A Century of Diabetes Care
Scripps, a leader in diabetes education, treatment and research
Dr. Athena Philis-Tsimikas, Endocrinology, Scripps Clinic
Scripps, a leader in diabetes education, treatment and research
Scripps has been at the forefront of diabetes care in San Diego, starting with the opening of the Scripps Metabolic Clinic in 1924 by Ellen Browning Scripps. This clinic was pivotal in bringing insulin treatment to the area and set the stage for the comprehensive diabetes care Scripps offers today.
It’s been 100 years of advancements, including a major milestone in diabetes care with the 1982 opening of the Whittier Institute for Diabetes and Endocrinology (now Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute), made possible through a generous philanthropic gift from N. Paul Whittier and the Whittier family of Los Angeles.
Willard VanderLann, MD, was the first medical director. Today, Athena Philis-Tsimikas, MD, corporate vice president of Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute and an endocrinologist at Scripps Clinic, credits a long line of innovative medical directors, including Alberto Hayek, MD, Dan Einhorn, MD, George Dailey, MD, and Jeff Sandler, MD, with their leadership in advancing medicine and bringing the best in diabetes research, clinical care and education to the region.
“Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute helps to consolidate our Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes education program for physicians, nurses and dietitians who deliver care,” says Dr. Philis-Tsimikas.
“We’ve gathered a group of uniquely trained educators, and we operate as a hub and spoke model with Scripps Whittier as the hub for diabetes services. We standardize the education and approaches, then deliver it to every location at Scripps.”
Additionally, Scripps researchers have helped lead the way as diabetes treatment evolved from a single unmeasured insulin injection to the myriad of pharmaceutical and technological options today. In 1983, Scripps’ Islet Cell Lab studied how hormones help control the level of glucose in the blood. Scripps researchers also studied the effectiveness of continuous glucose monitors on hospitalized patients and whether daily health-related text messages would produce blood sugar improvements in certain patient populations, plus have participated in hundreds of clinical trials.
Multicultural diabetes support
Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute has led the way in developing programs for people in high-risk, underserved communities.
Community education is a big part of Scripps’ efforts. In 1997, Scripps collaborated with other health care and community organizations to launch Project Dulce, a multicultural counseling and support program, and later adapted diabetes management classes for Hispanic, Black, Filipino and Vietnamese populations.
“We recognized a number of years ago that for everyone to benefit from education you have to deliver it in a way that’s understood by all, whether it’s the right language or the right cultural approaches,” says Dr. Philis-Tsimikas.
“We created Project Dulce and adapted all the education that has been proven to improve diabetes care into an approach that’s understood by all. We tried lots of different approaches and tested it through research studies and found that, yes, it actually does help people bring down their blood sugar levels and better manage their diabetes.”
Training the next generation of endocrinologists
Scripps Clinic and Scripps Green Hospital’s Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Fellowship Program began in 1956. Graduates of the two-year program have gone on to pursue careers in clinical care, clinical research and academic medicine.
“A large part of their endocrinology training focuses on diabetes care,” says Amy S. Chang, MD, division head of diabetes and endocrinology at Scripps Clinic.
“Fellows get supervised training taking care of patients with diabetes and experience using the latest technologies. They are introduced to our diabetes clinical trials as well. It’s all very exciting for them and it gives them a lot of experience and good exposure for when they are practicing in the field, whether it be in a community setting, a hospital or multi-specialty clinic.”
Do-it-yourself diabetes care
Part of treating patients with diabetes at Scripps is empowering them to manage their condition once they leave the doctor’s office.
In 2010, Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute launched a glucose self-management program that teaches patients everything they need to manage their diabetes and stay healthy. Nurses, registered dietitians and diabetes health educators lead a series of five classes that cover healthy eating, blood sugar monitoring, medication management, exercise and more.
Another component is a behavioral health integration program — BeHIP for short — that provides support for people living with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes and offers group-based therapy options with a clinical psychologist.
“Our diabetes behavioral therapy service is available to support our patients with diabetes who might be struggling with what's called diabetes burnout,” says Dr. Chang. “We realize that it’s something not available everywhere, so it’s an honor and a privilege to be a part of an organization that provides valuable therapy services to our patients.”
This content appeared in San Diego Health, a publication in partnership between Scripps and San Diego Magazine that celebrates the healthy spirit of San Diego.