Abstract
The growing prevalence of people living with Type 2 Diabetes (PLWT2D) and the increase in the magnitude of associated comorbidities continue to impact people across Canada leading to severe health problems with no signs of slowing down. Despite significant investments in research, public health interventions, clinical care and new treatments and technologies, Canada ranks 10th among the 17 peer countries. (OECD Health, 2023) in Diabetes prevalence.
Canada has a low physician-to-patient ratio and many Canadians do not have access to a family doctor. Canada has 2.7 physicians per 1,000 people compared to the OECD average of 3.5 physicians per 1,000 people (OECD Health, 2023). Most People living with Type 2 Diabetes are under the care of primary care practitioners, who are experiencing unprecedented burnout, an increase in unpaid administrative work, and limited time to see the overflowing numbers of patients in their practice.
The implications of the increase in prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes and less access to primary care practitioners to provide care, creates concern about the future of population health and the capabilities of health care systems to meet the demands.
To better understand why the problem persists, our research focused on what creates delays in recommendations for care from healthcare providers, and what creates delays in the adoption of recommendations for care by people living with Type 2 Diabetes.
Bold intervention strategies are required to change the trajectory of Type 2 diabetes prevalence and in this paper, we make a case for how design offers new perspectives on problem solving within the scope of providers of care and people living with Type 2 Diabetes.