Promoting Behavioral Science Research in Diabetes

Diabetes is unique among chronic illnesses in the degree that patient behavior influences both the application and outcomes of therapy. Indeed, there is emerging evidence suggesting that in order to effectively implement intensive regimens designed to achieve optimal glycemic control, it is necessary to address a variety of behavioral issues among diabetic patients. Despite this observation, federal agencies have historically funded a disproportionately small amount of behavioral science research in diabetes. On 18 and 19 November 1999, the National Institutes of Health addressed this issue by hosting an invitational conference focusing specifically on behavioral science research in diabetes. The goals of the conference were 1 ) to illuminate the integral role that behavioral science has played in the success of research designed to reduce the considerable personal, social, and fiscal burden associated with diabetes (notably, this includes large clinical trials such as the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial, the U.K. Prospective Diabetes Study, and the Diabetes Prevention Program); 2 ) to demonstrate …