Grant: Project Grant - PA: Patient-Oriented Research - Health equity-focused iCT

Background: Diabetes is a condition that affects over 10% of individuals living in Canada. Due to numerous challenges they face, certain groups, such as people experiencing homelessness, newcomers to Canada, people living in poverty, and Indigenous peoples, are more likely to have diabetes and face barriers to accessing diabetes-related care. Regular healthcare services often don't meet the unique needs of these groups, leaving gaps in care, and leading to worse diabetes outcomes. One way to address these gaps is to bring care closer to these communities. Mobile clinics have shown promise in improving access to care for these groups, but their effectiveness for diabetes care has yet to be proven. Goals: We will study whether people who receive care from a Diabetes Mobile Clinic (DMC) have better access to care and improved diabetes outcomes compared to individuals using the current model of diabetes care services - at the Diabetes Centre Calgary (DCC). Methods: We will include adults with diabetes who are referred for diabetes specialty services. A total of 340 referred participants will be randomly divided into two groups. Half of the participants will receive care through the DMC, while the other half will receive usual care at the DCC. The main goal of the study is to determine whether people referred to the DMC are more likely to attend their first diabetes care appointment compared to those who receive usual care. In addition to appointment attendance, the study will look at diabetes-related hospitalizations, changes in blood sugar levels, and the effects of the DMC on healthcare costs. Expected Outcomes: This research will provide evidence on how the DMC can improve access to care and outcomes for people who are not adequately served by the mainstream healthcare system. The findings will help guide health policies and practices related to mobile care for people with diabetes in Calgary and elsewhere.