Lifestyle Medicine in Diabetes Care: The Lifedoc Health Model.

Abstract

The relevance of lifestyle medicine in diabetes treatment is now incorporated in clinical practice guidelines but finding an exemplar for the creation of a Lifestyle Medicine Program (LMP) is a difficult task. To use Lifedoc Health (LDH) as a LMP exemplar by describing their multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach to diabetes care along with tactics to address sustainability challenges. The LDH model facilitates early activation of patients with diabetes and other cardiometabolic risk factors, MDT approaches, and protocols/policies that are able to overcome barriers to equitable healthcare in the community. Specific programmatic targets are clinical outcomes, effective dissemination, economic viability, and sustainability. Infrastructure centers on patient-driven problem-based visits, shared medical appointments, telemedicine, and patient tracking. Further discussions on program conceptualization and operationalization are provided. Even though strategic plans for LMPs that specialize in diabetes care are well represented in the literature, implementation protocols, and performance metrics are lacking. The LDH experience provides a starting point for those healthcare professionals interested in translating ideas into action.