Social needs and Type 2 diabetes outcomes
SOCRATES: SOCial Risk and diAbetes ouTcomEs Study
This project checks whether changes in food security, housing, and transportation link to blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol control in adults with Type 2 diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11175288 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be part of a project that follows people with Type 2 diabetes over time using clinic records and information about food, housing, and transportation. Researchers combine multi-level statistical models with machine learning to find patterns and subgroups who respond differently to changes in social needs. They link patient and clinic data to area-level measures like local economic conditions and community resources. The team aims to find which social needs to screen for and which supports are most likely to improve diabetes control.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with Type 2 diabetes who receive care at participating clinics—especially those facing food insecurity, unstable housing, or transportation barriers—are the most likely candidates.
Not a fit: People without Type 2 diabetes, those whose care is not captured by the participating clinics, or those without the measured social needs are unlikely to be included or to see direct benefits.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help clinicians target screening and social supports that improve blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol control for people with Type 2 diabetes.
How similar studies have performed: Smaller prior studies suggest addressing social needs can improve diabetes outcomes, but results are mixed and larger multi-level analyses are still limited.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Berkowitz, Seth a — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Berkowitz, Seth a
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.