Using England's Diabetes Prevention Model to Inspire Canadian Initiatives

Canada has the opportunity to adopt and adapt England's successful diabetes prevention strategies to combat rising diabetes rates nationwide. In an insightful analysis published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, experts highlight how England's National Health Service (NHS) has effectively implemented prevention and remission programs focused on diet and exercise, resulting in significant reductions in prediabetes. These initiatives lowered diabetes incidence from 64.3 to 53.4 cases per 1,000 person-years and are projected to save over $120 million in healthcare costs over 35 years.

Building on this success, a team of clinician–scientists, legal experts, and health economists from Quebec are collaborating with NHS leaders to explore launching similar programs in Quebec, with the broader goal of initiating a nationwide rollout. The strategy is inspired by Quebec's earlier success in establishing early childhood education programs, which were later adopted across Canada, exemplifying how provincial initiatives can catalyze national health reforms.

Dr. Kaberi Dasgupta of the McGill University Health Center emphasizes that successful provincial programs can drive federal support and implementation in other regions. This approach reflects Canada's history of expanding local health initiatives, like Medicare, from a provincial concept to a national health system.

In 2022, Canada released a comprehensive diabetes framework urging provincial and Indigenous authorities to develop community-based prevention programs. The proposed model inspired by England's NHS program offers a promising pathway to stem the rising tide of diabetes through targeted preventive measures that could be scaled across the country.

For more details, visit the original publication in the Canadian Medical Association Journal: DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.250057.