Project MiNT: Assessing the Impact of Food & Video-Based Nutrition Education on Patients With Poorly Controlled Diabetes

Thomas Jefferson University

Status: Active, not recruiting

Conditions: Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2

Treatments: Behavioral: Tele-Medical Nutrition Therapy (tele-MNT); Other: Medically Tailored Meals

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04264572

19F.258

Details and patient eligibility

About

This pragmatic randomized controlled trial will assess the efficacy of medically tailored meals and medical nutrition therapy via telehealth on clinical outcomes for patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes. The goal of these interventions is to improve outcomes for patients with diabetes by impacting self-care behaviors and diet self-efficacy in the short and long term. This study leverages a unique health system and community group partnership to inform the utility of reimbursement for medically tailored meal programs and medical nutrition therapy, which would ultimately facilitate their scalability and sustainability within the healthcare system.

Full description

Despite the availability of evidence-based guidance and treatments, many patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) do not achieve optimal glycemic control. In prior work, patients with DM identified primary needs of improved access to food and nutrition education. Several innovative models for food services have emerged to address patient needs for improved healthy food access. Currently, select non-profit organizations across the U.S. deliver millions of medically-tailored meals (MTM) to patients with chronic illnesses, based on the premise that food can be as helpful as medicine in improving patient outcomes. While a handful of pilot studies have demonstrated success of MTM in reducing healthcare utilization and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) among patients with DM, no randomized trials have assessed the sustained impact of MTM on long-term outcomes for patients with DM. Similarly, individual studies of medical nutrition therapy (MNT), which includes individualized nutrition education and counseling, have shown benefit for improving DM outcomes. However, uptake of MNT across health systems has historically been extremely limited because of patient logistical barriers to attending the in-person visits. MNT delivered by telehealth (tele-MNT) has potential to overcome these barriers. Our goal is to evaluate the effect of MTM, with and without additional tele-MNT, on outcomes for patients with poorly controlled type 2 DM. The investigators will conduct a pragmatic randomized controlled trial with patients who have poorly controlled DM. Outcomes of interest include change in HbA1c, cost effectiveness, weight, diabetes self-efficacy, self-care, diabetes quality of life, and patient satisfaction. Investigators will assess the efficacy of 1) MTM and 2) MTM + tele-MNT compared to usual care in reducing HbA1c at 3, 6 (primary outcome) and 12 months and the cost effectiveness of each intervention compared to usual care up to 12 months. Patient perspectives regarding experiences with MTM and MTM + tele-MNT will also be explored to gain a better understanding of potential factors contributing to treatment failure and success within each group. The proposed research is innovative because it develops and tests a novel tele-MNT intervention tailored to recipients of MTM, provides a comprehensive solution to patient-identified nutrition needs, includes complete utilization data provided by the HealthShare Exchange, and leverages a unique health system and community group partnership to improve sustainability and scalability. Study results will inform 1) provider and payor decisions regarding offering and covering these services; 2) how services should be structured for scalability; and 3) integration of these services into the larger care delivery system to reduce DM disparities.

Enrollment: 600 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Have type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM)
2. Are 18 years or older of age
3. English speaking
4. Are a patient in the ED or inpatient at TJUH or Methodist Hospital
5. Have a HbA1c >8% as assessed during enrollment screening
6. Have a PCP or Endocrine provider
7. Have access to a device (e.g., smartphone, tablet, computer with WiFi) that can support video visits
8. Have access to an email account (either own or family member)
9. Are able to keep food fresh for a week after delivery (e.g., not homeless) and reheat food using a microwave or oven
10. Live in the MANNA service area

Exclusion criteria

1. Have type 1 DM (to reduce confounding related to underlying differences in pathophysiology and primary treatment approaches (lifestyle change vs medication regimens) between type 1 and type 2 DM)
2. Pregnant, planning to be pregnant, or currently breastfeeding, as these patients have unique nutritional requirements outside the MNT curriculum
3. Does not eat by mouth (i.e. receives tube feeds or total parenteral nutrition [TPN])
4. History of severe gastroparesis
5. Has a life expectancy of less than one year, per clinician
6. Inability to provide informed consent
7. Psychiatric co-morbidity that would preclude study participation
8. Major communication barriers such as visual or hearing impairment that would compromise the ability to participate in a video visit
9. Lives in or is being discharged to a facility (incarcerated, IP rehab, nursing home)
10. Currently receiving MTM from MANNA or another provider
11. Have life threatening food allergies
12. Currently participating in DM-I or PREVENT study
13. Has 3 or more ED visits for alcohol or other substance use in past month

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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600 participants in 3 patient groups

Medically Tailored Meals (MTM)

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in this arm will receive MTM for 12 weeks. Meals will be prepared and delivered by MANNA, a non-profit organization that has provided MTM for patients with chronic illnesses in Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey since 1990. MANNA will deliver 21 complete meals to the patient's home each week, providing 45-60 grams of carbohydrates per meal for optimal glucose control based on ADA guidelines and 100% of overall nutritional requirements based on USDA guidelines. In addition, children and any senior dependents for whom the participant is the primary caregiver will receive meals for the entire 12 weeks for no additional cost, as this is standard of care of MANNA services. MANNA registered dieticians will cater the program to meet the specific needs (e.g., dietary restrictions, cultural preferences). Investigators will provide information on community resources in the area, including food resources, for all patients.

Treatment:

Other: Medically Tailored Meals

MTM + tele-Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT)

Experimental group

Description:

Patients in this arm will receive MTM services as well as tele-MNT over 12 months. The tele-MNT intervention will be delivered by a registered dietician within the Jefferson endocrine clinic, with assistance by other endocrine dieticians and fellows. In the first months, video visits focus on supporting individuals who are not selecting, preparing or purchasing their own meals. As the end of MTM services approaches, the intervention shifts to focus on the transition from MTM to self-directed eating. Based on Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommendations, each participant's MNT will include the following core features: nutrition assessment, intervention, care coordination, monitoring and evaluation. The following will also be addressed: nutrition prescriptions, nutrient intake, energy intake, glycemic index and load, alcohol consumption and physical activity. The schedule includes individual visits in the first 6 months and monthly group session in months 7-12.

Treatment:

Other: Medically Tailored Meals

Behavioral: Tele-Medical Nutrition Therapy (tele-MNT)

Usual Care

No Intervention group

Description:

Patients in this arm will receive usual services offered at Jefferson for patients with DM, which includes regular visits with a diabetes provider (primary care or endocrine), standard ADA information pamphlets and referral to 1) diabetes education classes and 2) nutrition counseling by dieticians and nurse practitioners. During routine office visits, providers reinforce messages about self-management and provide lists of local and national resources related to nutrition and diabetes self-management (e.g., diabetes.org). The standard of care at Jefferson for patients with DM is to begin with a single group MNT visit lasting from 60-90 minutes. Each participant's need for additional sessions and general time-frame for follow-up is individually determined following the group session, based on patient preference. Historically, only about 2% of the Jefferson population engages in these services, thus minimizing dilution of the effect of the tele-MNT.