Author Block: MONICA A. GOMBERG, COLIN MULLANEY, MEGAN E. BUHLER, KIRA CHANEY, KATHRYN Y. WARD, SARAH WESTEN, LEONARD W. D’AVOLIO, Boston, MA, Gainesville, FL, Andover, MA
Disclosure Block: M.A.Gomberg: None. C.Mullaney: None. M.E.Buhler: None. K.Chaney: Employee; ; Biofourmis. K.Y.Ward: None. S.Westen: None. L.W.D’avolio: None.
Introduction and Objective: Fee-for-service healthcare makes it difficult for people with T1D to access the care, education, and support that they need. Blue Circle Health (BCH) is a program that closes this gap. BCH is delivered remotely, is 6 months long, and includes coordinated services of endocrinology, peer support, diabetes counseling, case management, insurance navigation, and education. This study aimed to measure the change in patient-reported diabetes-related distress prior to and post completion of their participation in BCH.
Methods: Participants completed the T1-Diabetes Distress Assessment System (T1-DDAS) on enrollment and completion of the program. We analyzed pre- and post-intervention Source scale data of the participants that completed the program between June and Dec 2024 (n=47).
Results: Mean age at enrollment was 43 yrs; 64% identified as female, 43% were caucasian, 30% hispanic, 20% black. Additionally, 9% were uninsured, 30% had government insurance, and 43% were unemployed or on disability. Post-intervention, there were reductions in distress in 9 of the 10 categories (p<.05).
Conclusion: The findings from this study demonstrate important reductions in diabetes distress after 6 months of receiving BCH services. Future data will examine other diabetes-related outcomes of this one-of-a-kind service.
Improving Diabetes Distress Through Participation in Blue Circle Health: A Novel DSMES Program
Fee-for-service healthcare makes it difficult for people with T1D to access the care, education, and support that they need. As a result, only 1 in 4 adults with T1D in the US achieve recommended blood glucose levels (A1C < 7) despite an average of $19,000 per person per year and $29,000 average cost for each DKA admission. Blue Circle Health (BCH) is a clinical care, education, and support program designed to close this gap. The program is delivered remotely, is 6 months long, and includes coordinated services of endocrinology, peer support, diabetes counseling, case management, insurance navigation, and education. It also includes a CGM trial program that provides 3 months of free CGMs with education and financial support for medications. Importantly, because the services are funded, they are free to the participants, allowing the design to be based solely on what’s best for patients as opposed to what’s reimbursed. This has led to a team-based clinical care model focused on identifying and addressing individual patient needs with the goal of empowering each participant. In this session, we present an analysis of the first 57 patients that completed the program and responded to the voluntary T1-DDAS survey on completion.
Authors: Monica A. Gomberg, MD, Blue Circle Health; Colin Mullaney, BS, Blue Circle Health; Megan E. Buhler, M.Ed., Blue Circle Health; Kira Chaney, MPH, Blue Circle Health; Kathryn Ward, LCSW, Blue Circle Health Sarah C. Westen, Ph.D., University of Florida, Blue Circle Health; Leonard W. D’Avolio, PhD, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Brigham, Blue Circle Health.
Funding source: Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.
Disclosure(s):Monica Gomberg, MD: No financial relationships to disclose
