I Can Do This! Managing My Diabetes

"I Can Do This! Managing My Diabetes: A Pilot Project Using a Novel Word Game-based Workbook Intervention to Allow People Living With Diabetes to Increase Their Diabetes Self-efficacy"

The goals of this study are to:

1. Co-develop a user-friendly word game-based workbook format for patients with diabetes to understand how to manage their diabetes. For this study, the first section of the workbook will be developed to teach carbohydrate management.
2. Assess the feasibility and acceptability of the workbook.
3. Understand the implementation challenges that will be important for improving the workbook and preparing it for larger-scale effectiveness research.

Participants will be asked to:

• Complete the workbook during their waiting time in the clinic or at home.
• Engage in word games designed to teach diabetes management vocabulary and concepts.
• Attend follow-up sessions to assess changes in self-efficacy and glycemic control.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Diabetes
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Diabetes self management workbook

Detailed Description

Diabetes poses a significant public health challenge in the U.S., affecting approximately 37 million people, or 11% of the population. The prevalence is rising, particularly among youth, with a forecasted 700% increase in type 2 diabetes cases by 2060. Diabetes leads to severe health complications, including increased risks of heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failure, and affects nearly 1 million people worldwide with vision loss. Many individuals struggle to manage their diabetes effectively; only about 50% achieve proper glycemic control.

Diabetes self-management education is crucial for improving self-efficacy and adherence to treatment, yet only 5-7% of eligible patients receive this education. The American Diabetes Association advocates for individualized nutrition therapy, but access remains limited, especially for uninsured populations, exacerbating health disparities.

To address this gap, a novel word game-based workbook is proposed to enhance diabetes self-efficacy. This workbook can be used in waiting rooms or at home, offering an engaging way to learn about diabetes management through word games and puzzles. It aims to provide accessible education for underserved communities, improve glycemic control, and ultimately reduce diabetes-related disparities.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 25
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Georgia
    • Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 30329
      • Emory Midtown Clinic

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Focus group inclusion:

1. Patients: adult with diabetes and patient at the Midtown Clinic
2. Caregivers: partner, or caregiver of a patient with diabetes
3. Providers: Physician Assistant (PA), Nurse Practitioner (NP), or MD who cares for patients with diabetes
4. Diabetes educators: diabetes educator

Focus group exclusion:

1. Cannot speak/read English
2. Unwilling to participate in group discussion
3. Pregnancy

Aim 2 inclusion criteria:

1. Having type 2 diabetes which is not insulin dependent since insulin management adds another level of diabetes self-management that would confound self-efficacy scores.
2. Having a hemoglobin a1c less than 10% based on their last 3 hemoglobin a1c readings within the 2 years before the recruitment phase of the study. The ADA recommends the initiation of insulin therapy for individuals with a hemoglobin a1c above 10%, therefore the study will focus on an intervention for diabetes before insulin is likely to be part of the management plan.
3. Not having any conditions that could interfere with the accuracy of a hemoglobin a1c result: anemia, hemoglobinopathy, end-stage renal disease, chronic liver disease.
4. The ability to read a passage set at a fifth-grade literacy, a score of at least 3 on the Mini-Cog test scale which would represent a lower likelihood of dementia, and the ability to drive to medical visits.
5. Subjects will represent a diversity of age, educational level, and socioeconomic status (will use type of medical insurance as a proxy)

Aim 2 exclusion criteria:

1. Cannot speak/read English
2. Unwilling to return for a follow-up visit in 3 months
3. Pregnancy

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: Diabetes self management; Eligible participants will utilize the workbook for a span of 3 months

Behavioral: Diabetes self management workbook; The diabetes self-management workbook section used in this pilot study will focus on diet management, specifically carbohydrates, following ADA guidelines. It will include exercises based on the ADA diabetes plate method, aimed at helping subjects understand meal planning, food categories, portion sizes, goal setting, and the impact of foods on blood glucose levels. Activities will include word searches, crosswords, and goal-setting exercises. Subjects will begin the first section during a clinic visit. They can complete the workbook at home over three months, with input from subjects and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists to refine the content.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Diabetes self-efficacy score (Diabetes management self-efficacy (DMSE)	Measures the confidence of patients with diabetes regarding diet, exercise and medical treatment)	Pre test, post test (3months)
Knowledge of American Diabetes Association (ADA) diabetes plate method	The ADA diabetes plate method is a meal planning tool that divides a plate into three sections: half for non-starchy vegetables, one-quarter for lean protein, and one-quarter for whole grains or starchy foods. It helps individuals with diabetes control portions and manage carbohydrate intake for better blood glucose control.	Pre test, post test (3months)
Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM)	The Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM) is a tool used to assess how acceptable an intervention is to participants. The AIM is a 4-item instrument that uses a 5-point Likert scale	Pre test, post test (3months)
Feasibility of Intervention Measure (FIM)	The Feasibility of Intervention Measure (FIM) is a tool used to assess the perceived feasibility of an intervention. The FIM is a 4-item instrument that uses a 5-point Likert scale.	Pre test, post test (3months)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Hemoglobin A1c	HbA1c, or glycated hemoglobin, measures average blood glucose levels over the past two to three months. It's expressed as a percentage, with higher values indicating poorer blood sugar control	Pre test, post test (3months)
Change in Weight	Change in Weight over the course of study.	Pre test, post test (3months)
Change in Blood Pressure	Change in Blood Pressure over the course of study.	Pre test, post test (3months)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Emory University
• Collaborators: Georgia Center for Diabetes Translation Research
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Catherine Park, MD, Emory University; Principal Investigator: Saria Hassan, MD, Emory University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 21, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 12, 2026
• Study Completion (Actual): February 12, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 16, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 18, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): November 19, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 29, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 24, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Patient education; Glycemic control; Diabetes self-management
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Endocrine System Diseases; Metabolic Diseases; Glucose Metabolism Disorders; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Diabetes Mellitus
• Other Study ID Numbers: STUDY00008292; 2025P011698 (Other Identifier: Emory IRB)

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No