MyT1DHero: an mHealth Intervention for Type 1 Diabetes

MyT1DHero: A Randomized Controlled Trial of an mHealth Intervention to Improve Parent-child Communication and Adolescent Self-management of Type 1 Diabetes

The overall objective of the proposed research is to improve HbA1c, adherence to treatment plans, and family communication surrounding adolescents' self-management of T1D. The investigators will test the efficacy of the MyT1DHero app against an attention control group. This will allow investigators to better understand the health and psychosocial improvements being made through the app.

This research seeks to realize the potential and test the efficacy of MyT1DHero to improve adolescent users' glycemic control and adherence to blood glucose monitoring. The investigators' goal is to help families receive more social support, and to improve diabetes knowledge, self-efficacy, family communication, and quality of life. The investigators further seek to decrease family conflict among children with T1D and their parents. In a 12-month RCT, investigators will randomize 166 adolescents and their parents to one of two groups: (1) attention control, or (2) the MyT1DHero app. Adolescents enrolled in the study will be 10-15 years old, and will have been living with T1D for <1 year or >5 years at the start of the study. The primary outcome will be a change in the participants' HbA1C from baseline levels at the start of the study, to levels measured after 12 months.

Inclusion Criteria:

• The adolescents must:

  1. have a T1D diagnosis according to the ADA practice guidelines,
  2. be 10 to 15 years old,
  3. have had a diagnosis of T1D for at least six months,
  4. have an HbA1c > 7,
  5. have had at least two outpatient visits in the past two years,
  6. be treated at Spectrum for diabetes,
  7. be fluent in English,
  8. have a parent/guardian willing to participate,
  9. have and be allowed to use a mobile phone for the study, and
  10. have permission from their care team to participate.

The parent/guardian must:

1. have an adolescent with T1D who is 10 to 15 years old,
2. be fluent in English, and
3. have daily access to email and the Internet (for appointment reminders and technical support).

Exclusion Criteria:

• For the adolescents include:

  1. significant medical conditions other than T1D,
  2. being treated for thyroid disorders, celiac disease, or eating disorders, and
  3. being in foster care.

Exclusion criteria for both the adolescents and parents/guardians include:

(a) a diagnosis of a major psychiatric or neurocognitive disorder (e.g., traumatic brain injury, dementia, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, and intellectual and developmental disabilities.