Physical Activity and CVD in Adolescents With Type 2 Diabetes

Forty adolescents with T2D, 14-17 years old with a body mass index (BMI) Z score > 1.6 and do not engage in regular PA (< 300 mins of moderate to vigorous PA weekly) will be recruited from the iCARE cohort study and the pediatric T2D clinic in Winnipeg. A research assistant will recruit participants from the pediatric endocrinology clinic (DER-CA), and the Manitoba-based iCARE cohort who have previously given consent to be approached for other studies. Participants will be screened by a pediatric endocrinologist to ensure they meet inclusion criteria prior to being approached to participate. Adolescents that are eligible with be consented by the research assistant, then randomized to study arms using a computer-generated program developed by a statistician not affiliated with the study.

The control arm will receive standard recommendations for increasing daily PA from the Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology and the American Heart Association. The intervention arm will take place in a 12 week intervention (3 sessions per week) which will use a peer mentoring network based on the circle of courage to encourage adolescents with T2D to achieve the WHO recommended target of 300 minutes of moderate to vigorous PA weekly.

Session #1: Will be a group-based activity session, where adolescents will meet in person or join virtually to complete 20-30 minutes of reflecting on the past week and goal setting for upcoming week with an additional 30 to 40 minutes of PA led by a kinesiologist and peer mentor. Session #2: Will be a 15-minute wellness check, to determine emotional, mental, physical and social well-being with a peer mentor. The adolescent with T2D will also reflect on the goals set for the week and complete a structured 30-minute activity session. Session #3: Will be a 30-minute session by the adolescent on a weekend day. Prior to the session the adolescent will receive a text or social media prompts from the kinesiologist or peer mentor.

All weekly sessions throughout the 12-week intervention will incorporate the four core tenets of the Circle of CourageTM and three tenets of Self Determination Theory. During Phase 1 (Weeks 1-3) of the intervention, the focus will be on creating a sense of Belonging and relatedness. Group sessions will focus on sharing past experiences with behaviour change, unique challenges of living with T2D and shared interests or passions that will connect adolescents to each other and the intervention. During Phase 2 (Weeks 4-6), the intervention will focus on the concepts of Mastery and competence. The kinesiologist and peer mentor will encourage adolescents to focus on strengths in their lives. Reflecting on the previous four weeks and their adolescence, what behaviours or support have helped them adopt a more active lifestyle. Adolescents will also be taught land/nature-based activities by local experts as a pilot to determine appropriateness and feasibility for a larger trial. The investigators have previously demonstrated that land/outdoor-based activities are associated with significantly higher PA among adolescents. During Phase 3 (Weeks 7-9), the kinesiologist and peer mentor will foster a sense of Independence and autonomy. Adolescents will set goals, begin the process of journaling their experiences and factors that influence their motivation and actions towards adopting a more active lifestyle. During Phase 4 (weeks 10-12) the group will incorporate Generosity into their activity goals. The group will identify opportunities to be active in their communities while also giving back in some way (volunteering for Meals on Wheels, park maintenance, organize activities for children).