History

Responding to a local community need, International Diabetes Center expanded patient education programs to Park Nicollet Clinic—Brookdale. This clinic joined Park Nicollet Clinic—Burnsville, Park Nicollet Clinic—Minneapolis, Park Nicollet Clinic—St. Louis Park and Methodist Hospital in serving patients with diabetes.

Diabetes Control and Complications Trial and Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications trial clearly have shown that controlling blood glucose early dramatically reduces risk of cardiovascular disease in type 1 diabetes. International Diabetes Center, as one of only 24 sites in this landmark 22-year study, took part in this announcement at the 2005 American Diabetes Association scientific sessions. The center also unveiled new research showing how STAGED DIABETES MANAGEMENT^SM and Type 2 BASICS education programs can help medical centers earn quality recognition from American Diabetes Association and National Committee for Quality Assurance.

International Diabetes Center was asked to participate in the first U.S. Diabetes Technology Implementation conference. The center presented emerging concepts and early information on how to collect and display continuous blood glucose monitoring data, helping patients and health care providers make appropriate therapy choices.

Caring for children with diabetes in school is recognized as a critical need, locally and nationally, because such care has been poorly standardized and not well studied. International Diabetes Center responded to this need by forming a pediatric support group and developing a school-based diabetes care plan. Children with diabetes, their parents and school staff came together to discuss the issues, and agreed upon care standards and ways to communicate more effectively. International Diabetes Center now provides regional training in diabetes management for school nurses.

International Diabetes Center used advanced technology to host a satellite broadcast and simultaneous Webcast to reach a wider audience with varied learning preferences. Like all center courses, this program debated the importance of blood glucose versus blood pressure and cholesterol management in preventing cardiovascular disease in diabetes. It also emphasized practical and systematic diabetes education and care solutions.

For nearly 30 years, International Diabetes Center sent pediatric diabetes specialty teams across the state to serve youth with type 1 diabetes through an initiative called Minnesota Diabetes in Youth. This partnership with the Minnesota Department of Health evolved into a community support model in 2003.

Faced with the demand of scheduling multiple appointments for annual diabetes tests and follow-up, patients told International Diabetes Center they wanted all yearly tests in one visit. In response, the center developed a one-day assessment service that provides lab work, plus kidney and foot testing. Results and recommendations from the diabetes team are delivered to patients and their clinicians that same day.

International Diabetes Center reached out to people who may not have received formal diabetes education by hosting an annual one-day, community-based education program. The first “Taking Control of Your Diabetes” conference in Minneapolis, with more than 3,000 attendees, was the largest patient audience for diabetes education in Minnesota history to date.

As the importance of blood glucose control in hospitals gained national attention, International Diabetes Center and Methodist Hospital designed a research program to provide better blood glucose control after coronary artery surgery and in the intensive care unit. Improving glucose control in the hospital proved to be one of the most important factors in reducing hospital complications in diabetes patients.

International Diabetes Center began unique worksite diabetes programs in response to local companies’ desire to help employees with diabetes continue to be healthy and productive. Funded by an Innovation grant from Park Nicollet Foundation, International Diabetes Center developed on-site diabetes education and initiated worksite diabetes coaching. These unique projects were tested at several major Twin Cities’ companies.

International Diabetes Center studied the practical application of testing blood glucose at places other than the finger. This research led to exploring the role of newer technology for testing, including the use of continuous blood glucose monitoring for diabetes care.

Responding to the growing educational needs of medical centers worldwide, the center’s affiliate program is transitioned to a consulting program, called “Diabetes Connections.” To track and improve education and care outcomes globally, Diabetes Connections was brought to hospitals, multispecialty clinics, preferred provider organizations, medical practices and centers, academic institutions and diabetes societies.

As the U.S. health care system sought more cost-effective diabetes care and education that maintained excellent outcomes, International Diabetes Center published “Type 2 Diabetes BASICS,” a complete diabetes education curriculum that incorporates adult learning concepts into group and individual settings. It is the first comprehensive group education curriculum offered nationally and worldwide. Building on the success of BASICS, the center published “Insulin BASICS” in 2001 as a safe, effective guide for patients starting and adjusting insulin. In 2005, International Diabetes Center published “Gestational Diabetes BASICS” to ensure healthy pregnancies.

International Diabetes Center hosted a symposium with representatives from more than 20 countries at International Diabetes Federation meetings in Mexico City. The proceedings focused on clinical experience and outcomes of STAGED DIABETES MANAGEMENT^SM in communities around the world. A second conference was convened following the 2004 International Diabetes Federation conference in Paris.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) selected International Diabetes Center to participate in the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) trial. This study of 10,000 patients was designed to assess whether near-normal blood glucose levels can prevent cardiovascular complications in people with type 2 diabetes. ACCORD is one of the largest diabetes trials ever funded by NIH, and includes more than 70 sites across the United States and Canada. International Diabetes Center is among the largest of these sites, with more than 250 diabetes patients working with research staff to answer these critical questions. 

NIH also selected International Diabetes Center to host diabetes management training for ACCORD investigators, and adapted "Type 2 Diabetes BASICS" education materials as the standard for all 10,000 trial participants.

An International Diabetes Center study comparing outcomes and cost-effectiveness of delivering BASICS diabetes education to individuals versus groups was selected as late-breaking research at American Diabetes Association’s President’s Poster Session — one of the first education studies ever to be honored. This important study was published in 2002 in the world’s largest diabetes journal, Diabetes Care.

STAGED DIABETES MANAGEMENT^SM was published in Polish, marking the first comprehensive international publication. This material was used for training primary care doctors throughout Poland, and demonstrated improved outcomes in pregnancy and in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

International Diabetes Center and Iowa Health System partnered to establish a statewide affiliation, connecting programs in eight Iowa counties. The network implemented "Type 2 Diabetes BASICS" education curriculum, helping the health system receive diabetes education recognition from American Diabetes Association in June 2000.

The center established International Diabetes Center Publishing, bringing its publishing operation internal. Now known as Park Nicollet Health Innovations, it is the second-largest publisher of diabetes patient education materials in the world, and known for practical and clinically relevant diabetes education materials.

Dr. Etzwiler retired and Richard M. Bergenstal, MD, adult endocrinologist, was named medical director.

STAGED DIABETES MANAGEMENT^SM DecisionPaths^® was published by International Diabetes Center to translate the findings of the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial for primary care providers, and grew into a major program road map for health care decision-making. SDM^SM was expanded to type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes and prediabetes, and was implemented worldwide.

Community Diabetes Prevention Project was initiated.

Completed in 1993, Diabetes Complications and Control Trial was extended into a follow-up study called Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (EDIC), which continues today. International Diabetes Center remains an active site with EDIC study results showing that establishing an early level of control on blood glucose has long-lasting effects on the development of diabetes complications, even if that control is not maintained. This new concept was labeled metabolic memory or “imprinting.”

International Diabetes Center hosted “Diabetes Translation: A Blueprint for the Future,” a national conference that included National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Diabetes Advisory Board. STAGED DIABETES MANAGEMENT^SM, a new road map for clinical decision-making, was introduced by International Diabetes Center at the conference.

International Diabetes Center partnered with Lions Clubs of Minnesota to implement STAGED DIABETES MANAGEMENT^SM in primary care clinics across Minnesota. This collaboration continues to have a major impact on diabetes care in the state.

The first collaborative project in diabetes was initiated in Russia with International Diabetes Center teams. More than 50 diabetes centers have been established in Russia through this effort.

International Diabetes Center trained health professionals from Indian Health Service (IHS) on a reservation in Cass Lake, Minn. This relationship grew to include training at more than 67 IHS sites nationwide. The center continues to facilitate annual diabetes updates and strategic planning sessions for IHS consultants responsible for diabetes policy and practice, which contributed to federal legislation expanding diabetes services for all American Indians.

The center received a grant from Becton Dickinson to develop a comprehensive, systematic approach for primary care providers, which evolved into STAGED DIABETES MANAGEMENT^SM.

The center’s growing list of publications and the Glucose Shack, a clinic-based operation created by the center to meet the needs of people looking for diabetes supplies, caught the eye of a Minneapolis entrepreneur. A contract to distribute the center's publications followed, and Chronimed, a mail-order diabetes information and supply business, was established.

International Diabetes Center received designation as a World Health Organization (WHO) collaborating center for diabetes education and translation and computer technology. The center currently is one of only 32 WHO collaborating diabetes centers worldwide, and one of only two in the United States.

International Diabetes Center, with its staff of 35, moved into the new building, which had grown to nearly 112,000 square feet.

International Diabetes Center initiated the concept of a major diabetes center with national affiliates, and established its first affiliate site in Illinois. The affiliate program grew to 13 centers and helped health care institutions develop or enhance diabetes education and care programs.

A groundbreaking ceremony marked the beginning of construction on a five-story "tower" atop an existing two-story building on the campus of the newly formed Park Nicollet Medical Center. Then Gov. Rudy Perpich declared the day "International Diabetes Center Day" in Minnesota.

McKnight Foundation awarded a $5 million grant, which launched a capital campaign funding the construction of a building for the newly named International Diabetes Center.

International Diabetes Center was selected to participate in the landmark Diabetes Complications and Control Trial, funded by the National Institutes of Health. This long-term study was the first to conclusively show that lowering blood glucose reduces risk of diabetes-related eye, kidney and nerve disease.

The center, with a significant clinical research department, was selected to study a revolutionary, biosynthetic "human" insulin. Until that time, and for several more years, insulin injected by people with diabetes was harvested from pigs and cows.

The center began its first clinical research study on a purified animal insulin.

Minnesota Department of Health contracted with the center to create and conduct the first comprehensive, statewide patient education program.

The center, among the first to recognize the importance of patient knowledge and participation in diabetes care, received a McKnight Foundation grant to train health professionals and patients throughout Minnesota.

The center organized and conducted the First International Symposium on Diabetes Camps for children as an extension of its work with Camp Needlepoint in Minnesota. The events were published and the group continued to meet, eventually contributing to the creation of standards and accreditation for diabetes camp programs.

Diabetes Education Center published its first patient education booklet.

The renamed Diabetes Education Center moved to St. Louis Park, a Minneapolis suburb, to better serve the diabetes education needs of St. Louis Park Medical Center patients and the community.

Donnell D. Etzwiler, MD, established the Diabetes Education and Detection Center, funded by the U.S. Public Health Service. Housed in Asbury Methodist Hospital in downtown Minneapolis, the center set four major goals:

• create and maintain an outpatient clinic for people with diabetes, based on the belief that the patient is the center of the care team
• train and educate health professionals caring for people with diabetes
• improve diabetes screening and detection practices
• educate the public about diabetes