This randomized controlled trial will assess the impact of the FoodSwitch mobile app, which provides interpretive front-of-pack labelling via barcode scanning, in 900 Swedish adults with type 2 diabetes. Participants will be randomized to app + standard advice or standard advice alone. The primary outcome is change in HbA1c at 6 months; secondary outcomes include anthropometrics, quality of life, medication use, hospitalizations, and mortality.
A healthy diet improves glycaemic control and reduces cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetes (T2D), but access to dietitians is limited. Unlike several countries, Sweden has not implemented interpretive front-of-pack labelling. Smartphone applications may offer an alternative. This trial evaluates the dietary and clinical impact of FoodSwitch, a mobile app providing interpretive labelling to Swedish adults with T2D. Nine hundred individuals with T2D for ≥2 years who regularly shop for groceries will be recruited via general practices and community advertisements and randomized to receive access to FoodSwitch plus standard written dietary advice, or standard written dietary advice only. The primary outcome is change in self-measured glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) after 6 months. Secondary outcomes include waist circumference, body weight, quality of life, dietary self-efficacy, medication use, hospitalizations, and all-cause mortality. Exploratory outcomes include omics analyses.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
900
Access to the 'DiabetesSwitch' filter of the FoodSwitch app when grocery shopping. When a packaged food item bar code is scanned, the FoodSwitch app will show an interpretive nutritional information score for the scanned product and recommend alternate healthier food options in the same category.
Linköping University
Linköping, Sweden
RECRUITINGMean HbA1c
Mean glycated haemoglobin
Time frame: Change from baseline at week 26
Self-measured waist circumference (cm)
Self-measured waist circumference (cm)
Time frame: Change from baseline at week 26
Self-reported quality of life
Self-reported quality of life - questionnaire
Time frame: Change from baseline at week 26
Self-measured body weight (kg)
Self-measured body weight (kg)
Time frame: Change from baseline at week 26
Registry-based data on medication use, hospitalizations, outpatient visits, and diabetes complications
Registry-based data on medication use, hospitalizations, outpatient visits, and diabetes complications
Time frame: Change from baseline at week 26
Self-reported dietary self-efficacy
Self-reported dietary self-efficacy
Time frame: Change from baseline at week 26
Difference in all-cause mortality
Difference in all-cause mortality
Time frame: Change from baseline at week 26
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