Impact of a Virtual Diabetes Self-Care and Education Program on Diabetes-related Outcomes in Latinos With T2 Diabetes

Not Applicable

Completed

Interventions: Behavioral: Virtual Diabetes Self-Care and Education Program
Device: Fitbit
Device: Smartphone

Brief Summary: The goal of this study is to evaluate the impact of a comprehensive diabetes education and management program based on frequent communication with patients using teleconsultation, text messaging, and phone calls on diabetes related outcomes in Latino patients with type 2 diabetes. The investigators hypothesize that the decline in hemoglobin A1c value between the baseline and the six-month visit will be at least 0.5 percent greater in the intervention group than in the control group.

Detailed Description: In this study participants will be followed for a period of 9 months. The control group will receive usual care during this period of time. While, the intervention group will be part of a diabetes education and management program lasting 6 months via a smartphone participants will receive. The 6 month intervention will be followed by a 3 month observation period.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Have physician-diagnosed type 2 diabetes
Be self-identified as Hispanic or Latino
An A1c value between 8-14% within the last three months.
Demonstrate the ability, either alone or with the help of a family member that will be with the patient at least once a week, to use the technology that will be used during the teleconsultations

Exclusion Criteria

Severe diabetes related chronic complications such as chronic renal failure, blindness, amputations, stroke, etc.
Concomitant chronic illnesses that would affect their participation in the program, i.e. cancer, debilitating diseases, etc.
Any other condition that would affect participant's basic mental health skills
Type 1 diabetes or gestational diabetes
Patients with abnormal hemoglobin, anemia or any condition that may affect red blood cell turnover. Any of these conditions may be detected through participants' history or through the laboratory report at study screening
Signs or symptoms of metabolic decompensation (polyuria, polydypsia, polyphagia, unexplained weight loss, blurry vision, lethargy, etc.)

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Intervention	Fitbit	Patients in this group will be part of a Virtual Diabetes Self-Care and Education Program. They will receive a phone to communicate with a diabetes educator for 6 months. They will connect with the diabetes educator for weekly video conferences of up to 30 minutes for twelve consecutive weeks, followed by 7 phone calls. Additionally, they will receive a weekly text message about diabetes for 6 months.
Intervention	Smartphone	Patients in this group will be part of a Virtual Diabetes Self-Care and Education Program. They will receive a phone to communicate with a diabetes educator for 6 months. They will connect with the diabetes educator for weekly video conferences of up to 30 minutes for twelve consecutive weeks, followed by 7 phone calls. Additionally, they will receive a weekly text message about diabetes for 6 months.
Intervention	Virtual Diabetes Self-Care and Education Program	Patients in this group will be part of a Virtual Diabetes Self-Care and Education Program. They will receive a phone to communicate with a diabetes educator for 6 months. They will connect with the diabetes educator for weekly video conferences of up to 30 minutes for twelve consecutive weeks, followed by 7 phone calls. Additionally, they will receive a weekly text message about diabetes for 6 months.

Primary Outcome Measures