563-P: Outcomes of the Dulce Digital–COVID Aware (DD-CA) Discharge Texting Platform for U.S./Mexico–Border Hispanics with Diabetes Free

Hispanic individuals are disproportionally impacted by type 2 diabetes (T2D) and COVID-19 compared to non-Hispanic White individuals. Notably, T2D is associated with greater COVID-19 disease severity and mortality; however, with good glucose control, prognosis improves. During the COVID-19 pandemic, N=172 Hispanic patients with T2D hospitalized near the US/Mexico border in California were randomized to receive Dulce Digital-COVID Aware (DD-CA) texting platform or usual care. The DD-CA program provides culturally tailored, educational, and motivational text-messaging related to diabetes management and COVID prevention, remote glucose monitoring, and automated, tailored feedback on behavioral and glucose metrics for 6 months post-discharge. Participants were on average 58 ± 13 years, 52% male, 9.3% COVID+, with a mean BMI of 32.7 ± 8.2 and mean baseline HbA1c of 9.6% ± 2.2%. In unadjusted analyses, DD-CA did not reduce 30- or 90-day hospital readmission rates compared to usual care (28% vs 15%, p = 0.06; and 37% vs 35%, p = 0.9, respectively). Follow up HbA1c completion rates were low; however, HbA1c improvement was significantly greater among those in DD-CA compared to usual care at 3 months (n=56; −2.69% vs. −1.45%, p=0.05), with slight attenuation of effect at 6 months (n=64; −2.03% vs −0.91%, p=0.07). Given the reduction of in-person clinical care and emphasis on staying at home amid the pandemic, DD-CA represented an alternative pathway for delivering diabetes- and COVID-related education and support to high-risk individuals during this time. While the DD-CA intervention did not significantly impact readmission rates, it was effective in achieving a clinically significant, >1% greater improvement in HbA1c relative to usual care post-hospital discharge. Additional analyses will be presented on clinical and patient-reported outcomes.