One Drop App With an Activity Tracker for Adults With Type 1 Diabetes: Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND: In 2017, mobile app support for managing diabetes was available to 64% of the global population of adults with diabetes. One Drop’s digital therapeutics solution includes an evidence-based mobile app with global reach, a Bluetooth-connected glucometer, and in-app coaching from Certified Diabetes Educators. Among people with type 1 diabetes and an estimated hemoglobin A(1c) level≥7.5%, using One Drop for 3 months has been associated with an improved estimated hemoglobin A(1c) level of 22.2 mg/dL (–0.80%). However, the added value of integrated activity trackers is unknown. OBJECTIVE: We conducted a pragmatic, remotely administered randomized controlled trial to evaluate One Drop with a new-to-market activity tracker against One Drop only on the 3-month hemoglobin A(1c) level of adults with type 1 diabetes. METHODS: Social media advertisements and online newsletters were used to recruit adults (≥18 years old) diagnosed (≥1 year) with T1D, naïve to One Drop’s full solution and the activity tracker, with a laboratory hemoglobin A(1c) level≥7%. Participants (N=99) were randomized to receive One Drop and the activity tracker or One Drop only at the start of the study. The One Drop only group received the activity tracker at the end of the study. Multiple imputation, performed separately by group, was used to correct for missing data. Analysis of covariance models, controlling for baseline hemoglobin A(1c), were used to evaluate 3-month hemoglobin A(1c) differences in intent-to-treat (ITT) and per protocol (PP) analyses. RESULTS: The enrolled sample (N=95) had a mean age of 41 (SD 11) years, was 73% female, 88% White, diagnosed for a mean of 20 (SD 11) years, and had a mean hemoglobin A(1c) level of 8.4% (SD 1.2%); 11% of the participants did not complete follow up. Analysis of covariance assumptions were met for the ITT and PP models. In ITT analysis, participants in the One Drop and activity tracker condition had a significantly lower 3-month hemoglobin A(1c) level (mean 7.9%, SD 0.60%, 95% CI 7.8-8.2) than that of the participants in the One Drop only condition (mean 8.4%, SD 0.62%, 95% CI 8.2-8.5). In PP analysis, participants in the One Drop and activity tracker condition also had a significantly lower 3-month hemoglobin A(1c) level (mean 7.9%, SD 0.59%, 95% CI 7.7-8.1) than that of participants in the One Drop only condition (mean 8.2%, SD 0.58%, 95% CI 8.0-8.4). CONCLUSIONS: Participants exposed to One Drop and the activity tracker for the 3-month study period had a significantly lower 3-month hemoglobin A(1c) level compared to that of participants exposed to One Drop only during the same timeframe. One Drop and a tracker may work better together than alone in helping people with type 1 diabetes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03459573; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03459573.