Improved Time in Range During 28 Days of Meal Delivery for People With Type 2 Diabetes.

Objective: Nutrition therapy is a cornerstone of care for people with type 2 diabetes, yet starting new, healthy eating behaviors and sustaining them can be challenging. This decentralized, single-arm study assessed the impact of 28 days of home-delivered, pre-portioned meals (three meals per day) on continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)-derived glycemic control and quality of life. Research design and methods: We enrolled 154 people with type 2 diabetes from across the United States. All participants were enrolled in a digital-first type 2 diabetes care center of excellence and had a time in range (TIR) <70% or a glucose management index (GMI) >7%. A total of 102 participants received another set of meals for a household member. Forty-four participants were excluded from CGM-based analysis because of sparse data in the baseline or intervention period. Results: From the baseline through the intervention period, average TIR improved by 6.8% (95% CI 4.0-9.7, P <0.001), average GMI improved by 0.21% (95% CI 0.11-0.32, P <0.001), and participants' odds of achieving ≥70% TIR increased (odds ratio 2.55 [95% CI 0.93-7.80, P = 0.051]). Although average TIR increased rapidly upon initiation of meal delivery, it regressed when the delivery period ended. Conclusion: Home-delivered meals were associated with modest TIR and GMI improvements, but only in the short term. More research is needed to determine whether the effects of nutrition therapy can be extended by providing ongoing meal delivery or additional support such as behavioral intervention.

Empowering Patients and Providers With More and Better Data: Innovative Concepts in Type 2 Diabetes Management.

IN BRIEF In this article, the authors discuss several innovative concepts UnitedHealth Group Research & Development is exploring to help patients manage their type 2 diabetes. The article focuses on efforts to use remote support programs and wearable technology to empower patients to take more active roles in managing their health and to foster more interactive patient-provider conversations. Additionally, the authors reflect on how such efforts could particularly benefit medically underserved communities. They offer observations from claims data about current health outcomes and costs in underserved areas.