Lifestyle Medicine in Diabetes Care: The Lifedoc Health Model

Introduction: 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.

Aim: 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.

Results: 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.

Conclusion: 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.