Behavioral Diabetes Institute

What Behavioral Diabetes Institute does

Behavioral Diabetes Institute (BDI) is a California-based 501(c)-style educational nonprofit founded in 2003 in San Diego, purpose-built to address the psychosocial and behavioral dimensions of diabetes — burnout, distress, depression, fear of hypoglycemia, and disengagement — that drive suboptimal self-management. Its core product is a portfolio of 12+ copyrighted, psychometrically validated assessment instruments (T1-DDAS, T2-DDAS, DDS-17, T1-DDS, Partner-DDS, Parent-DDS, HABS, HCS, GMSS, IDSS, MATCH, DCS) translated into more than 40 languages and used by clinicians and researchers worldwide. Beyond instruments, BDI delivers CME-accredited workshops, video-based training modules, monthly case consultation meetings in San Diego, and downloadable print materials serving both people with diabetes and healthcare professionals.

The organization operates with a deliberately lean team of three part-time clinical psychologists (Dr. William Polonsky, Dr. Susan Guzman, Dr. Lawrence Fisher) plus an office manager, supported by a volunteer board. Its business model is a hybrid of (a) per-use licensing of assessment scales to for-profit healthcare organizations (with free use granted to non-profits), (b) CME workshop registration fees capped at 50 participants per session, (c) bulk print material sales to institutions, (d) individual donations via PayPal, and (e) educational grants from pharmaceutical partners such as Abbott Diabetes Care and Takeda. BDI co-authors a high volume of peer-reviewed research (24 publications and 8 abstracts in 2024 alone) and maintains a network of reciprocal partnerships with leading diabetes nonprofits (ADA, TCOYD, Beyond Type 1/2, Children With Diabetes, diaTribe, dStigmatize, and others).

Name

Behavioral Diabetes Institute

Legal name

Behavioral Diabetes Institute

Website

https://behavioraldiabetes.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Behavioral Diabetes Institute is a San Diego nonprofit that develops and licenses validated diabetes-distress assessment scales, delivers CME training and workshops for healthcare professionals, and provides behavioral health resources to people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Behavioral Diabetes Care

NAICS

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011)

akta.pro primary industry

Type 1 Diabetes Care (HLAKADAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Diabetes Education & Insulin Management (Home-Based) (HSABACAJ)

Keywords

• Diabetes psychosocial care
• Behavioral diabetes assessments
• Diabetes distress scales
• Medical education workshops
• Chronic disease self-management

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Licensing of print materials and assessment scales: Revenue generated from licensing of the 5 written tools (diabetes distress scales) to healthcare organizations and for-profit institutions globally. Scales are free for non-profit institutions but require licensing fees for for-profit companies.
2. Individual donations: Donations from individuals and organizations supporting the nonprofit mission.
3. CME workshop fees: Fees for continuing medical education workshops such as 'Engaging the Disengaged' workshop, limited to 50 participants with registration including lunch and refreshments.
4. Print materials: Sale of hard copies of print materials in bulk to healthcare organizations. Order requests sent to office manager at [email protected]. Also includes items like BDI mugs ($20 each).
5. Grants for projects: Operating support and specific project grants from organizations supporting diabetes education and research programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

BDI develops and licenses validated, copyrighted diabetes distress assessment instruments to healthcare organizations worldwide, and delivers in-person and online behavioral diabetes education and training programs to people with diabetes and healthcare professionals. Offerings include a comprehensive suite of assessment scales (T1-DDAS, T2-DDAS, DDS-17, T1-DDS, HABS, HCS, Partner-DDS, Parent-DDS, GMSS, MATCH, DCS) translated into 40+ languages, CME-accredited workshops, online professional training modules, print educational materials, and BDI Briefs video programming.

Product overview

Behavioral Diabetes Institute (BDI) is a nonprofit organization offering an integrated suite of behaviorally-oriented products and services for people with diabetes and healthcare professionals. The portfolio includes validated diabetes distress assessment scales (T1-DDAS, T2-DDAS, DDS-17, and related instruments), print educational materials, video-based training modules, CME workshops, and community resources. BDI's tools are designed to help identify, understand, and address the psychosocial barriers to effective diabetes self-management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BDI Print Materials Downloadable and printable educational resources addressing psychosocial aspects of diabetes including Diabetes Distress Infographic, The Emotional Side of Diabetes, Don't Freak Out!, Diabetes Etiquette (standard, teen, and Spanish versions), Breaking Free From Depression, and Color Me Brave T1D Coloring Book. Available as free downloads or in hard-copy bulk orders for healthcare organizations, plus BDI mugs at $20 each.
• Diabetes Distress Scales and Measures (T1-DDAS, T2-DDAS, DDS-17, T1-DDS, Partner-DDS, Parent-DDS, HABS, HCS, Partner-HCS, GMSS, IDSS, MATCH, DCS) Validated, copyrighted psychometric instruments for assessing diabetes distress across T1D adults, T2D adults, partners of adults with T1D, and parents of teens with T1D. Free for non-profit institutions; per-use licensing fees required for for-profit companies, with scales available in 40+ languages.
• BDI Briefs Video Program Monthly video program examining the emotional side of diabetes, with each episode covering a different topic. Designed for both healthcare professionals and people with diabetes, distributed via YouTube.
• Online Training Modules for Healthcare Professionals Video-based professional training modules covering behavioral and emotional aspects of diabetes care, including motivation, depression, diabetes distress assessment, medication taking, disordered eating, psychological insulin resistance, hypoglycemia concerns, and motivational interviewing. Hosted on Vimeo.
• Engaging the Disengaged CME Workshop Live, one-day, 6-hour CME-accredited workshop examining psychosocial factors in diabetes self-management, addressing barriers to effective self-care and cardiometabolic medication initiation, while fostering respectful, stigma-free clinical encounters. Limited to 50 participants; registration includes lunch and refreshments. Supported by Abbott Diabetes Care.
• Case Consultation Meetings San Diego-wide monthly case consultation meetings for mental health professionals working in the field of diabetes.
• Community Resources Directory Curated directory of external diabetes organizations and resources including American Diabetes Association, Beyond Type 1, Beyond Type 2, Children With Diabetes, Diabetes Sisters, DiaTribe, dStigmatize, Grownup T1Ds, T1International, TCOYD, and CDC diabetes resources.

Quantifiable outcome

• 24 scientific publications authored or co-authored in 2024 alone, plus 8 abstracts at major scientific meetings
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered collaborative.

• Taking Control of Your Diabetes (TCOYD)collaborativeStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 August 2026TCOYD hosts the ONE 2026 event for 500+ people with type 1 diabetes in San Diego; Dr. Polonsky serves as a presenter at this educational event.
• American Diabetes AssociationcollaborativeStrategic or Co-development PartnerADA provides Mental Health Professional Directory and diabetes resources; BDI staff co-present at ADA Scientific Sessions with four poster presentations in 2026.
• diaTribe FoundationcollaborativeStrategic or Co-development PartnerdiaTribe provides cutting-edge diabetes insights and actionable tips; listed as community resource partner alongside other diabetes organizations.
• Beyond Type 1collaborativeStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeyond Type 1 is a nonprofit changing what it means to live with diabetes through platforms, programs, resources, and grants; listed as community resource partner.
• Beyond Type 2collaborativeStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeyond Type 2 is a program of Beyond Type 1 for everyone impacted by type 2 diabetes; listed as community resource partner.
• Children With DiabetescollaborativeStrategic or Co-development PartnerCWD provides diabetes education and support for kids and adults with diabetes; listed as community resource partner.
• Grownup T1DscollaborativeStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit improving lives of older adults with Type 1 Diabetes through support, advocacy, education; listed as community resource partner.
• Diabetes SisterscollaborativeStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit improving health and quality of life of women with diabetes; listed as community resource partner.
• dStigmatizecollaborativeStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization reducing diabetes stigma and improving lives through understanding; listed as community resource partner.
• T1InternationalcollaborativeStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit led by people with and impacted by type 1 diabetes for people with type 1 diabetes; listed as community resource partner.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• dStigmatize: Nonprofit focused on reducing diabetes stigma and improving lives through understanding; highly overlapping mission with BDI's psychosocial and emotional-aspects focus and listed as a community resource partner.
• Children with Diabetes: Nonprofit providing diabetes education and support for kids, teens and adults with diabetes and their families; closely comparable education-and-support model, and BDI's Parent-DDS scale targets this organization's audience.
• Taking Control of Your Diabetes (TCOYD): Diabetes education nonprofit that hosts in-person patient conferences and HCP training, including the ONE 2026 T1D event where BDI's Dr. Polonsky is presenting; directly comparable mission of translating diabetes self-management evidence into education programs.
• Beyond Type 1: Nonprofit T1D community organization providing programs, resources and grants to people with type 1 diabetes; BDI lists Beyond Type 1 as a community resource partner and shares a T1D-focused patient audience.
• diaTribe Foundation: Nonprofit producing educational content and actionable insights on diabetes therapies and technology; listed alongside BDI as a community resource and addresses overlapping patient and HCP audiences through content-driven distribution.
• T1International: Nonprofit led by people impacted by type 1 diabetes advocating for access and support; comparable community-advocacy and patient-empowerment orientation to BDI's psychosocial programs and listed as a community resource partner.
• DiabetesSisters: Nonprofit improving health and quality of life for women with diabetes through peer support and education; directly comparable nonprofit support-and-education model for a defined diabetes sub-population.

Broad incumbents

• American Diabetes Association: Largest US diabetes nonprofit, providing standards of care, professional education and patient resources; BDI collaborates with ADA on Scientific Sessions and references ADA resources, but ADA is a broad incumbent covering research, advocacy and clinical guidance rather than specializing in psychosocial care.
• Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF): Large T1D-focused nonprofit funding research, advocacy and community resources; broader scope than BDI but addresses overlapping T1D patient and research audiences and operates in adjacent psychosocial support spaces.

Emerging players

• Omada Health: Digital therapeutics company offering virtual care programs for diabetes and other chronic conditions, including behavioral coaching; competes for the same HCP and payer budgets that fund BDI's behavioral interventions and increasingly screens for diabetes distress using embedded tools.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=61585721889171
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@BDIviews

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Behavioral Diabetes Institute