Due to the under-use of diabetes education programs (DEPs) in Canada, individuals with diabetes are not receiving the interdisciplinary care that they need in order to manage this chronic illness effectively. Most people with diabetes are receiving care solely from primary care providers who have expressed a lack of time and knowledge to fully care for patients with diabetes.

Our research aims to examine the effects of Mobile Diabetes Education Teams (MDETs) in primary care on patient clinical outcomes and patient care process as recommended by clinical practice guidelines. We will also analyze the implementation processes of MDETs, as well as interprofessional collaboration and team functioning at each primary care site.

Our project will support primary care providers at different primary care sites to assist in the care and management of patients with diabetes by offering a diabetes education team (one registered nurse and registered dietitian) onsite, one to four times a month, based on patient volume.

MDETs will strengthen and formalize links between primary care providers and diabetes education programs within the community, increase patient access to diabetes self-management education and support, and improve patient experience and clinical outcomes through enhanced coordination and integration of care. If study results are promising, this model will reduce the burden of diabetes and direct how diabetes care is delivered in Ontario and Canada.

Gucciardi, E., Espin, S., Morganti, A., & Dorado, L. (2016). Exploring interprofessional collaboration during the integration of diabetes teams into primary care. BMC family practice, 17(1), 12.

Gucciardi, E., Espin, S., Morganti, A., & Dorado, L. (2015). Implementing specialized diabetes teams in primary care in southern Ontario. Canadian Journal of diabetes, 39(6), 467-477.

(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26482885)