Recent shifts to higher body weight, immigration, and aging of the population are contributing to rapid increases in incidence and prevalence of cardiometabolic risk conditions in Canada, including Type 2 diabetes. Currently, all relevant practice guidelines suggest combining lifestyle interventions with medical treatment to prevent and treat CMR conditions. However, discrepancies exist between recommended interventions and actual health care practice, with limited and variable uptake by either primary care or public health.
The CHANGE program was a feasibility study in 3 primary care organizations across Canada sponsored by Metabolic Syndrome Canada. Multiple papers have been published on the project.
Obesity services in primary care are also limited and do not address issues over the lifecourse. An obesity services planning framework was developed to help primary care teams develop and offer coordinated evidence-based services.
Diabetes is increasing rapidly in the South Asian population. Resources were developed to aid the South Asian community in managing the food aspects of diabetes. The focus group methods used with both patients and RDs to develop the resources could be adapted to ensure teaching resources are culturally and socially relevant.