The Intensive Insulin Therapy Team

The use of a team approach to the management of patients using intensive insulin therapy (IIT) has been supported by policy/position statements of both the American Association of Diabetes Educators and the American Diabetes Association. A course designed and taught by a health care team within the Washington University Diabetes Research and Training Center was offered to 18 multidisciplinary health care teams desiring information about initiating IIT programs. Course outcomes demonstrated positive responses to the team approach to team education but raised questions about the actual compo sition and functioning of the health care "team." While a well- defined team with IIT knowledge and skills is essential for the development of a comprehensive and safe approach to IIT programs, it is not clear who should be offering these programs.