(P11-027-25) Food Security Changes and Recruitment: The SEARCH Food Security Cohort Study 2 Protocol and Experience

Objectives: Food insecurity (FI) is challenging for people with diabetes including young adults (YA), whose economic situation is frequently tenuous. Because little is known about how variation in FI affects diabetes outcomes and well-being over time, we initiated the multi-center SEARCH Food Security Cohort Study 2 (SFS 2, 2023-28), an ongoing, repeated-measures, longitudinal mixed methods study of YA with youth-onset type 1 diabetes (T1D) or type 2 diabetes (T2D). The quantitative component of SFS 2 evaluates the between- and within-participant associations of FI and real-time glycemic control. The qualitative component examines YA’s experiences over time managing diabetes in the context of FI or food security (FS) and will triangulate quantitative findings.

Methods: SFS 2 will recruit 360 YA with diabetes (260 T1D, 100 T2D; 260 FI, 100 FS, age range 18-39 years) to 2 quantitative data collection periods conducted 9 months apart comprised of 1) a survey including assessment of FI, and 2) an in-depth, 14-day, ecologic momentary assessment (EMA), including daily queries on food insufficiency, medications, mood, and objective measures of activity and glucose levels. Nested within is a qualitative, 9-month longitudinal interview study, which will recruit 45 participants (30 T1D, 15 T2D; 33 FI, 12 FS) to conduct 8 one-on-one interviews per participant. Participant selection uses maximum variation, considering research center (3), FS status (4 categories), diabetes type, and sex.

Results: Data collection for the quantitative and qualitative components began 01/18/2024 and 03/06/2024, respectively. To date, 90 YA (mean age 30 years, range 21-40; 76% T1D; 78% female) completed their 1st 14-day quantitative period. Of these, 43% (n=36) reported FI in the 30 days prior to the FI survey, whereas 57% (n=51) affirmed food insufficiency on 1+ days during the 14-day EMA study. Comparing the two FI measures, 24% changed FI status and 76% did not. For the qualitative study, a total of 109 interviews have been completed by 20 YA (16 T1D, 4 T2D). Qualitative participants cover the range of FS status.

Conclusions: Despite its complex study design, participant recruitment and data collection of the SFS 2 study’s first year has been on track. SFS 2 is already documenting the FS status changes among participants which it was designed to assess.

Funding Sources: 2R01DK117461