Featured Publications

Aimen Zehra, David Gerstle, Fatema M Ali, Muhanad Ali, Cilia Mejia-Lancheros, Ghazal S Fazli

This review mapped evidence on community-based screening interventions for early detection of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes (T2D), and identified barriers and strategies for developing and implementing such interventions in community settings for diverse populations.

Lorraine L Lipscombe, Fatema M Ali, Tiffany Bartlett, Baiju R Shah, Ian S Zenlea, Ghazal S Fazli

This article highlights the urgent rise of type 2 diabetes worldwide and the need for multi-level, coordinated action. It introduces the Novo Nordisk Network for Healthy Populations in Toronto, which is piloting community-driven, evidence-based strategies in Peel Region. The initiative focuses on improving healthcare delivery, engaging disadvantaged communities, and reshaping environments and policies to support healthier living. Together, these efforts aim to provide a sustainable model for global diabetes prevention.

Reshma Patel, Kathy Kornas, David Gerstle, Lori M Diemert, Laura C Rosella

Type 2 diabetes risk is disproportionately higher among structurally marginalized communities, partly due to influences from social, economic, and environmental determinants of health. Individual-level diabetes prevention strategies address proximal factors, such as modifiable behaviors, often overlooking the role of multilevel socioecological factors that contribute to diabetes risk and inequities. Multilevel diabetes prevention interventions involve actions that address multiple health determinants across the individual, community, and systemic levels of influence, offering a promising approach to reducing inequities in diabetes risk.

Sarah M Mah, Mackenzie Hurst, Mindy Lu, Laura C Rosella

Introduction: Community belonging is a dimension of subjective well-being that is of growing public health interest for mitigating chronic disease. However, there is limited longitudinal evidence that such a relationship exists. We assessed the effect of community belonging on the subsequent 5-year risk of diabetes.

Conclusions: The association between weak sense of belonging to community and diabetes risk demonstrated by this study highlights the critical role that social connections play in chronic disease epidemiology. Our findings signal a need to include social and community factors in population health strategies for chronic disease prevention.

Sebat Mohamed, Lorraine Lipscombe, Jennifer Lipscombe, Chris Kenaszchuk, Deva Thiruchelvam, Baiju Shah, Ghazal Fazli, Gillian Booth, Laura Rosella, Calvin Ke

Aims: To measure the prevalence of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) among immigrants and long-term residents with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Conclusions: There is substantial variation in the prevalence of DKD among immigrants according to world region of birth.

Global Diabetes Forum

The Declaration is a comprehensive forward-looking framework that aims to transform diabetes care and research by leveraging advances in precision medicine, artificial intelligence (AI), technology, therapeutics, and global collaborations. It emphasises the need for equitable health-care access, innovative prevention strategies, and enhanced research investment, particularly in LMICs. 

Hardil A Bhatt, Gillian L Booth, Ghazal Fazli, Calvin Ke, Chris Kenaszchuk, Lorraine L Lipscombe, Sarah Mah, Laura C Rosella, Deva Thiruchelvam, Baiju R Shah 

Objectives: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common pregnancy complication. Studies have shown that the prevalence of GDM is rising worldwide. In this study we aimed to describe the prevalence of GDM in Ontario, Canada, between 2015 and 2021. 

Conclusions: GDM prevalence is rising, but the transient decline in the first year of the pandemic may reflect forgone GDM screening. Disparities in prevalence by age and income are not worsening. GDM is creating a growing burden for the health-care system, particularly for lower income individuals.

Ghazal S Fazli and Lorraine L Lipscombe

An editorial addressing the importance of adopting a health equity lens for addressing type 2 diabetes. In Canada and around the world, the rising burden of diabetes is overrepresented among low socioeconomic status (SES) and marginalized groups. These populations face a substantially higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D), and those with type 1 (T1D) and T2D from disadvantaged groups are more likely to experience diabetes-related complications and premature mortality. This issue of the Journal highlights several important themes for our readers to inform future research, policies, and programs to reduce these inequities in diabetes burden.

Calvin Ke, Emaad Mohammad, Juliana C. N. Chan, Alice P. S. Kong, Fok-Han Leung, Baiju R. Shah, Douglas Lee, Andrea O. Luk, Ronald C. W. Ma, Elaine Chow & Xiaolin Wei 

There are gaps in implementing and accessing team-based diabetes care. We reviewed and compared how team-based diabetes care was implemented in the primary care contexts of Ontario and Hong Kong.

Diabetes care is most accessible and functional when integrated team-based services are automatically initiated upon diabetes diagnosis within a strong primary care system, ideally linked to a register with supports including specialist care. Policymakers and funders should ensure investment in skilled health professionals, infrastructure, and processes to improve care quality.

Daniel Hunt, Krista Lamb, James Elliott, Bianca Hemmingsen, Slim Slama, Renza Scibilia, Kristen Whitney Daniels, Bente Mikkelsen

This study aimed to learn from people with lived experiences of diabetes to raise the quality of diabetes communications. Participants identified five key themes requiring more appropriate consideration in the media: accurately defining diabetes types, over-emphasis on sugar and lifestyle, negative impacts of diabetes stigma, burden of costs (financial, personal and interpersonal) and mental health. Irrespective of audience, key values-based messages identified as important for WHO to convey included: ‘urgency’, ‘preventing suffering’, ‘improving wellbeing’ and ‘meaningful engagement’ of people with lived experience.