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navigating diabetes: clinical practice guidelines support people with diabetes and healthcare providers
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“living with diabetes isn’t easy, and individuals do all of the hard self-management work. they deserve to trust they are getting consistent, research-backed care from their teams,” says dr. zaina albalawi.
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zaina albalawi shares some of her early vision from starting medical school; she hoped to make a meaningful impact at a systems level by being involved in research. still staying true to that vision more than two decades later, dr. albalawi is bringing it with her as she leads a group doing essential work for people with diabetes across canada.
an endocrinologist and clinical epidemiologist at memorial university in newfoundland and labrador, dr. albalawi is in her tenth year of clinical practice. she has worked in academic and community settings, as well as on some reserves. she holds additional certifications in medical teaching, guideline development, and leadership.
“throughout my career, i have felt the responsibility to apply my knowledge and skills in service of others,” says dr. albalawi, whose expertise spans diabetes, limb preservation, healthcare system evaluation, and guideline methodology. “my first involvement with the diabetes canada clinical practice guidelines was in 2018 when i co-authored the foot care chapter, and in 2023, i joined the steering committee. now, i get to bring my passion for evidence-based medicine and clinical guidelines to my new role as chair.”
people with diabetes deserve consistent, quality care
kim summers of st. john’s, newfoundland and labrador, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age two and has lived with it for more than five decades. kim’s diligent diabetes management over the years has required countless hours and constant adjustments to evolving diabetes care options and tools to minimize potential negative impacts.
“despite my hard work, i have had several complications including heart issues, toe amputations, depression, and blindness in my right eye. my care is complex,” says kim. “i have a general physician who is very acquainted with my medical status and a plethora of medical specialists that i see regularly, including a cardiologist, endocrinologist, nurse educator, eye specialist, and podiatrist.”
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“living with diabetes isn’t easy, and individuals do all of the hard self-management work. they deserve to trust they are getting consistent, research-backed care from their teams,” states dr. albalawi. “that’s where clinical practice guidelines come in; they provide a layer of evidence-based, up-to-date information for healthcare providers to inform care.”
guidelines: systems-level support for people with diabetes
diabetes canada’s clinical practice guidelines provide a standard to ensure that people with diabetes—no matter where they live in canada or who their healthcare provider is—receive high-quality, consistent care based on the latest evidence. the guidelines are key to improving the quality of life and outcomes for people with diabetes. the guidelines also inform a wide range of dissemination and implementation efforts, including educational materials, publications, webinars, workshops, and advocacy efforts at provincial and federal levels.
“we published our first set of guidelines in 1992 and have continuously updated them to educate healthcare professionals and guide them in their day-to-day clinical care of people with diabetes,” says tracey barnes, director, clinical practice guidelines and knowledge mobilization. “we’re excited to have dr. albalawi leading the next phase of evolution and updates, bringing her significant training, knowledge, experience, expertise, and passion for guideline development.”
vision for guidelines evolution: building on strong foundations, listening to people with diabetes
as chair, dr. albalawi plans to continue building on foundations laid in the existing guidelines and to further enhance transparency and rigour using the grade guidelines methodology framework. at the heart of the committee’s efforts will be a continued focus on the real-world lived experiences of people with diabetes.
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“i’ve been influenced by a long list of teachers and mentors who believed in me, supported me, and were courageous and principled leaders that walked the talk. collectively, they were instrumental in getting me on the path to diabetes and guideline methodology,” reflects dr. albalawi. “i found the joy of working with and centring people living with diabetes, and the value of connecting what individuals generously share during clinical encounters and the work in clinical guidelines.”
evolving the guidelines to meet the changing needs of people with diabetes will mean continuing to involve those with lived experience on the steering committee and guideline chapters. these efforts, explains dr. albalawi, will result in more meaningful, accessible, patient-centred recommendations to guide individualized care for people like kim.
“you didn’t ask for this disease, but to increase the likelihood of more good days than bad, keep asking questions and standing up for yourself to get what you need to help you,” says kim. “my healthcare providers have been knowledgeable and supportive. when things have been serious, they have been there for me.”
help ensure diabetes canada’s clinical practice guidelines reflect your experiences living with diabetes. we welcome volunteers on our cpg committees and chapters. express your interest to become a diabetes canada volunteer.
this article was originally published april 17, 2025.
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