Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) awarded The Miriam Hospital a Project Grant of $111,750 under the Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.847) on May 5, 2026, with completion targeted for April 30, 2028. This R03 Small Grant supports the refinement and testing of an evidence-based healthcare provider training program designed specifically for clinicians treating adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) for eating disorder assessment and management. The project addresses a critical clinical gap, as approximately one-third of AYAs with T1D develop eating disorders and up to 40% engage in dangerous insulin manipulation for weight loss—behaviors that can result in severe complications including diabetic ketoacidosis, nephropathy, retinopathy, and death.

The deliverables under this grant include the adaptation and validation of a training curriculum tailored to the specific needs of diabetes healthcare providers who currently lack adequate training and confidence to screen for and treat disordered eating in their patient populations. The multidisciplinary research team comprises experts in pediatric endocrinology, eating disorders specific to T1D, adolescent and young adult behavior change, and healthcare provider training. By establishing this specialized training program, the project aims to equip diabetes providers with the knowledge and clinical tools necessary to identify at-risk patients and implement evidence-based interventions, thereby improving health outcomes and care quality for this vulnerable population.