The screening program, known as the Ottawa Model for Undiagnosed Diabetes, mimics the Heart Institute's hugely acclaimed model for smoking cessation - a systematic, clinical approach to identifying smokers, helping treat their addiction and providing follow up to help remain smoke-free. The Ottawa Model in smoking has a quit rate of 50%, has reached more than 20,000 patients in centres across Canada and is drawing international attention.

With the new screening program, all patients admitted to the Heart Institute are tested for hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels), tracked and treated in hospital then referred for follow-up if they are positively diagnosed. Patients identified with prediabetes are counselled and put in the care of their family physician.

Preliminary data from the Ottawa Model for Undiagnosed Diabetes shows 10% of all patients hospitalized with heart disease have diabetes and don't know it. The program is expected to reach 250 patients over seven months and sets the stage for the development of a national model that can be applied in hospitals across Canada and adapted to other chronic conditions.

Source: OTTAWA HEART INSTITUTE, UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA