SmartStart: a digital diabetes self-management support for people with new type 2 diabetes who have low income
Official title: SmartStart: A digitally-enhanced diabetes self-management intervention for low-income people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes
Funded at Arizona State University-Tempe Campus · NIH-11324032 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A digital program helps adults with new type 2 diabetes who have low income manage their health better right after diagnosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Arizona State University-Tempe Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Scottsdale, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $138,297 |
| NIH project number | 5R00MD019726-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11324032 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 and older with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes who have low income and access to a cell phone.
✕Less likely to help
People without access to a cell phone or who are not in the newly diagnosed window may not benefit from this digital intervention.
What this research studies
If you’ve just learned you have type 2 diabetes and you have limited income, this program uses a mobile-friendly approach to support the everyday tasks of managing diabetes. The project builds on proven self-management education and adds digital tools to fit into busy, low-income lifestyles, aiming to make it easier to start healthy routines in the first year after diagnosis. It focuses on barriers specific to underserved communities and uses tailored digital content to improve engagement and outcomes. The team at Arizona State University will provide mentorship, training, and collaboration with community groups to ensure the intervention fits real-world needs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could help more people start and sustain effective diabetes self-care early after diagnosis.
How similar studies have gone: Prior DSMES programs improve health behaviors, and digital health approaches show promise for increasing engagement in underserved populations, though tailored digital tools for low-income newly diagnosed patients are not yet established.
Where this research is happening
-
Arizona State University-Tempe Campus
Scottsdale, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Owolabi, Eyitayo Omolara — Arizona State University-Tempe Campus
- Study coordinator: Owolabi, Eyitayo Omolara
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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.