Healthy eating support with the FoodSwitch barcode-scanning app for adults with type 2 diabetes
DIgitAl diabeTES Treatment - the Healthy Eating, heaLthy Patients Trial
This trial will test whether giving Swedish adults with type 2 diabetes access to the FoodSwitch barcode-scanning app plus standard written dietary advice lowers HbA1c more than standard advice alone after six months.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 900 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 75 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Linkoeping University Government |
| Locations | 1 site (Linköping) |
| Trial ID | NCT05977218 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is a randomized controlled trial enrolling 900 Swedish adults with type 2 diabetes of at least two years' duration who regularly shop for groceries. Participants are randomized to receive access to the FoodSwitch mobile app, which provides interpretive front-of-pack labeling via barcode scanning, plus standard written dietary advice, or to receive standard written dietary advice alone. The primary outcome is change in self-measured glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) at six months, with secondary outcomes including waist circumference, body weight, quality of life, dietary self-efficacy, medication use, hospitalizations, and all-cause mortality; exploratory omics analyses are planned. Recruitment is via general practices and community advertisements and requires digital identification for enrollment.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults aged 18–75 in Sweden with self-reported type 2 diabetes for at least two years who regularly shop for groceries and can use a smartphone and Swedish BankID are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without a smartphone or BankID, those who do not do the grocery shopping, or those with very recent diabetes (<2 years) are unlikely to benefit from this app-based intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the app could help people make healthier grocery choices and achieve better blood sugar control without needing more dietitian visits.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work on interpretive front-of-pack labeling and food-choice apps has produced modest improvements in purchases and dietary measures, but strong evidence for HbA1c reduction in people with type 2 diabetes is limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: * Age between 18 and 75 years * Self-reported type 2 diabetes with a duration of ≥2 years * Regularly grocery shopping Exclusion criteria: * No access to BankID (a digital identification system commonly used in Sweden) * Failure to complete eligibility screening and run-in periods
Where this trial is running
Linköping
- Linköping University — Linköping, Sweden (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Lana Hebib, MD
- Email: lana.hebib@liu.se
- Phone: 013-28 10 00
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.