HealthyPlan.City: A Web Tool to Support Urban Environmental Equity and Public Health in Canadian Communities.

Urban environmental factors such as air quality, heat islands, and access to greenspaces and community amenities impact public health. Some vulnerable populations such as low-income groups, children, older adults, new immigrants, and visible minorities live in areas with fewer beneficial conditions, and therefore, face greater health risks. Planning and advocating for equitable healthy urban environments requires systematic analysis of reliable spatial data to identify where vulnerable populations intersect with positive or negative urban/environmental characteristics. To facilitate this effort in Canada, we developed HealthyPlan.City ( https://healthyplan.city/ ), a freely available web mapping platform for users to visualize the spatial patterns of built environment indicators, vulnerable populations, and environmental inequity within over 125 Canadian cities. This tool helps users identify areas within Canadian cities where relatively higher proportions of vulnerable populations experience lower than average levels of beneficial environmental conditions, which we refer to as Equity priority areas. Using nationally standardized environmental data from satellite imagery and other large geospatial databases and demographic data from the Canadian Census, HealthyPlan.City provides a block-by-block snapshot of environmental inequities in Canadian cities. The tool aims to support urban planners, public health professionals, policy makers, and community organizers to identify neighborhoods where targeted investments and improvements to the local environment would simultaneously help communities address environmental inequities, promote public health, and adapt to climate change. In this paper, we report on the key considerations that informed our approach to developing this tool and describe the current web-based application.

Recent Improvements in Attainment of the Hemoglobin A1c Target of ≤7.0% Among Adults with Type 1 Diabetes in Ontario: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Aims: We evaluated attainment of the hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) target of ≤7.0%, its temporal trends, and associated factors among adults with type 1 diabetes in Ontario, Canada, using administrative data. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study, including Ontarians with type 1 diabetes ≥18 years old with ≥1 HbA1c test between April 1, 2012 (fiscal year 2013), and March 31, 2023. Generalized estimating equations were used to determine probabilities of meeting the HbA1c target, as well as associations between fiscal year and individual-, physician-, and system-level factors on odds of meeting the target. Results: Among 28,827 adults with type 1 diabetes [14,385 (49.9%) female, 17,998 (62.4%) pump users], with median age at index of 25 years [interquartile range (IQR) 18-37] and median diabetes duration of 12 years [6-18], there were 474,714 HbA1c tests [median 2/individual/year (IQR: 1-3)]. The model-estimated probability of meeting the HbA1c target of ≤7.0% was 22.1% (95% confidence interval, CI: 21.6 to 22.5) in 2013, remained stable until 2020, and increased to 34.7% (95% CI: 34.3 to 35.2) in 2023. The age- and sex-adjusted odds ratio for meeting the target in 2023 versus 2013 was 1.87 (95% CI: 1.79 to 1.96). Young adults (18-25 years), diabetic ketoacidosis, greater comorbidity, and receiving diabetes care from a nonspecialist physician were associated with reduced odds of meeting the HbA1c target. Conclusions: One-third of adults with type 1 diabetes in Ontario met the recommended HbA1c target of ≤7.0% in 2023, with improvement noted since 2021, which may be due to advanced technologies or effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Association of Neighborhood-Level Marginalization With Health Care Use and Clinical Outcomes Following Hospital Discharge in Patients Who Underwent Coronary Catheterization for Acute Myocardial Infarction in a Single-Payer Health Care System.

BACKGROUND: Canadian data suggest that patients of lower socioeconomic status with acute myocardial infarction receive less beneficial therapy and have worse clinical outcomes, raising questions regarding care disparities even in universal health care systems. We assessed the contemporary association of marginalization with clinical outcomes and health services use. METHODS: Using clinical and administrative databases in Ontario, Canada, we conducted a population-based study of patients aged ≥65 years hospitalized for their first acute myocardial infarction between April 1, 2010 and March 1, 2019. Patients receiving cardiac catheterization and surviving 7 days postdischarge were included. Our primary exposure was neighborhood-level marginalization, a multidimensional socioeconomic status metric. Neighborhoods were categorized by quintile from Q1 (least marginalized) to Q5 (most marginalized). Our primary outcome was all-cause mortality. A proportional hazards regression model with a robust variance estimator was used to quantify the association of marginalization with outcomes, adjusting for risk factors, comorbidities, disease severity, and regional cardiologist supply. RESULTS: Among 53 841 patients (median age, 75 years; 39.1% female) from 20 640 neighborhoods, crude 1- and 3-year mortality rates were 7.7% and 17.2%, respectively. Patients in Q5 had no significant difference in 1-year mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.08 [95% CI, 0.95-1.22]), but greater mortality over 3 years (HR, 1.13 [95% CI, 1.03-1.22]) compared with Q1. Over 1 year, we observed differences between Q1 and Q5 in visits to primary care physicians (Q1, 96.7%; Q5, 93.7%) and cardiologists (Q1, 82.6%; Q5, 72.6%), as well as diagnostic testing. There were no differences in secondary prevention medications dispensed or medication adherence at 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: In older patients with acute myocardial infarction who survived to hospital discharge, those residing in the most marginalized neighborhoods had a greater long-term risk of mortality, less specialist care, and fewer diagnostic tests. Yet, there were no differences across socioeconomic status in prescription medication use and adherence.

Association of neighbourhood-level material deprivation with adverse outcomes and processes of care among patients with heart failure in a single-payer healthcare system: A population-based cohort study.

AIM: We studied the association between neighbourhood material deprivation, a metric estimating inability to attain basic material needs, with outcomes and processes of care among incident heart failure patients in a universal healthcare system. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a population-based retrospective study (2007-2019), we examined the association of material deprivation with 1-year all-cause mortality, cause-specific hospitalization, and 90-day processes of care. Using cause-specific hazards regression, we quantified the relative rate of events after multiple covariate adjustment, stratifying by age ≤65 or ≥66 years. Among 395 763 patients (median age 76 [interquartile range 66-84] years, 47% women), there was significant interaction between age and deprivation quintile for mortality/hospitalization outcomes (p ≤ 0.001). Younger residents (age ≤65 years) of the most versus least deprived neighbourhoods had higher hazards of all-cause death (hazard ratio [HR] 1.19, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10-1.29]) and cardiovascular hospitalization (HR 1.29 [95% CI 1.19-1.39]). Older individuals (≥66 years) in the most deprived neighbourhoods had significantly higher hazard of death (HR 1.11 [95% CI 1.08-1.14]) and cardiovascular hospitalization (HR 1.13 [95% CI 1.09-1.18]) compared to the least deprived. The magnitude of the association between deprivation and outcomes was amplified in the younger compared to the older age group. More deprived individuals in both age groups had a lower hazard of cardiology visits and advanced cardiac imaging (all p < 0.001), while the most deprived of younger ages were less likely to undergo implantable cardioverter-defibrillator/cardiac resynchronization therapy-pacemaker implantation (p = 0.023), compared to the least deprived. CONCLUSION: Patients with newly-diagnosed heart failure residing in the most deprived neighbourhoods had worse outcomes and reduced access to care than those less deprived.

The Association of Homelessness With Rates of Diabetes Complications: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the rates of diabetes complications and revascularization procedures among people with diabetes who have experienced homelessness compared with a matched cohort of nonhomeless control subjects. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A propensity-matched cohort study was conducted using administrative health data from Ontario, Canada. Inclusion criteria included a diagnosis of diabetes and at least one hospital encounter between April 2006 and March 2019. Homeless status was identified using a validated administrative data algorithm. Eligible people with a history of homelessness were matched to nonhomeless control subjects with similar sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Rate ratios (RRs) for macrovascular complications, revascularization procedures, acute glycemic emergencies, skin/soft tissue infections, and amputation were calculated using generalized linear models with negative binomial distribution and robust SEs. RESULTS: Of 1,076,437 people who were eligible for inclusion in the study, 6,944 were identified as homeless. A suitable nonhomeless match was found for 5,219 individuals. The rate of macrovascular complications was higher for people with a history of homelessness compared with nonhomeless control subjects (RR 1.85, 95% CI 1.64-2.07), as were rates of hospitalization for glycemia (RR 5.64, 95% CI 4.07-7.81) and skin/soft tissue infections (RR 3.78, 95% CI 3.31-4.32). By contrast, the rates of coronary revascularization procedures were lower for people with a history of homelessness (RR 0.76, 95% CI 0.62-0.94). CONCLUSIONS: These findings contribute to our understanding of the impact of homelessness on long-term diabetes outcomes. The higher rates of complications among people with a history of homelessness present an opportunity for tailored interventions to mitigate these disparities.

Prescribing patterns and factors associated with sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor prescribing in patients with diabetes mellitus and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

BACKGROUND: Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are cardioprotective agents in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD). Since little is known about their uptake in atherosclerotic CVD, we examined SGLT2 inhibitor prescribing trends and identified potential disparities in prescribing patterns. METHODS: We conducted an observational study using linked population-based health data in Ontario, Canada, from April 2016 to March 2020 of patients aged 65 years or older with concomitant type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic CVD. To examine prevalent prescribing of SGLT2 inhibitors (canagliflozin, dapagliflozin and empagliflozin), we constructed 4 cross-sectional yearly cohorts from Apr. 1 to Mar. 31 (2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19 and 2019/20). We estimated prevalent SGLT2 inhibitor prescribing by year and by subgroups, and identified factors associated with SGTL2 inhibitor prescribing using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: There were 208 303 patients in our overall cohort (median age 74.0 yr [interquartile range 68.0-80.0 yr], 132 196 [63.5%] male). Although SGLT2 inhibitor prescribing increased over time, from 7.0% to 20.1%, statin prescribing was initially 10-fold higher and later threefold higher than SGLT2 inhibitor prescribing. In 2019/20, SGLT2 inhibitor prescribing was roughly 50% lower among those aged 75 years or older than among those younger than 75 years (12.9% v. 28.3%, p < 0.001) and in women than in men (15.3% v. 22.9%, p < 0.001). Age 75 years or older, female sex, history of heart failure and kidney disease, and low income were independent factors of lower SGLT2 inhibitor prescribing. Among physician specialists, visits to endocrinologists and family physicians were stronger factors of SGLT2 inhibitor prescribing than cardiologist visits. INTERPRETATION: We found that 1 in 5 patients with diabetes and atherosclerotic CVD were prescribed SGLT2 inhibitors in 2019/20, whereas statins were prescribed for 4 of every 5 patients. Although SGLT2 inhibitor prescribing increased over the study period, disparities in adoption by age, sex, socioeconomic status, comorbidities and physician specialty remained.

Text message-based intervention, Keeping in Touch (KiT), to support youth as they transition to adult type 1 diabetes care: a protocol for a multisite randomised controlled superiority trial.

INTRODUCTION: Transition from paediatric to adult care can be challenging for youth living with type 1 diabetes (T1D), as many youth feel unprepared to transfer to adult care and are at high risk for deterioration of glycaemic management and acute complications. Existing strategies to improve transition experience and outcomes are limited by cost, scalability, generalisability and youth engagement. Text messaging is an acceptable, accessible and cost-effective way of engaging youth. Together with adolescents and emerging adults and paediatric and adult T1D providers, we co-designed a text message-based intervention, Keeping in Touch (KiT), to deliver tailored transition support. Our primary objective is to test the effectiveness of KiT on diabetes self-efficacy in a randomised controlled trial. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will randomise 183 adolescents with T1D aged 17-18 years within 4 months of their final paediatric diabetes visit to the intervention or usual care. KiT will deliver tailored T1D transition support via text messages over 12 months based on a transition readiness assessment. The primary outcome, self-efficacy for diabetes self-management, will be measured 12 months after enrolment. Secondary outcomes, measured at 6 and 12 months, include transition readiness, perceived T1D-related stigma, time between final paediatric and first adult diabetes visits, haemoglobin A1c, and other glycaemia measures (for continuous glucose monitor users), diabetes-related hospitalisations and emergency department visits and the cost of implementing the intervention. The analysis will be intention-to-treat comparing diabetes self-efficacy at 12 months between groups. A process evaluation will be conducted to identify elements of the intervention and individual-level factors influencing implementation and outcomes. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study protocol version 7 July 2022 and accompanying documents were approved by Clinical Trials Ontario (Project ID: 3986) and the McGill University Health Centre (MP-37-2023-8823). Study findings will be presented at scientific conferences and in peer-reviewed publications. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05434754.

Higher Neighborhood Drivability Is Associated With a Higher Diabetes Risk in Younger Adults: A Population-Based Cohort Study in Toronto, Canada.

OBJECTIVE: Car dependency contributes to physical inactivity and, consequently, may increase the likelihood of diabetes. We investigated whether neighborhoods that are highly conducive to driving confer a greater risk of developing diabetes and, if so, whether this differs by age. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We used administrative health care data to identify all working-age Canadian adults (20-64 years) who were living in Toronto on 1 April 2011 without diabetes (type 1 or 2). Neighborhood drivability scores were assigned using a novel, validated index that predicts driving patterns based on built environment features divided into quintiles. Cox regression was used to examine the association between neighborhood drivability and 7-year risk of diabetes onset, overall and by age-group, adjusting for baseline characteristics and comorbidities. RESULTS: Overall, there were 1,473,994 adults in the cohort (mean age 40.9 ± 12.2 years), among whom 77,835 developed diabetes during follow-up. Those living in the most drivable neighborhoods (quintile 5) had a 41% higher risk of developing diabetes compared with those in the least drivable neighborhoods (adjusted hazard ratio 1.41, 95% CI 1.37-1.44), with the strongest associations in younger adults aged 20-34 years (1.57, 95% CI 1.47-1.68, P < 0.001 for interaction). The same comparison in older adults (55-64 years) yielded smaller differences (1.31, 95% CI 1.26-1.36). Associations appeared to be strongest in middle-income neighborhoods for younger residents (middle income 1.96, 95% CI 1.64-2.33) and older residents (1.46, 95% CI 1.32-1.62). CONCLUSIONS: High neighborhood drivability is a risk factor for diabetes, particularly in younger adults. This finding has important implications for future urban design policies.

Growing Income-Related Disparities in Cardiovascular Hospitalizations Among People With Diabetes, 1995-2019: A Population-Based Study.

OBJECTIVE: Cardiovascular risk reduction is an important focus in the management of people with diabetes. Although event rates have been declining over the long term, they have been observed to plateau or reverse in recent years. Furthermore, the impact of income-related disparities in cardiovascular events is unknown. The objective of this study is to evaluate age-, sex-, and income-related trends in cardiovascular hospitalization rates among people with diagnosed diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We calculated rates of hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, and lower-extremity amputation in annual cohorts of the entire population of Ontario, Canada, with diagnosed diabetes, from 1995 to 2019. Event rates were stratified by age, sex, and income level. RESULTS: We studied nearly 1.7 million people with diabetes. The rate of acute myocardial infarction declined throughout the 25-year study period (P < 0.0001), such that the rate in 2019 was less than half the rate in 1995. Rates of stroke (P < 0.0001), heart failure (P < 0.0001), and amputation (P < 0.0001) also changed over time, but hospitalization rates stabilized through the 2010s. This apparent stabilization concealed a growing income-related disparity: wealthier patients showed continued declines in rates of these outcomes during the decade, whereas rates for lower-income patients increased (P for interaction < 0.0001 for all four outcomes). CONCLUSIONS: During a quarter-century of follow-up, cardiovascular hospitalization rates among people with diabetes fell. However, the apparent stabilization in rates of stroke, heart failure, and amputation in recent years masks the fact that rates have risen for lower-income individuals.

Validation of Algorithms to Identify Gestational Diabetes From Population-level Health-care Administrative Data.

OBJECTIVES: Our aim in this study was to determine the test characteristics of algorithms using hospitalization and physician claims data to predict gestational diabetes (GDM). METHODS: Using population-level health-care administrative data, we identified all pregnant women in Ontario in 2019. The presence of GDM was determined based on glucose screening laboratory results. Algorithms using hospitalization records and/or physician claims were tested against this "gold standard." The selected algorithm was applied to administrative data records from 1999 to 2019 to determine GDM prevalence in each year. RESULTS: Identifying GDM based on either a diabetes mellitus code on the delivery hospitalization record, OR at least 1 physician claim with a diabetes diagnosis code with a 90-day lookback before delivery yielded a sensitivity of 95.9%, a specificity of 99.2% and a positive predictive value of 87.6%. The prevalence of GDM increased from 4.2% of pregnancies in 1999 to 12.0% in 2019. CONCLUSION: Algorithms using hospitalization or physician claims administrative data can accurately identify GDM.

Implementation Plan for a High-Frequency, Low-Touch Care Model at Specialized Type 1 Diabetes Clinics: Model Development.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are more likely to achieve optimal glycemic management when they have frequent visits with their health care team. There is a potential benefit of frequent, telemedicine interventions as an effective strategy to lower hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). OBJECTIVE: The objective is this study was to understand the provider- and system-level factors affecting the successful implementation of a virtual care intervention in type 1 diabetes (T1D) clinics. METHODS: Semistructured interviews were conducted with managers and certified diabetes educators (CDEs) at diabetes clinics across Southern Ontario before the COVID-19 pandemic. Deductive analysis was carried out using the Theoretical Domains Framework, followed by mapping to behavior change techniques to inform potential implementation strategies for high-frequency virtual care for T1D. RESULTS: There was considerable intention to deliver high-frequency virtual care to patients with T1D. Participants believed that this model of care could lead to improved patient outcomes and engagement but would likely increase the workload of CDEs. Some felt there were insufficient resources at their site to enable them to participate in the program. Member checking conducted during the pandemic revealed that clinics and staff had already developed strategies to overcome resource barriers to the adoption of virtual care during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: Existing enablers for high-frequency virtual care for T1D can be leveraged, and barriers can be overcome with targeted clinical incentives and support.

Trends in the Association Between Diabetes and Cardiovascular Events, 1994-2019.

This study uses administrative health care data from Ontario, Canada, to assess whether changes in diabetes management practices have affected trends in the association between diabetes vs prior cardiovascular disease and risk of cardiovascular events from 1994 to 2019 among adults aged 20 to 84 years.

Trends in glucose testing among individuals without diabetes in Ontario between 2010 and 2017: a population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Early identification of people with diabetes or prediabetes enables greater opportunities for glycemic control and management strategies to prevent related complications. To identify gaps in screening for these conditions, we examined population trends in receipt of timely glucose testing overall and in specific clinical subgroups. METHODS: Using linked administrative databases, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of people aged 40 years and older without diabetes at baseline. Our primary outcome was up-to-date glucose testing, defined as having received testing at least once in the 3 years before each index year from 2010 to 2017, using linked administrative databases of people residing in Ontario, Canada. We calculated rates of up-to-date testing by age group, sex, ethnicity (South Asian, Chinese, general population) and comorbidities (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular disease). RESULTS: Over the 8-year study period, up-to-date glucose testing rates were stable at 67% for men and 77% for women (both relative risk 1.00 per year; 95% confidence interval 1.00-1.00). Testing rates were significantly lower in men than in women (all age groups p < 0.001) and lower in younger than older age groups (except those aged ≥ 80 yr). South Asian people had the highest testing rates, although among people aged 70 years or older, testing was highest in the general population (p < 0.001). Among people with hypertension, hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular disease, annual testing rates were also stable, but only 58% overall among people with hypertension. INTERPRETATION: We found lower glucose testing rates in younger men and people with hypertension. Our findings reinforce the need for initiatives to increase awareness of glycemic testing.

Accessing Diabetes Specialty Care for Persons With Lived Experience of Homelessness in Canada: Challenges and Opportunities.

OBJECTIVES: Persons with lived experience of homelessness face many challenges in managing their diabetes, including purchasing and storing medications, procuring healthy food and accessing health-care services. Not only do these individuals have challenges in accessing primary care, they are also seen by diabetes specialists (endocrinologists, diabetes educators, foot- and eye-care specialists) less frequently. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative descriptive study using open-ended interviews of 96 health and social care providers across 5 Canadian cities (Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Vancouver, Toronto). We used NVivo qualitative software to facilitate thematic analysis of the data, focussing on homelessness-related patient barriers to diabetes specialty care. RESULTS: Barriers identified included patients' competing priorities and previous negative experiences with specialists, long wait times from referral to appointment, difficulty in contacting patients and location of the clinics. Primary care providers were confident in managing diabetes in most patients and believed that patients were best served under their care. Other barriers included specialists' limited understanding of patients' complex social situations and medication coverage as well as out-of-pocket costs associated with some specialist care. Recommendations for improving access to diabetes specialty care for these medically and socially complex patients included holding diabetes specialty clinics at community health centres, providing physician-to-physician direct referrals, and selecting specialists with an interest in health of the homeless population. CONCLUSIONS: Barriers to diabetes specialty care for persons with lived experience of homelessness are due largely to the physical and social environment of the clinics. Innovative solutions may be implemented to address these challenges and improve access for this population.

Association of Neighborhood-Level Material Deprivation With Atrial Fibrillation Care in a Single-Payer Health Care System: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: There are limited data on the association of material deprivation with clinical care and outcomes after atrial fibrillation (AF) diagnosis in jurisdictions with universal health care. METHODS: This was a population-based cohort study of individuals ≥66 years of age with first diagnosis of AF between April 1, 2007, and March 31, 2019, in the Canadian province of Ontario, which provides public funding and prohibits private payment for medically necessary physician and hospital services. Prescription medications are subsidized for residents >65 years of age. The primary exposure was neighborhood material deprivation, a metric derived from Canadian census data to estimate inability to attain basic material needs. Neighborhoods were categorized by quintile from Q1 (least deprived) to Q5 (most deprived). Cause-specific hazards regression was used to study the association of material deprivation quintile with time to AF-related adverse events (death or hospitalization for stroke, heart failure, or bleeding), clinical services (physician visits, cardiac diagnostics), and interventions (anticoagulation, cardioversion, ablation) while adjusting for individual characteristics and regional cardiologist supply. RESULTS: Among 347 632 individuals with AF (median age 79 years, 48.9% female), individuals in the most deprived neighborhoods (Q5) had higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease, risk factors, and noncardiovascular comorbidity relative to residents of the least deprived neighborhoods (Q1). After adjustment, Q5 residents had higher hazards of death (hazard ratio [HR], 1.16 [95% CI, 1.13-1.20]) and hospitalization for stroke (HR, 1.16 [95% CI, 1.07-1.27]), heart failure (HR, 1.14 [95% CI, 1.11-1.18]), or bleeding (HR, 1.16 [95% CI, 1.07-1.25]) relative to Q1. There were small differences across quintiles in primary care physician visits (HR, Q5 versus Q1, 0.91 [95% CI, 0.89-0.92]), echocardiography (HR, Q5 versus Q1, 0.97 [95% CI, 0.96-0.99]), and dispensation of anticoagulation (HR, Q5 versus Q1, 0.97 [95% CI, 0.95-0.98]). There were more prominent disparities for Q5 versus Q1 in cardiologist visits (HR, 0.84 [95% CI, 0.82-0.86]), cardioversion (HR, 0.80 [95% CI, 0.76-0.84]), and ablation (HR, 0.45 [95% CI, 0.30-0.67]). CONCLUSIONS: Despite universal health care and prescription medication coverage, residents of more deprived neighborhoods were less likely to visit cardiologists or receive rhythm control interventions after AF diagnosis, even though they exhibited higher cardiovascular disease burden and higher risk of adverse outcomes.

Perceptions and Correlates of Distress Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and Stress Management Strategies Among Adults With Diabetes: A Mixed-Methods Study.

BACKGROUND: Greater risk of adverse health outcomes and public health measures have increased distress among people with diabetes during the coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The objectives of this study were to explore how the experiences of people with diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic differ according to sociodemographic characteristics and identify diabetes-related psychosocial correlates of COVID distress. METHODS: Patients with type 1 or 2 diabetes were recruited from clinics and community health centres in Toronto, Ontario, as well as patient networks. Participants were interviewed to explore the experiences of people with diabetes with varied sociodemographic and clinical identities, with respect to wellness (physical, emotional, social, financial, occupational), level of stress and management strategies. Multiple linear regression was used to assess the relationships between diabetes distress, diabetes self-efficacy and resilient coping with COVID distress. RESULTS: Interviews revealed that specific aspects of psychosocial wellness affected by the pandemic, and stress and illness management strategies utilized by people with diabetes differed based on socioeconomic status, gender, type of diabetes and race. Resilient coping (ß=-0.0517; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.0918 to -0.0116; p=0.012), diabetes distress (ß=0.0260; 95% CI, 0.0149 to 0.0371; p<0.0001) and diabetes self-efficacy (ß=-0.0184; 95% CI, -0.0316 to -0.0052; p=0.007) were significantly associated with COVID distress. CONCLUSIONS: Certain subgroups of people with diabetes have experienced a disproportionate amount of COVID distress. Assessing correlates of COVID distress among people with diabetes will help inform interventions such as diabetes self-management education to address the psychosocial distress caused by the pandemic.