Social Media Intervention for Type 1 Diabetes

Overseen By Faisal Malik, MD

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Seattle Children's Hospital

Disqualifiers: Pregnancy, Severe comorbidities, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 6 months

60 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether Instagram can help teens manage type 1 diabetes more effectively. Participants will either receive diabetes education and peer support via Instagram or continue with their usual care routine. The goal is to determine if the social media approach is practical and beneficial for blood sugar levels and personal experiences. Teens who have had type 1 diabetes for over a year, use a Dexcom glucose monitor, and are comfortable with Instagram might be suitable candidates. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to explore innovative diabetes management through social media.

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 focused on social media support for diabetes management, so it's likely you can continue your usual treatment.

What prior data suggests that this social media intervention is safe for adolescents with type 1 diabetes?

Research has shown that using social media for diabetes education can be safe and helpful. Studies have found that platforms like Instagram support young people with type 1 diabetes by offering community support and useful information. These social networks provide ways to learn self-care skills, such as managing blood sugar levels, without causing physical harm.

However, while social media itself doesn't have direct physical side effects, some studies suggest that excessive use might distract users from managing their condition.

Overall, using social media for diabetes education is generally well-received, but users should balance their online time with their diabetes care routines. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the social media intervention for type 1 diabetes because it introduces a fresh approach to diabetes education and support. Unlike traditional care, which involves visits to a multidisciplinary team and communication through phone or MyChart, this method leverages Instagram to engage adolescents with diabetes. This approach aims to make diabetes management more interactive and relatable by fostering community support among peers. By integrating education into a social media platform, it has the potential to enhance adherence and motivation in a way that resonates with younger patients.

What evidence suggests that this social media intervention is effective for managing type 1 diabetes?

Research has shown that social media can help people manage diabetes effectively. In this trial, participants in the social media intervention arm will receive diabetes education and support through Instagram. One study found that social media programs improved patients' understanding and self-care for diabetes. Another study discovered that people who used social media for diabetes education had better blood sugar levels than those who didn't. Additionally, watching educational videos on social media significantly lowered long-term blood sugar levels, as measured by HbA1c. These findings suggest that social media can be a useful tool for managing diabetes. ^{1 5 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Faisal S Malik, MD, MSHS

Principal Investigator

Seattle Children's Hospital

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for English-speaking adolescents with type 1 diabetes who have had it for at least a year, an HbA1c level over 7.0%, and use a Dexcom CGM device. They must be able to use Instagram and complete surveys but can't join if they're pregnant, wards of the state, or have severe health conditions that affect daily life.

Inclusion Criteria

I passed the Social Media Preference Screener.

I have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes for over a year.

I have a personal Instagram account.

Exclusion Criteria

I have severe health conditions that affect my daily life significantly.

I am pregnant and understand my diabetes care will change.

Patient is a ward of the state

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive diabetes education and peer support over Instagram in addition to usual care

6 months

Ongoing virtual engagement via Instagram

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in glucose levels and person-reported outcomes

6 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Social Media

Trial Overview The study tests whether using Instagram for diabetes education and peer support helps manage type 1 diabetes in adolescents compared to standard care. Participants are randomly chosen to either get this new social media-based intervention or continue their usual outpatient care.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Social Media Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

In addition to receiving usual care, participants enrolled in the social media arm will receive diabetes education and support over the course of 6 months by following the study team's Instagram page and engaging with the study team and other adolescent participants on Instagram.

Group II: Usual Care Active Control 1 Intervention

Usual care reflects the standard treatment currently provided to adolescents living with type 1 diabetes. Every adolescent with diabetes is cared for by a team of diabetes specialists which includes a provider (MD, Physician Assistant and/or Nurse Practitioner), registered nurse, nutritionist and social worker. Adolescents with type 1 diabetes are seen by their multidisciplinary team approximately every 3 months. In addition, they have access to their multidisciplinary care team via telephone and/or MyChart communication as often as is necessary between clinic visits.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Seattle Children's Hospital

Lead Sponsor

Trials

319

Recruited

5,232,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10012373/

Use of Social Media as a Platform for Education and ... The aim of this study was to understand whether a social media platform is a viable method to deliver education to people with diabetes.

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8987969/

Social Media–Delivered Patient Education to Enhance Self ... Conclusions. The social media–based program was effective at enhancing the knowledge, attitudes, and self-care activities of patients with diabetes. This ...

3. cureus.com cureus.com/articles/391903-the-role-of-social-media-in-enhancing-diabetes-knowledge-and-health-behaviors-a-cross-sectional-study

The Role of Social Media in Enhancing Diabetes ... A majority of participants perceived social media as helpful for diabetes education (Table 5). Of the 430 respondents, 139 (32.3%) reported that ...

4. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352013220300739

Comparative efficacy of social media delivered health ... Several studies have shown patient education delivered via group chatroom had better glucose outcomes, compared to education as usual. •.

5. onlinelibrary.wiley.com onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/dmrr.3722

The use of videos for diabetes patient education: A ... Patients who persistently viewed videos throughout the year had 0.6% greater decline in HbA1c compared to those who viewed rarely (p < 0.001).

6. joslin.org joslin.org/news-stories/all-news-stories/news/2025/08/joslin-experts-explored-how-social-media-affects-self-care

Joslin Diabetes Center Experts Explored How Social ... Study finds Instagram can support young adults with type 1 diabetes by fostering community and sharing info, but may also harm self-care and ...

7. jmir.org jmir.org/2025/1/e78632

Investigating Social Media Use by Young People to Self ... Background: Social media has shown promise in supporting young people with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) by providing information and ...

8. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9059190/

The role of social networks in diabetes self‐care Various self‐care educations and services provided through social networks can increase the in‐depth knowledge of diabetic patients about self‐care techniques.