Group Visits for High Risk Type 1 Diabetes (T1D)

Dyads of youth with T1D aged 8-12 years and their primary diabetes caretakers identifying as non-Hispanic Black or Latinx will be recruited to participate in a pilot prospective cohort study exploring feasibility and acceptability of SMA and the impact on glycemic control, self-management skills, and health related quality of life. This trial will employ an enrollment visit, SMA visits every 3 months over a 12-month study period, and a follow-up 6-month observational period to continue to evaluate outcomes once patients return to routine individual follow up care. The study will include the intervention group participating in the SMA visits (n=20).

All staff participating in the SMA visit will receive comprehensive training on how to facilitate the SMA discussion sessions effectively. All topics that will be covered at each SMA visit will be reviewed by the study staff ahead of the visit. Potential participants will be screened for participation using our electronic medical records system and will be approached during routine clinical visits. After explaining all study procedures, informed consent using an IRB-approved consent form will be obtained for all participants. After obtaining consent, a blinded Dexcom G6 CGM will be placed on the participant. Participants will be instructed to wear the blinded CGM for 10 days in order to obtain baseline glycemic control data prior to starting the SMA visit intervention. At the completion of the 10 day wear period, participants will mail back the blinded CGM in a pre-addressed envelope so that the data can be assessed within 30 days of the wear time. Because SMA visits will be used in place of routine clinic visits and because participants will not require any additional in person study visits, the investigators anticipate significant interest in participation with minimal barriers. Secure REDCap surveys will be sent to participants via email 1 week before each follow-up visit. If the surveys have not been completed at the time of the visit the participant will be asked to complete the measures using an iPad or paper in clinic at the time of their visit. Youth who elected not to use a CGM for routine clinical care, will be asked to wear a blinded professional CGM for 10 days prior to each visit whenever possible.

SMA Structure: SMAs will consist of 4-6 underserved youth with T1D and their primary diabetes caregiver. All youth and caretakers will complete standard check-in procedures with the clinic medical staff, including routine clinical intake questionnaires, vital sign assessments and point-of-care fingerstick A1c measurements. Before each session, dyads will be invited to submit questions to the research team that will then be anonymously reviewed and discussed among the group during the SMA. In the event that no questions are submitted by families, the facilitator will begin the discussion with stories and questions related to technology use and potential barriers in order to focus the discussion on the aspect of diabetes management being highlighted in that specific SMA. After discussing the questions, the facilitator will lead a group discussion focusing on the topic of the day. During each visit, the facilitator role will be shared by a pediatric endocrinologist, CDCES, nutritionist, and psychologist. Youth and caregivers will individually meet with the endocrinologist at different time points during the session to update personal management plans and goals of care. The group visit will conclude with a review of the core concepts discussed. Youth will be encouraged to set and share individual goals to be addressed before the next SMA.

Enrollment visit: This visit will occur at a routine clinic visit once a patient expresses interest in participating in the study. Alternatively, patients expressing interest in enrolling who are unable to do so at a routine clinic visit will have the option to come back for enrollment at a different time. A study team member will meet with the patient and family to review the study details and obtain consent. A blinded Dexcom G6 pro CGM will be placed on the patient and be worn for 10 days in order to collect baseline data prior to starting the intervention. Phone applications that will allow for sharing of CGM data between patients and the diabetes clinical care team will be downloaded and established before the end of the visit.

Initial SMA: The structure of the group visits will be reviewed with patients and families, and all members of the diabetes team will introduce themselves and explain their role in diabetes care. As some patients will be CGM naïve before this visit, education will focus on insertion and removal of the CGM along with appropriate use of the CGM receiver, alerts and alarms, data sharing, and troubleshooting common CGM problems. Established sharing of CGM data between patients and the diabetes clinical care team will be confirmed before the end of the visit. The group visit will conclude with a review of the core concepts discussed, and patients will set goals for the next SMA.

Follow Up SMA: Follow up SMA will be scheduled 3, 6, 9, and 12 months from the initial group visit. CGM data from 14 days prior to each SMA will be reviewed by the endocrinologist ahead of the group visit. Discussions and education guided by the facilitators will focus on issues that have been described in the literature as potential barriers to CGM use and adherence. Recurrent alerts and alarms can result in alarm fatigue, and falsely low glucose readings and sensor or transmitter failures have been cited as reasons for discontinuing CGM use. The continuous nature of CGM data has been shown to place significant demands on patients and their families, and to create stress related to the constant need for diabetes-related attention. Follow up visits will focus on optimized use of CGM alarms and prevention of alarm fatigue. Psychologists and CDCES will discuss strategies to cope with the on-body presence and potential embarrassment resulting from CGM wear and to optimize parent-child communication surrounding CGM. Nutritionists will highlight the impact of different foods on glycemic trends and discuss strategies to optimize control. SMA will also allow ample opportunity to jointly review de-identified CGM reports and how to effectively interpret data and make management changes in response to CGM data, empowering patients and families to improve self-management and reduce stress related to CGM use. Active participation in discussions and group exercises will continue to strengthen the community feeling and social support network within the SMA group. Any participant that chooses to discontinue CGM during the 12 month study period will wear a blinded CGM 10 days prior to the follow up visits to allow for complete data collection. Upon completion of the final SMA visit at month 12, dyads will be contacted to schedule a semi-structured interview and will then return to standard clinical care.

3-Month and 6-Month Post-Intervention Follow-Ups: Survey measures and assessments of glycemic control will be repeated after 3 months and 6 months of routine clinical care to assess for long-lasting effects of the intervention.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients clinically diagnosed with T1D managed with insulin injections for at least 1 year
• Non-Hispanic Black or Latinx ethnicity
• Public healthcare insurance
• Male or female ages ≥ 8 and < 12 years
• Poorly controlled T1D: one A1c value > 8% in the preceding year
• Fluent in English as the Dexcom technology is currently available only in English
• Participation of the primary diabetes caregiver

Exclusion criteria

• Use of insulin pump therapy for diabetes management at time of enrollment
• Major illnesses other than T1D
• Significant cognitive limitations and major psychiatric disorders in the child or
• Concurrent use of any non-insulin diabetes medication to control blood glucose levels.
• Concurrent participation in any other clinical studies during study period