Peer support to help older adults with type 2 diabetes in rural Appalachia
Official title: Older Adults Using Social Support to Improve Self-Care (OASIS): Adaptation, Implementation, and Feasibility of Peer Support for Older Adults with T2DM in Appalachia
Funded at University of Texas Med Br Galveston · NIH-11472036 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Seeing if trained peer support can help older adults in rural Appalachian communities better manage their type 2 diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Med Br Galveston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Galveston, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $279,385 |
| NIH project number | 7R01DK135885-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11472036 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults (typically age 65 and up) with type 2 diabetes who live in rural Appalachian communities and can participate in peer support activities.
✕Less likely to help
People without type 2 diabetes, those living outside the targeted rural Appalachian area, or those unable or unwilling to take part in peer support sessions are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
This project adapts a peer-support program specifically for older adults with type 2 diabetes living in rural Appalachian communities. Researchers will train local peers to provide emotional support, practical help, and diabetes education, and will tailor the program to fit community needs. The team will recruit older adults, deliver peer sessions, and collect information on self-care behaviors and diabetes-related outcomes to test feasibility. Feedback from participants will be used to refine the program for broader implementation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help older adults improve daily diabetes self-care and blood sugar control through ongoing local support.
How similar studies have gone: Peer-support approaches have improved diabetes self-care and some clinical outcomes in prior studies, but targeting older adults in rural Appalachia is a relatively new adaptation.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Med Br Galveston
Galveston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Smalls, Brittany L. — University of Texas Med Br Galveston
- Study coordinator: Smalls, Brittany L.
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Helping older adults with type 2 diabetes in Appalachia through peer support.
This study is all about helping older adults with type 2 diabetes in rural Appalachia by creating a friendly support program where they can share experiences and learn from each other to take better care of their health.
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.