Peer Support Groups for Youth with Diabetes

Looking at Peer Support Groups for Youth with Diabetes

T
Tamara Hannon, MD

Primary Investigator

Enrolling By Invitation
15 years - 25 years
All
Phase N/A
10 participants needed
2 Locations

Brief description of study

Youth with type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T1D; T2D) from low socioeconomic backgrounds in rural western Kenya and in urban or rural Indiana struggle with poor glycemic control and have limited access to peer-support and ongoing diabetes education. The impact of peer-support and education groups that address social, cultural, and emotional needs on diabetes self-management has yet to be evaluated in this population. The objective of this work is to co-develop a diabetes education curriculum which can eventually be peer-led by youth with T1D or T2D in rural western Kenya and in Indiana to strengthen diabetes self-management and glycemic control.

THIS STUDY IS ENROLLING BY INVITATION ONLY - Eligible patients will be recruited in one of the following ways: health care providers will identify eligible adolescents/young adults during diabetes clinic visits, a letter will be mailed to patients who have been seen for diabetes in one of the clinics within the last 12 months, or a member of the research team will call eligible patients. 

Detailed description of study

We will establish two youth advisory panels (1 for T1D and 1 for T2D) to further translate the youth peer support group sessions that have been developed in Kenya. Each advisory panel will consist of 10-20 participants, aged 15-25 years, from the Kenya diabetes clinic and the Indianapolis diabetes clinic. Potential participants will be approached in person or virtually (TEAMs or zoom) in both Kenya and Indianapolis clinics to discuss the advisory panel and whether or not they are interested in participating. Informed consent will be obtained prior to any program participation. The rationale for our partnership is to share ideas and implementation strategies between two inadequately resources environments (one in Kenya and one in the US). By doing so, we believe that equitable and inclusive practices can be developed, implemented and disseminated. We will convene 6-9 advisory panel meetings over the course of 12 months to further translate the original group sessions for T1 and T2D peer support groups. Data collected from advisory panel meetings will include audio and video recordings (TEAMs or zoom), field notes, and transcriptions. Qualitative data analysis will be performed using these data sources. Participants will also complete an advisory panel satisfaction survey.

Eligibility of study

You may be eligible for this study if you meet the following criteria:

  • Conditions: Type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T1D; T2D)
  • Age: 15 years - 25 years
  • Gender: All

Inclusion criteria:

  • Aged 15-25 years
  • Diagnosed with diabetes (T1D or T2D) Receive clinical care at Riley Diabetes Clinic or Moi University, Moi Teaching & Referral Hospital

Exclusion criteria

  • Diagnosed cognitive or behavioral disorders that would be disruptive to group-based sessions. For example: severe, untreated depression; severe social anxiety

The purpose of this study is to investigate how peer-support and education groups can help young people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes manage their condition better. Type 1 diabetes is a chronic disease where the body's defense system mistakenly attacks specific cells within the pancreas, which make insulin. Insulin helps control sugar in the blood. When these cells are damaged, they cannot make enough insulin. This means people with Type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day to keep their blood sugar at safe levels. This study focuses on youth from low-income backgrounds in rural Kenya and Indiana, who often have trouble controlling their blood sugar and have limited access to support and education.

Participants will be part of advisory panels to help adapt peer-support sessions for young people with diabetes. These panels will meet 6-9 times over 12 months, either in person or online, to discuss and develop educational materials. Data will be collected through recordings, notes, and surveys to understand how these sessions impact diabetes management.

  • Who can participate: This study is for young people aged 15-25 who have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. They must receive care at either Riley Diabetes Clinic or Moi University, Moi Teaching & Referral Hospital.
  • Study details: Participants will join advisory panels to help create peer-support sessions for diabetes management. They will attend meetings, either in person or online, and share their experiences and ideas to improve the sessions. An observational study is a type of study in which individuals are observed or certain outcomes are measured, without treatment being applied by the researchers.
  • Study timelines and visits: The study will last 12 months. The study requires 6-9 visits.
Updated on 06 Jul 2026. Study ID: PENDO-IIR-30078, 30078
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Interested in the study?

This study is accepting only persons who receive care at a certain clinic or doctor or who are part of an invited group. Questions about this study can be directed to the study team listed in the description or contact your doctor to see if you are eligible.

Accepting Referrals by Invitation Only