical appointments

  21. Financial Strain

    Time frame: 6 months

    Self-report of financial strain

  22. Financial Strain

    Time frame: 12 months

    Self-report of financial strain

  23. Care Delay at Month 6

    Time frame: 6 months

    Self-report of delaying healthcare due to cost

  24. Care Delay at Month 12

    Time frame: 12 months

    Self-report of delaying healthcare due to cost

  25. Diet Self-Efficacy Score at Month 6

    Time frame: 6 months

    Diet Self-Efficacy as assessed by cardiac diet self-efficacy scale. Scores range from 16 to 80 with higher scores indicating greater self-efficacy.

  26. Diet Self-Efficacy Score at Month 12

    Time frame: 12 months

    Diet Self-Efficacy as assessed by cardiac diet self-efficacy scale. Scores range from 16 to 80 with higher scores indicating greater self-efficacy.

  27. Perceived Diabetes Self-Management Self-Efficacy Score at Month 6

    Time frame: 6 months

    Diabetes Self-Efficacy as assessed by Perceived Diabetes Self-Management Scale. Scores range from 8 to 40 with higher scores indicating greater self-efficacy

  28. Perceived Diabetes Self-Management Self-Efficacy Score at Month 12

    Time frame: 12 months

    Diabetes Self-Efficacy as assessed by Perceived Diabetes Self-Management Scale. Scores range from 8 to 40 with higher scores indicating greater self-efficacy

  29. Stress Score at 6 months

    Time frame: 6 months

    Stress as assessed by perceived stress scale. Scores range from 0 to 40 with higher scores indicating higher perceived stress.

  30. Stress Score at 12 months

    Time frame: 12 months

    Stress as assessed by perceived stress scale. Scores range from 0 to 40 with higher scores indicating higher perceived stress.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Other

Collaborators

  • Community Servings
  • Massachusetts General Hospital
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Registry information

Official study title

Food is Medicine: A Randomized Clinical Trial of Medically Tailored Meals For Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Food Insecurity

Acronym: FAME-D

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2026
First posted
Apr 2, 2021
Registry last updated
Apr 22, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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