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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04632849

The Use of Libre to Improve Metabolic Control and Reduce Reliance on Medication

GEM (Glycemic Excursion Minimization) is a new lifestyle treatment for type 2 diabetes that aims to lower glucose levels after meals and snacks. This is different from the current lifestyle treatment, which is to lose weight. This study is trying to find out if people who are newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes can use a continuous glucose monitor together with the GEM lifestyle to improve control of their diabetes. Study participants will follow the GEM lifestyle for 4 months (1 month of treatment and 3 months of maintenance) instead of seeking usual care (medications or weight loss programs) to lower blood glucose.

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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

35 year–85 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Dept. of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, University of Virginia

Charlottesville, Virginia, 22908, United States

About this study

For people who are newly diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), it might be possible to delay or prevent the need for diabetic medications by reducing postprandial glucose (PPG). Our Glycemic Excursion Minimization (GEM) lifestyle intervention can reduce PPG, but it depends on blood glucose feedback to help the user learn what elevates their PPG. This study examines if continuous feedback from the Libre 2 continuous glucose monitor (CGM) will be advantageous for reaching the goals of GEM. We will recruit 18 adult participants newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes who are interested in using the Libre 2 CGM. Six participants will be recruited from each of the primary care clinics at the University of Virginia (Dr. Cox), the University of Colorado (Dr. Oser) and the University of West Virginia, East Branch (Dr. Cucuzzella). Each site will also search their medical records to select 4 participants who match their study participants, meet the study criteria, but are being treated with routine care. These data will form the Routine Care control group (n=12). Routine Care participants will follow their doctor's treatment recommendations, while GEM participants will complete the 1-month, self-directed GEM lifestyle training using the Libre 2 CGM and a FitBit to monitor progress. They will then maintain the GEM lifestyle for 3 more months. The Total Treatment Effect (a measure of treatment effectiveness that considers both A1c and medication changes) will be calculated pre- and post-treatment from medical record data. CGM data from GEM participants will be collected and analyzed. CGM sensor use will be tracked to estimate participant engagement. We anticipate this multi-center pilot project will demonstrate the benefits of using Libre 2 with a structured lifestyle intervention designed to reduce postprandial blood glucose excursions for individuals newly diagnosed with T2D.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

(GEM group)

  • Provision of signed and dated informed consent form.
  • Willing to comply with study procedures and be available for the entire study.
  • 35 to 85 years of age, inclusive.
  • Diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes within the last 12 months.
  • HbA1c between 6.5% and 11.5%.
  • Medical record contains HbA1c, lipid panel, BMI and blood pressure measures collected in the past three months.

Inclusion criteria

(Routine Care group)

  • 35 to 85 years of age, inclusive.
  • Diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes within the last 12 months.
  • HbA1c between 6.5% and 11.5%.
  • Medical record contains HbA1c, lipid panel, BMI and blood pressure measures collected in the past three months.

Exclusion criteria

(GEM group):

  • Has Type 1 Diabetes
  • Currently takes diabetes medication
  • Currently takes medication that can interfere with metabolic control, such as prednisone
  • Has a condition that precludes a low carbohydrate diet, such as gastroparesis
  • Has a physical or medical condition that precludes walking 120 steps per minute, for 10 minutes or longer
  • Has kidney disease.
  • Is receiving cancer treatment
  • Cannot speak English
  • Has blindness
  • Is pregnant or anticipates becoming pregnant in the next 4 months
  • Anticipates moving away within the next 4 months

Exclusion criteria

(Routine Care group): Individuals who met any of the following criteria in the first year after their T2D diagnosis will be excluded from the Routine Care group

  • Took medication that can interfere with metabolic control, such as prednisone
  • Had a condition that precludes a low carbohydrate diet, such as gastroparesis
  • Had a physical or medical condition that precludes walking 120 steps per minute, for 10 minutes or longer
  • Had kidney disease.
  • Was receiving cancer treatment
  • Was pregnant

Treatment and study plan

GEM + CGM

Behavioral

Participants follow the GEM guidebook for 4 months (1 month of intervention and 3 months of maintenance) while wearing a FitBit activity monitor and a Freestyle Libre 2 CGM to provide feedback about activity and blood glucose. The GEM guidebook covers Routine choices, Recovering from blood glucose excursions, Reducing blood glucose excursions, and Maintenance.

Primary outcomes

  1. Total Treatment Effect (TTE)

    Time frame: Change from baseline TTE at 3 months post-intervention

    Measures the effect of the intervention on HbA1c. The TTE factors out the confounding effects of diabetes medications on HbA1c by adjusting for each medication's HbA1c-lowering equivalent.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Blood glucose

    Time frame: Change from baseline blood glucose at 3 months post-intervention

    CGM measurement of blood glucose time in range, time above 150 mg/dL and time above 180 mg/dL Higher time in range means better outcomes.Higher time above 150 and 180 mg/dL means worse outcomes.

  2. Physical activity

    Time frame: Change from baseline physical activity at 3 months post-intervention

    FitBit measurement of hours active, active minutes, and total steps. Higher activity means better outcomes.

  3. Food Choice Questionnaire: High Glycemic Load (HGL)

    Time frame: Change from baseline Food Choice Questionnaire HGL at 3 months post-intervention

    Measures the servings of HGL foods eaten in a typical week. The scale ranges from 0 to no maximum. Higher scores mean worse outcomes.

  4. Food Choice Questionnaire: Low Glycemic Load (LGL)

    Time frame: Change from baseline Food Choice Questionnaire LGL at 3 months post-intervention

    Measures the servings of LGL foods eaten in a typical week. The scale ranges from 0 to no maximum. Higher scores mean better outcomes.

  5. Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8)

    Time frame: Change from baseline PHQ-8 at 3 months post-intervention

    Measures depressive symptoms. The scale ranges from 0 to 24. Higher scores mean worse outcomes.

  6. Diabetes Knowledge Scale

    Time frame: Change from baseline Diabetes Knowledge Scale at 3 months post-intervention

    Measures diabetes-related knowledge. The scale ranges from 0 to 26. Higher scores mean better outcomes.

  7. Diabetes Empowerment Scale

    Time frame: Change from baseline Diabetes Empowerment Scale at 3 months post-intervention

    Measures the psychosocial self-efficacy of people with diabetes. The scale ranges from 0 to 40. Higher scores mean better outcomes.

  8. Diabetes Distress Scale (Emotional Distress & Regimen Distress subscales)

    Time frame: Change from baseline Diabetes Distress Scale at 3 months post-intervention

    Measures concerns about diabetes. Each subscale ranges from 5 to 30. Higher scores mean worse outcomes.

  9. Treatment Optimization Scale

    Time frame: Change from baseline Treatment Optimization Scale at 3 months post-intervention

    Generates user feedback about improving the intervention. The scale ranges from 43 to 215. Higher scores mean better outcomes.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Virginia

Other

Collaborators

  • University of Colorado, Denver
  • West Virginia University

Registry information

Official study title

The Use of Libre to Educate, Motivate and Activate Adults With Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes to Improve Metabolic Control and Reduce Their Reliance on Medication: A Pilot Study

Important dates

Study start
2020
Primary completion
2021
Study completion
2021
First posted
Nov 17, 2020
Registry last updated
Oct 5, 2021

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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