Diabetes Dateline

NDIC Marks 25th Anniversary

The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC) is commemorating its 25th anniversary. A quarter century has passed since Congress established the NDIC with Title IV of the Public Health Service Act in response to a recommendation by the National Commission on Diabetes. "Over the years, the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse has been hugely successful in translating advances in diabetes research into public health information, serving as a direct link between the NIH and the public," said Dr. Sanford Garfield, Senior Advisor for the Biometry and Behavioral Research Program, NIDDK. "Creation of the NDIC showed incredible foresight, considering the important research that has taken place in diabetes in the past 30 years. NDIC will only become more important in the future."

NDIC's mission is to provide information about diabetes to health care professionals, people with diabetes and their families, and the general public. In the years since its inception, NDIC has established its reputation in the diabetes community as shown by these comments from its customer satisfaction survey:

"You provide a wonderful service. Diabetes is a very frightening disease but after reading the booklets, I feel that I have now the necessary tools that I need to help my husband manage his [diabetes]." "The information is the best and easiest to understand that I have ever received." "I love your booklets." "The clearinghouse is an invaluable resource to educators and researchers." "Finally—in-depth information for the Spanish-speaking population."

NDIC's primary audiences are diabetes educators and other health care professionals to whom people with diabetes look for guidance. NDIC's roles and responsibilities include

• responding to inquiries from health care professionals, people with diabetes and their families, and the public
  
  
• developing and producing patient education materials for health care professionals and people with diabetes
  
  
• networking with voluntary and professional associations to serve as a direct link between the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and the diabetes community
  
  
• disseminating information about diabetes research results, advancements in medical care, and the epidemiology of diabetes through various communication channels, both verbal and written
  
  
• anticipating future trends in technology that will make NDIC publications and services accessible to health care professionals, people with diabetes, and the general public in as many ways as possible to reach the largest audience
  
  
• assessing the need for, as well as developing, distributing, and promoting, publications that meet the diverse information needs of the audience, from people with limited literacy skills to consumers with abilities to use computer technology, from health care professionals in general practice to diabetes educators, physician specialists, and the media
  
  
• identifying and collecting diabetes-related materials and information relevant to patient and professional education
  
  
• organizing, abstracting, and indexing this information in the Combined Health Information Database (CHID)

NDIC staff look forward to continuing to provide services to the diabetes community.

NIH Publication No. 04–4562
May 2004