Helping people with type 2 diabetes who struggle to access food manage their condition better.
Official title: Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support for People with Type 2 Diabetes Experiencing Food Insecurity: A Mixed Methods Study
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-10995587 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is creating a special program to help people with type 2 diabetes who struggle to get enough healthy food, by understanding their unique challenges and finding better ways to support them in managing their diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $83,932 |
| NIH project number | 1F32DK141094-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10995587 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults with type 2 diabetes who are experiencing food insecurity.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have type 2 diabetes or those who are food secure may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a tailored education and support program for individuals with type 2 diabetes who face food insecurity. It aims to identify the unique challenges these individuals encounter in managing their diabetes, including nutritional and psychological barriers. By using a mixed methods approach, the study will gather both quantitative and qualitative data to inform the creation of effective strategies that enhance diabetes self-management. The ultimate goal is to improve health outcomes for this vulnerable population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved diabetes management and health outcomes for individuals facing food insecurity.
How similar studies have gone: While there is limited research specifically addressing diabetes self-management education for food-insecure populations, similar approaches have shown promise in improving health outcomes in other vulnerable groups.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gu, Kristine — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Gu, Kristine
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Michigan Diabetes Project: A Peer-Led Self-Management Program for Adults with Type 2 Diabetes
A peer-led self-management program for adults with type 2 diabetes is being tested to see if it improves blood sugar control and daily diabetes care.
-
Produce Prescription Program to Help American Indian Older Adults with Diabetes Risk
A community-based program will provide healthy foods to AI older adults to help reduce food insecurity and lower type 2 diabetes risk.
-
SmartStart: a digital diabetes self-management support for people with new type 2 diabetes who have low income
A digital program helps adults with new type 2 diabetes who have low income manage their health better right after diagnosis.
-
A digital program to help low-income individuals manage their newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes
This study is testing a new phone-based program to help people with low incomes who have just been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes learn how to manage their condition better and get the support they need.
-
Reducing food insecurity for African American adults with diabetes
This study is looking at how not having enough food affects African American adults with Type 2 diabetes and is testing whether sending them food boxes or giving them food vouchers helps them manage their blood sugar better, or if using both together works best.
-
Understanding diabetes management in Haitian immigrants
This study is looking at how adult Haitian immigrants take care of their type 2 diabetes and the specific challenges they encounter, with the aim of creating a helpful education program to improve their health and make managing diabetes easier for them.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.