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Benefits of Continuous Glucose Monitoring With GEM Lifestyle Modification for Adults With Type 2 Diabetes

Benefits of Adding Continuous Glucose Monitoring to Glycemic Load, Exercise, and Monitoring of Blood Glucose (GEM) for Adults With Type 2 Diabetes - Phase 2

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03207893
Enrollment
24
Registered
2017-07-05
Start date
2018-07-19
Completion date
2020-01-23
Last updated
2021-02-26

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to determine if the use of continuous glucose monitoring with the GEM lifestyle modification program (Glycemic load, Exercise and Monitoring glucose) will result in better diabetes control than routine care.

Detailed description

Type 2 diabetes (t2d) is a major epidemic of the developing world which has huge fiscal consequences and many physical complications. It is thought to be brought on in part by contemporary easy access to high energy foods and reduced physical activity, resulting in increased belly fat that culminates in growing insulin resistance and subsequent hyperglycemia. Because of ease and efficacy of medication management, t2d is primarily managed with ever-escalating medication use, which significantly contributes to medical cost and possibly the progression of the disease itself. An effective supplement or alternative to medication management is lifestyle modification. Conventional lifestyle modification focuses on reducing body fat and insulin resistance through weight reduction from caloric restriction and aerobic exercise. Sustained routine application of this approach is limited because some individuals do not need to lose weight, some do not want to lose weight, others cannot lose weight, and when successful, lifelong weight reduction is difficult to sustain. A useful paradigm shift in lifestyle treatment of t2d might be to go from reducing calories to reducing postprandial glucose (PPG), the primary contributor to glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c). PPG spikes can be prevented by replacing high with low glycemic load foods and dampened by engaging in postprandial physical activity. This is exemplified by the integrated Glycemic load, Exercise and Monitoring glucose (GEM) program. It promotes choices of low glycemic load foods and increased physical activity, directed by glucose monitoring feedback. Glucose feedback can: 1) educate people as to what food choices minimize PPG and what physical activity choices directly lower PPG, 2) activate individuals when glucose is out of their desired range by alerting them to make choices to lower high glucose or raise low glucose, and 3) motivate individuals to repeat those choices that resulted in desirable glucose consequences. The educating, activating and motivating benefits of glucose feedback are thought to be qualitatively and quantitatively enhanced through continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). It is hypothesized that, compared to Routine Care (RC), GEM with CGM (GEM+CGM) administered to adults with t2d who are failing with oral medication management will result in better diabetes control (lower HbA1c), reduced medication management (less medication), and better psychological functioning (e.g. greater sense of empowerment) in the short term (3 month follow-up). Further, it is hypothesized that their reduction in HbA1c will be driven by a reduction in PPG.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALGEM lifestyle modification & continuous glucose monitoring

Four treatment sessions of GEM lifestyle modification in 3 months and continuous glucose monitoring during the first 14 days of each of the 3 months.

OTHERRoutine Care

Subject's current t2d treatment

Sponsors

DexCom, Inc.
CollaboratorINDUSTRY
University of Virginia
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
21 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Type 2 diabetes * Between the ages of 21 and 80 * Failed on an oral medication regimen (HbA1c \> 7.5%).

Exclusion criteria

* Takes insulin * Took medications in the last 3 months that impede weight loss (e.g., prednisone) * Pregnant or contemplating pregnancy in the next 12 months * Conditions that preclude increasing physical activity (e.g. severe neuropathy, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/emphysema, osteoarthritis, stroke) * Severe mental disease (e.g. manic depressive illness, severe depression, or active substance abuse) * Undergoing treatment for cancer * History of lactic acidosis * Marked renal impairment (eGFR \< 45; stage 3b chronic kidney disease) * Takes psychotropic medications that raise blood glucose (e.g. atypical antipsychotics) * Cannot read English.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
HbA1cbaseline, 3 months post-interventionChange in HbA1c measured via blood test
Medication changesbaseline, 3 months post-interventionChanges in prescribed medications (type and/or dosage)

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
change in psychological functioning (quality of life questionnaire)baseline, 3 months post-interventionWHOQO-BREF Questionnaire
change in food choices (ASA24 survey)baseline, 3 months post-interventionASA24 survey across 3 separate days
change in food choices (energy bar selection)baseline, 3 months post-interventionAt assessment visits, subjects will choose between energy bars that do or dont support the intervention principles.
Exercise (Fitbit)baseline, 3 months post-interventiondaily activity will be recorded
change in psychological functioning (depression questionnaire)baseline, 3 months post-interventionPatient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)
change in psychological functioning (diabetes knowledge questionnaire)baseline, 3 months post-interventionDiabetes Knowledge Scale - measures diabetes knowledge
change in psychological functioning (empowerment questionnaire)baseline, 3 months post-interventionDiabetes Empowerment Scale
Psychological functioning (PAID questionnaire)baseline, 3 months post-interventionProblem Area In Diabetes scale (PAID) - measures concerns about diabetes
change in psychological functioning (attitude towards glucose monitoring questionnaire)baseline, 3 months post-interventionThe Glucose Monitoring Satisfaction Survey (GMSS)
change in psychological functioning (numeracy questionnaire)baseline, 3 months post-interventionNumeracy Scale - measures how good one is with numbers
change in psychological functioning (dietary habits questionnaire)baseline, 3 months post-interventionThe Food Questionnaire

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026