BEHAVIORAL DIABETES INSTITUTE
Addressing the Psychosocial Aspects of Diabetes
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What's New in March 2026?
Do you ever feel stumped when someone in your care is reluctant to take needed medication, appears to be too overwhelmed to take action, or perhaps seems not interested in diabetes management?
On April 18, BDI will host a live, one-day, 6-hour CME workshop: Engaging the Disengaged: Innovative Strategies for Promoting Behavior Change in Diabetes. Join Dr. Polonsky (BDI President) and Dr. Guzman (BDI Director of Clinical Education) for this lively interactive workshop which will examine the powerful role of psychosocial factors in diabetes self-management. Participants will deepen their skills in recognizing and addressing common barriers to effective self-management and cardiometabolic medication initiation and maintenance, while fostering engaging, respectful, stigma-free clinical encounters.
Registration includes lunch and refreshments and will be limited to 50 participants, and we expect it will fill quickly! Click here to find out more.
And, many thanks to Abbott Diabetes Care for supporting this program.
BDI staff served as co-authors on two new publications this month:
Insulin Pen Needle Reuse in U.S. Adults with Diabetes: A Cross‑Sectional Survey Study on Patterns, Motivations, and Educational Implications
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BEHAVIORAL DIABETES INSTITUTE
Recent Publications
In 2025, BDI staff authored or co-authored 12 scientific publications as well as 10 published abstracts at major scientific meetings. Our work has covered a wide range, including studies on diabetes distress, the value of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for people with diabetes, the benefits of diabetes technology for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and more.
You can see the full list at Publications – Behavioral Diabetes Institute.
Insulin Pen Needle Reuse in U.S. Adults with Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study on Patterns, Motivations, and Educational Implications
Susan Guzman · Natalie Bellini · Lucille Hughes · Pasha Javadi ·Camilla Schanche · Maria Muccioli · Lori Berard Received:
The Potential of Inhaled Insulin Therapy in Overcoming Treatment Barriers in People with Insulin-Treated Diabetes
Korey K Hood, William H Polonsky Abstract Barriers to insulin therapy remain a critical challenge for individuals with insulin-treated diabetes, contributing
WHO WE ARE
Behavioral Diabetes Institute
Behavioral Diabetes Institute (BDI) is a nonprofit organization located in San Diego, California, focused on addressing the social, emotional, and psychological barriers to living a long and healthy life with diabetes. To better understand and overcome these obstacles, BDI is actively engaged in research examining the psychological aspects of diabetes and evaluating innovative behavioral interventions. In addition, BDI directly offers an array of unique, behaviorally-oriented products and services for: people with type 1 diabetes; people with type 2 diabetes; parents of children and teens with diabetes; spouses and partners of people with diabetes; and interested health care professionals. Products and services include print materials; online courses and modules, face-to-face workshops and seminars, professional training programs, and an online library of resources.
