A Novel Carbohydrate Counting Smartphone App for Youth With Type 1 Diabetes
Condition: Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1
MeSH terms: Diabetes Mellitus; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) is a common chronic disease of childhood. T1DM has
      substantial impact on quality of life (QOL), including burdensome dietary restrictions and
      the need to count carbohydrates in foods to safely dose insulin. Carbohydrate counting is
      challenging, inconvenient, and, if done wrong, can cause high or low blood glucose levels.

      To address these challenges, iSpy, a novel smartphone application, was created to identify
      foods and determine their carbohydrate content using pictures or speech. This pilot study is
      to evaluate if using iSpy improves carbohydrate counting accuracy and efficiency. Pilot
      participants will have carbohydrate counting (accuracy and efficiency) and their overall QoL
      (with respect to carbohydrate counting) assessed at baseline and after 3-months.

      The investigators hypothesize that using iSpy will make carbohydrate counting easier (by
      improving accuracy and efficiency) and enhance QoL for patients and/or their caregivers. If
      so, iSpy may help lessen the burden of living with T1DM.
    

Detailed description: 
      Nutrition is an integral component of management of many chronic diseases and of overall
      wellness. Helping individuals to understand what they are eating can empower them to better
      manage their diseases. For example, the growing number of youth living with Type 1 Diabetes
      Mellitus (T1DM) struggle with carbohydrate counting, an essential and daily aspect of their
      lives, because of required reliance on memorization and numeracy skills. Effective
      carbohydrate counting has been demonstrated to improve blood glucose control, while
      inaccurate carbohydrate counting results in more variable blood glucose. Concerns related to
      carbohydrate counting accuracy can also limit food choices, provoke anxiety, and decrease
      quality of life. Since there is no cure for T1DM, enhancing patients' ability to understand
      and apply carbohydrate counting is an important part in helping them manage their condition
      most effectively.

      iSpy is a novel healthcare application that addresses an important clinical need by
      facilitating carbohydrate counting using pictures or voice recognition. Proprietary
      algorithms adjust for portion size and identify hidden carbohydrates (such as in ketchup or
      other condiments) and quantify the amount of carbohydrates in a meal.
    

Intervention name(s): iSpy
Intervention type(s): Device
Intervention description(s): iSpy is a novel healthcare application that hopes to address an important clinical need by facilitating carbohydrate counting using pictures or voice recognition. Proprietary algorithms adjust for portion size and identify hidden carbohydrates (such as in ketchup or other condiments) and quantify the amount of carbohydrates in a meal.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Supportive Care