General Care Program for Pediatric Patients
The general care program provides families and patients with an understanding of Type I diabetes and encourages their confidence in its day-to-day management. The expectation is that by the time patients are ready to leave home for college or the work force, they will have the ability to manage their own blood sugars. Present evidence strongly suggests that consistent blood sugar control greatly diminishes the chances of long-term eye and kidney complications.
Clinical Social Worker
Many of the obstacles to efficient control of blood sugars are due to important difficulties with family psycho-social issues. The Clinic has specialized in this field and works with families both on an individual and group basis.
The Ophthalmology Clinic
This is a program which provides an early assessment of eye and renal microvascular complications. The eye studies include fundoscopy, retinal photography and posterior chamber photofluorometry. The renal assessment includes timed overnight urine evaluations microalbuminuria and blood tests for renal functions inclusive of glomerular assessment of filtration rate (GFR).
The Young Adult Clinic
Diabetes-endocrine specialists care for the Center's young adult patients. Those who have been followed in the Center as adolescents continue to be seen during their young adult years.
Pump Initiation and Follow Up Clinics
Pump initiation clinic meets two times per month and all the insulin pumps are initiated on an outpatient basis. Also, follow up pump clinic is scheduled to allow interpatient discussions.
Pregnancy and Diabetes Clinic
Established in 1995, this highly specialized program allows young women with diabetes to be followed by an obstetrics team from University Hospital through their pregnancies.
Cardiovascular Clinic
This clinic focuses on macrovascular (large blood vessel) disease associated with diabetes through electrocardiography and peripheral Doppler examinations to detect early heart and peripheral blood flow problems, as well as 24-hour ambulatory monitoring for slight elevations in blood pressure or a loss of diurnal rhythm, also a risk factor in macrovascular disease.
The Core Laboratory
The core laboratory at the Center performs certain special studies which include serum islet cell antibody levels. This is a test for determining which relatives of patients with Type I diabetes are also at risk for developing this disease.
Special Courses
In addition to individual family instruction, the Center runs a number of special one day courses each year. These include the College Workshop, Grandparents' Workshop and "New to Clinic" Workshops. A national conference for health professionals on childhood diabetes is held every two years, next in July, 2006.