Custom Research Examples

Reducing Inequities in Diabetes Technology Device Use Among Patients with T1D

Partner: Medtronic

T1D Exchange Program: Quality Improvement Collaborative (T1DX-QI)

Research Goal: Reducing disparities in insulin pump and CGM use for Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black patients with T1D within 12 months.

Participants: 7,700+ across 5 pediatric and 2 adult endocrinology clinics

Results: All participating clinics increased device use in Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black patients with T1D

• Median CGM use increased by 15% in Hispanic patients with T1D
• Median CGM use increased by 12% in non-Hispanic Black patients with T1D

Our Impact: Our unique expertise in driving health equity fueled the success of this study. We used these learnings to create a guide, readily available on our website, that helps providers everywhere provide more equitable care to people with diabetes.

CGM Adhesives and Skin Irritation

Partner: Dexcom

T1D Exchange Program: Registry

Research Goal: Observing skin reactions to adhesives used in CGM technology with photo documentation by participants immediately after removing the adhesive, and again 24-72 hours later.

Participants: 362 participants

Results: All participants successfully completed all steps of this study with proper application, removal, and photographic documentation of provided adhesives. Data analysis is currently in progress.

Our Impact: Through our Registry, we can invite people with T1D who are genuinely interested in research with the potential to affect the future of diabetes technology. Our Registry platform easily enables us to identify and communicate with qualified participants.

Exploring Attitudes About Autoantibody Screening

Partner: Janssen

T1D Exchange Program: Registry, Online Community, and T1DX-QI

Research Goal: Gather experiences and perspectives on autoantibody screening from adults with T1D, caregivers of biological children with T1D, and biological siblings of people with T1D.

Participants: 26 focus group participants

Results: The most commonly perceived benefit was obtaining knowledge. Anticipated emotional burden of a potentially positive screen was a frequently reported barrier. Emotions of anxiety and relief were associated with a positive and negative result, respectively. Generally, the results demonstrated that participants had little knowledge on autoantibody screening.

Our Impact: Through our network, we were able to populate this study with a variety of ages, relationships to T1D, and real-world experience with screening.

Facilitators and Barriers to Smart Insulin Pen Use

Partner: Medtronic

T1D Exchange Program: Quality Improvement Collaborative (T1DX-QI)

Research Goal: Identify key obstacles and challenges to prescribing and using smart insulin pens.

Participants: Recruited from 21 pediatric and 7 adult endocrinology clinics

Results: We successfully identified barriers and facilitators to smart insulin pen use.

• Key barriers include: lack of provider training and awareness, cost and limited insurance coverage, lack of direct patient education, cumbersome prescribing processes
• Key benefits include: Increasing dosing accuracy, improving patient dosing confidence and adherence, improving glycemic management, reporting leads to constructive conversations and reduced conflict between provider and patients, reports provide a complete picture of glucose levels, meal intake, and dosing

Our Impact: Our established clinical research system through the T1DX-QI enables us to conduct a detailed look at processes within any provider’s standard workflow. Working with more than a dozen of our participating clinics across the country means this study reached thousands of people of varying ages, ethnicities, socioeconomic status, etc. This expansive reach enables us to capture the broad list of factors affecting smart insulin pen use.