Telementoring for Diabetes Care Improvement

Not currently recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Elizabeth M. Vaughan

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston

Must be taking: Oral anti-hyperglycemics

Disqualifiers: Pregnancy, Severe cognitive impairment, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to improve diabetes care in low-income and minority communities through telementoring, which provides remote guidance and support. Clinics will receive remote guidance to implement a comprehensive diabetes program that includes telehealth support, community health workers, medication access, and education. The trial will compare this approach with usual diabetes care to determine if it can better support patients. It seeks Spanish-speaking Latino adults with type 2 diabetes who are uninsured and have limited income. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative diabetes care solutions in underserved communities.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems likely that you can continue your current diabetes medications, as the trial involves mentoring clinics to improve diabetes care.

What prior data suggests that telementoring is safe for diabetes care improvement?

Research has shown that telementoring, a component of telehealth, can be safe for people with diabetes. Studies have found that telehealth effectively manages blood sugar levels, keeping them within a healthy range. One study found that telemedicine (remote medical care) not only improved HbA1c (a measure of average blood sugar over time) but also reduced the risk of moderate hypoglycemia, where blood sugar drops too low.

These findings suggest that patients generally receive telehealth, including telementoring, well. Significant negative effects from using telehealth to manage diabetes have not been reported. However, it is always important to consult healthcare providers to determine how this might work personally. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about telementoring for diabetes care because it offers a fresh approach to managing the condition. Unlike traditional in-person visits with healthcare providers, telementoring uses virtual connections to provide continuous support and guidance. This approach can make diabetes care more accessible, especially for people in remote areas, and potentially improve patient outcomes by providing timely interventions. Additionally, telementoring empowers patients with ongoing education and personalized advice, which could lead to better self-management of diabetes.

What evidence suggests that telementoring is effective for diabetes care improvement?

Research has shown that telehealth can effectively help manage diabetes. In this trial, participants in the intervention arm will receive a 12-month diabetes program utilizing telementoring, a form of telehealth. Studies have found that telehealth improves blood sugar levels more than regular care, with a noticeable drop in blood sugar levels. Patients using telehealth have also experienced better results in managing diabetes-related stress and self-care. Video calls, a common telehealth method, have successfully improved HbA1c levels, which measure long-term blood sugar control. Additionally, telemedicine programs that include diet and exercise have helped improve body fat and blood sugar levels. Overall, telehealth offers a promising way to enhance diabetes management effectively. ^{1 3 4 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Elizabeth Vaughan, DO

Principal Investigator

UTMB

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for Spanish-speaking adults over 18 with type 2 diabetes, an HbA1c level of at least 6.5%, and taking oral diabetes medication. Participants must be uninsured, below the poverty line, and self-identify as Latino(a). It's not for those who miss group visits, have conditions affecting HbA1c levels or need frequent clinic visits.

Inclusion Criteria

I have type 2 diabetes with an HbA1c level of 6.5% or higher and am taking oral medication for it.

I speak Spanish.

Uninsured and below 150% of the federal poverty level

Exclusion Criteria

No show to all group visits

You are not able to receive care in a group setting, such as if you are pregnant or have severe memory or thinking problems.

You have a condition that may change your HbA1c levels, like having had a recent blood transfusion.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants receive a 12-month diabetes program involving telehealth support, integrated CHWs, medication access, and diabetes education

12 months

Monthly individual appointments with pharm-Ds or nutritionists

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for clinical changes including HbA1c, blood pressure, cholesterol, and BMI

24 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Telementoring

Trial Overview The study tests a telementoring program called TIME that helps local clinics start a comprehensive diabetes care initiative. The focus is on integrating community health workers (CHWs), improving medication access, and providing group education through telehealth support.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Usual Care (UC) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

We will define UC as usual clinical care, which consists of diabetes management provider encounters (mean quarterly) plus monthly individual appointments with a pharm-Ds or nutritionists as clinically indicated. In addition, clinics offer multiple other individual and group opportunities.

Group II: Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Intervention individuals will receive the 12-month diabetes program

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston

Lead Sponsor

Trials

263

Recruited

55,400+

Baylor College of Medicine

Collaborator

Trials

1,044

Recruited

6,031,000+

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Collaborator

Trials

2,513

Recruited

4,366,000+

University of Texas

Collaborator

Trials

193

Recruited

143,000+

The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Collaborator

Trials

974

Recruited

361,000+

University of Houston

Collaborator

Trials

155

Recruited

48,600+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Project ECHO is a telementoring program that enhances the management of complex diseases like diabetes in underserved areas by allowing multiple patients to benefit from shared expertise, rather than just one-on-one specialist consultations.

The Endo ECHO program, specifically designed for patients with complex diabetes in rural New Mexico, is undergoing a 4-year evaluation to assess its impact on health outcomes, healthcare utilization, and cost-effectiveness, potentially serving as a model for similar initiatives globally.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Taking Telemedicine to the Next Level in Diabetes Population Management: a Review of the Endo ECHO Model. Bouchonville, MF., Paul, MM., Billings, J., et al.[2018]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6221638/

Evaluation of the clinical outcomes of telehealth for ... Telehealth was more effective than usual care in controlling the glycemic index in diabetes patients (weighted mean difference = −0.22%; 95% confidence ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10210114/

Role of Telemedicine in Diabetes Management - PMC Telehealth platforms have been shown to be both feasible and effective for health care delivery in diabetes, although there are many caveats that require ...

3. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2794747

Effect of a Comprehensive Telehealth Intervention vs ... At 12 months, patients receiving comprehensive telehealth had significantly greater improvements in diabetes distress, diabetes self-care, and ...

4. bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12913-025-12496-0

Effect of virtual care in type 2 diabetes management Three reviews [32, 34, 44] reported that video conferencing was effective in improving HbA1c levels over periods ranging from 3–12 months.

5. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1871402125000694

a systematic review and meta-analysis of interventions Our comprehensive review found that diet and exercise interventions delivered using telemedicine improved adiposity and blood glucose but not blood lipids or ...

6. bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12913-025-12401-9

Assessing the impact of telehealth on blood glucose ... This study demonstrates that telehealth interventions significantly enhance blood glucose management among patients with diabetes.

7. dom-pubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com dom-pubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/dom.15470

Technology and health inequities in diabetes care: How do we ... In this article, we will explore the evidence for using digital health technologies and some of the drivers of the 'digital divide', and suggest ...