About Us

A Collaborative Effort

Penn State Hershey Diabetes Institute  is a collaboration of scientists, health care providers, patients and friends whose continued goal is to increase the scientific and medical knowledge needed to eradicate obesity and diabetes and help those with obesity and diabetes to live better lives. Penn State Hershey Diabetes Institute is part of the University-wide Penn State Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, which includes clinical, applied and basic scientist from multiple colleges and campuses across the University.

The collaboration includes scientists from across Penn State with leadership from Penn State College of Medicine and the College of Health and Human Development on the University Park Campus. Also involved is a growing network of health care providers, clinics and hospitals across central Pennsylvania committed to making a difference.  Through research, health education, treatment, and professional development Penn State Hershey Diabetes Institute envisions itself as being a center of excellence in the prevention and control of obesity diabetes. 

Re-Inventing Diabetes Care™

Diabetes has staggering public health implications, both in terms of health consequences and economic costs. Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness, kidney failure, amputations, cardiovascular disease and stroke, and it affects some 25.8 million Americans. We are in the midst of a diabetes epidemic - 11.3% of the population in the United States ages 20 and over have diabetes. Worldwide, the estimate for the total number of people with diabetes in 2011 was 346 million, and the World Health Organization estimates that diabetes related deaths will double between 2005 and 2030. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is sixth in the nation in terms of people with diabetes and pre-diabetes, with more than 700,000 people affected by this disease. The dollar costs of diabetes are also staggering. Diabetes accounts for one of every seven healthcare dollars spent in the US and the direct costs of medical care and indirect costs of lost productivity and premature mortality due to diabetes in the United States were estimated to have totaled 174 billion dollars in 2007 alone.

Fundamental to managing the diabetes epidemic is recognition that "business as usual" is not an option for care and prevention of a disease in the middle of an epidemic. For instance, there are an estimated 10 patients for every opening a diabetes specialist has! It is time to re-invent diabetes care to meet the challenges of this epidemic. 

Central to the effort to re-invent diabetes care at Penn State are: 

  • Community Advocacy Group, giving patient and family input on how excellent diabetes care should be provided.  If you would like to learn more about this group, contact us at 877-652-2447. 
  • A Diabetes Playbook, written by those with diabetes and their health care providers that provides step by step information on how to live a better life with diabetes. 
  • Computerized Diabetes Patient Registry, which leads to improved patient care and allows patients to participate in research studies.
  • Participation in the Penn State Hershey Diabetes Institute of primary care physicians, nurses, dietitians, diabetes educators and other varied health professionals.
  • Exploration of novel methods for disease management as a means of improving patient outcomes.
  • Exploration of telemedicine consultations to support rural primary care practices.
  • New methods for improving glucose control among hospitalized patients, now known to markedly improve outcomes.
  • Participation in Pennsylvania initiatives to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diabetes in the Commonwealth. In 2007, Penn State Hershey Diabetes Institute members took an active role in the creation of the Pennsylvania Diabetes Action Plan. Penn State Hershey Diabetes Institute members also have leadership responsibilities in the Governor's Chronic Care Commission which was established to design the informational, technological, and reimbursement infrastructure needed to implement the Chronic Care Model throughout Pennsylvania. 

Penn State Hershey Diabetes Institute Leadership

The Penn State Hershey Diabetes Institute is directed by an Steering Committee and supported by an administrative staff. Research is organized under five programmatic areas, which are chaired by Penn State Hershey Diabetes Institute faculty. 

Funding and Other Support

Financial support for Penn State Hershey Diabetes Institute is provided by private donations garnered through the Annual Penn State Hershey Diabetes Institute Diabetes Gala and private contributions, as well as through a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  Institutional support is provided by the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.  Physical space is provided by the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center  in Hershey, PA.