Discovery Program for Teens and Young Adults with Type 1 Diabetes
Official title: Discovery Diabetes: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
Run by Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NCT07116434 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests whether the Discovery Program—personalized mobile health messages, clinician support, and structured problem-solving—helps teens and young adults (ages 13–21) with type 1 diabetes improve blood sugar control and self-management.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 13 Years to 21 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 150 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Vanderbilt University Medical Center Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Nashville, Tennessee) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | November 14, 2025 |
| Main results expected | November 2026 |
| Study ends | November 2027 |
| Registry record updated | December 23, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07116434 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are patients aged 13–21 with type 1 diabetes for at least one year who have a smartphone, a My Health at Vanderbilt portal account, can read and speak English, and have an appointment with a Vanderbilt Eskind Clinic NP within seven months.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with type 2 diabetes, those unable to use a smartphone or digital content, or those without access to Vanderbilt’s MHAV portal or the Eskind Clinic are unlikely to benefit from participation.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This pilot randomized controlled trial enrolls people aged 13–21 with type 1 diabetes of at least one year and randomly assigns them to the Discovery Program or standard care. The 3-month intervention combines personalized mobile health communications, clinician support, and structured problem-solving sessions to address psychosocial barriers to diabetes management. Outcomes including HbA1c, diabetes distress, and self-management behaviors are measured at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months, with additional clinical data drawn from electronic health records. The study uses secure, HIPAA-compliant systems for data storage and assigns unique study IDs to protect confidentiality.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could lower HbA1c and reduce diabetes distress, making daily diabetes management easier for adolescents and young adults.
How similar studies have gone: Previous digital and behavioral interventions for youth with type 1 diabetes have shown modest improvements in glycemic control and self-management, though results have been mixed and often depend on participant engagement.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Adolescents (13-17 years) and young adults (aged 18-21 years), * Diagnosed with T1D for at least one year, * Access to a smartphone, * A My Health at Vanderbilt (MHAV) patient portal account, * Ability to read, speak, and understand English, * An appointment with an NP in the VUMC Eskind Clinic within 7 months of initial contact Exclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of type 2 diabetes * Any physical, cognitive, sensory or emotional condition precluding participation in the intervention (seeing/using a phone, hearing digital stories, answering questions).
Where it's running
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Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tennessee, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Shelagh A Mulvaney, PhD — Vanderbilt University
- Study coordinator: Abigail Doyle, MSHI
- Email: abigail.m.doyle@vanderbilt.edu
- Phone: 615-343-6075
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.