Cultivating Healthy Environments in Families With Type 1 Diabetes (CHEF)

Background:

• Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a common chronic disease in children, occurring in approximately 1 of every 400 to 600 children. Children with T1D are unable to produce insulin, a hormone that allows the body to use glucose from food. Children with T1D manage their diabetes by taking insulin, monitoring their blood glucose levels, and watching their diet, including carbohydrates.
• Carbohydrates come from many different kinds of food, and recent research has shown that different foods have a different effect on the level of glucose in the blood. In general, whole, unprocessed foods (e.g., fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes) have a lower glycemic index (GI), which means that they cause smaller, more sustained blood sugar levels. Additionally, these foods are rich in nutrients. Nutrient-poor carbohydrates come from foods made with refined grains and sugars, such as breads, crackers, and breakfast cereals; they general cause a more rapid increases in blood sugar (i.e., a high GI). Lower GI diets may help people with T1D manage their blood glucose levels more easily.

Objectives:

• To determine the utility of a whole foods, low GI diet in the management of T1D.
• To determine the utility of a behavioral intervention to promote healthful family dietary behaviors, including eating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, and fewer refined carbohydrates.
• To determine how the dietary intervention affects quality of life, satisfaction with the diet, and risk for problem eating behaviors.

Eligibility:

• Children 8 to 16 years of age who have been diagnosed with T1D for more than 12 months, and who use insulin injections to maintain normal blood glucose levels.

Design:

• Families will be divided into two groups: an intervention group that will participate in intensive dietary intervention and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and a control group that will not have the dietary intervention but will have CGM and scheduled contacts with study staff.
• Intervention group families will have 11 family-based and 2 group-based sessions consisting of behavioral techniques and educational content about eating nutrient-dense, low GI foods. CGM results will give families feedback about how their diet affects blood glucose levels. At least one parent and the child with T1D will participate in the intervention.
• Intervention topics will consist of goal setting, behavior self-monitoring, educational information, and problem solving, among others. Parents and children will record the foods they eat.
• Control group families will participate in 11 family-based sessions consisting of CGM feedback.
• Assessments will be conducted at 6, 12, and 18 months, and medical record information, including blood and urine testing, will be obtained at each routine clinic visit.