The Need Associated with Diabetes Primary Care and the Impact of Referral to a Specialist-Centered Multidisciplinary Diabetes Program (the NADIR Study)

Abstract Objective The impact of specialist care on glycemia and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with diabetes is uncertain. This observational cohort study investigated metabolic risk factors in patients referred to LMC Diabetes & Endocrinology for diabetes management. Methods The cohort included 306 consecutive patients with diabetes referred to LMC in Ontario between January and June 2010. Sources of prereferral data included consultation notes, records from primary care physicians and the Ontario Lab Information System. Postreferral data were obtained from LMC's patients' records. Results The mean duration of diabetes before referral was 11 years, and the mean baseline glycated hemoglobin (A1C) level was 8.8%. Among patients with uncontrolled A1C levels at baseline, 73% had had no A1C values ≤7% for up to 6 years before referral. Following referral, mean A1C levels decreased to 7.8% at 6 and 12 months (both p