Alberta’s Caring for Diabetes Project
The Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary Care Network (LBD PCN) is one of four Primary Care Networks participating in an exciting partnership with the Alliance for Canadian Health Outcomes Research in Diabetes (ACHORD). The ABCD research project, which was launched in 2010, consists of two interventions for patients with type 2 diabetes with the goal of improving diabetes management.
There are over 2 million Canadians and almost 190,000 adult Albertans currently living with diabetes. People with diabetes have an increased risk of developing complications such as blindness, stroke, heart disease, kidney failure and early death compared to those without diabetes. Type 2 accounts for 90 per cent of diabetes cases.
The first intervention in the study is a 24 week pedometer-based walking program called HEALD (Healthy Eating and Active Living for Diabetes). The HEALD program includes group walking sessions and dietary advice for those who have been recently diagnosed. Research has shown that those who have participated in HEALD have reduced their body weight, blood pressure and resting heart rate.
“Physical activity has many health related benefits for everyone young and old, however for those with type 2 diabetes, regular and consistent activity helps to improve the body’s sensitivity to insulin and helps manage blood glucose (sugar) levels. “ states Corinne Cutler, Exercise Specialist at the LBD PCN.
The second intervention, TeamCare, will help address depression with diabetic patients in order to improve glycemic control.
Depression or depressive symptoms are common in people with diabetes and are present in approximately 15 - 30 per cent of patients with diabetes, a rate that is about 30 per cent higher than the general population. Depressive disorders in those with diabetes are associated with poor self-care behaviours and glycemic control, increased health complications and family issues, decreased quality of life and psychological well-being and higher health care costs.
Patients in the second intervention group will receive bi-weekly patient care from the project’s care manager, Ledise Mason, who works in collaboration with the patients’ family physician, a psychiatrist and an internist.
“The idea behind this intervention is to treat the depressive disorder so that in turn, patients are then more able to control, and have better outcomes with, their diabetes.” says Mason.
A short screening survey was mailed out to patients with diabetes within the Leduc, Beaumont, and Devon area. Patients who respond, and who meet the pilot project criteria, may be eligible to participate in the HEALD or TeamCare project.
If you have received the mailed survey, Mason encourages you to fill it out and return it at your earliest conveniences so that you may take part in this important research project. If you have diabetes, please contact Ledise Mason at 780-986-6624 to see if you are eligible to participate.
ABCD Project Team members
Ledise Mason, Corinne Cutler, Cheri Plitt
