Pet Care and Blood Sugar Management for Teens with Type 1 Diabetes
Impact of Integrated Pet Care on Glycemic Control and Diabetes Responsibility
This project explores if caring for a pet fish can help early adolescents with type 1 diabetes better manage their blood sugar and work with their parents.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11145867 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project is testing a new way to help early adolescents with type 1 diabetes who are having trouble keeping their blood sugar in check. Participants will receive a pet fish and learn to care for it, linking fish feeding times with their own blood sugar checks. They will also work with their parents on weekly fish tank maintenance, using this time to review blood sugar trends and practice communication skills. This approach aims to build good habits and strengthen family involvement in diabetes care.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are early adolescents with type 1 diabetes who are experiencing challenges with their blood sugar control.
Not a fit: Patients who do not have type 1 diabetes or are outside the early adolescent age range may not benefit from this specific intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could offer an engaging and accessible new strategy for adolescents to improve their diabetes management and blood sugar control.
How similar studies have performed: This specific combination of pet care and communication training for diabetes management is a novel approach being tested for the first time.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gupta, Olga Theresa — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Gupta, Olga Theresa
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 below.