Ontario-wide virtual specialist consultations · Physician or nurse practitioner referral required

Internal medicine–based diabetes care

Diabetes care connected to the whole clinical picture

Referral-based virtual assessment of type 2 diabetes and related metabolic concerns, with particular attention to cardiovascular health, kidney health, weight, medication complexity and the patient’s individual priorities.

Reasons for referral

Individualized diabetes and metabolic assessment

The consultation is guided by the referral question, glycemic history, current treatment, kidney function, complications, comorbidities and the patient’s goals.

Glycemic management

Review of type 2 diabetes control, treatment response, tolerability and reasonable next steps.

Cardiometabolic risk

Assessment of blood pressure, lipids, weight-related health concerns and cardiovascular risk in clinical context.

Diabetes and kidney health

Integrated review when diabetes, albuminuria, reduced kidney function or kidney-risk reduction overlap.

Consultation approach

Practical recommendations without losing sight of the person

Diabetes management often intersects with kidney health, cardiovascular risk, obesity, medication burden, access, treatment preferences and quality of life. The consultation brings these considerations together rather than treating a laboratory value in isolation.

Recommendations may address monitoring, treatment options, medication safety, complication-risk reduction, additional investigations and follow-up. Longitudinal specialist follow-up may be offered when it is clinically appropriate and remains connected with the referring clinician.

Professional scope is stated clearly. This is an internal medicine–based diabetes service provided within Dr. Shahzad’s scope as a specialist in Internal Medicine and Nephrology, with a focused practice in Diabetes Care. Endocrinology, urgent in-person assessment or another specialized pathway may be recommended when clinically appropriate.

When virtual care may not be the right setting

Acute metabolic instability, suspected diabetic ketoacidosis, severe or recurrent hypoglycemia requiring urgent assessment, pregnancy-related diabetes needs, or another concern requiring immediate examination or hospital services should use the appropriate local urgent, emergency or specialized pathway.

Referral-based specialist care across Ontario

Referring clinicians may submit relevant clinical information through the clinic’s referral pathway.

Referral Information