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At CMC-NorthEast, we treat the whole child and recognize that the family plays an important role in the successful management of pediatric diabetes. We offer medical treatment, including an insulin pump program, as well as education, counseling, meal planning, and support.
Diabetes Education
Our key players in our team approach to Pediatric Diabetes management all offer a component of diabetes education to patients and families. In addition, our Diabetes & Nutrition Center offers specific diabetes education services. Some information is provided below as a foundation of knowledge prior to beginning our formalized training.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a condition in which the body does not make enough insulin or the body cells cannot use insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone that helps the body use glucose (sugar) for energy. Without insulin, glucose (the body's main energy source) builds up in the blood.
Pediatric Diabetes
There are two main types of Diabetes in youth. Type 1 usually occurs during childhood or adolescence (around age 10 to 12 for girls and age 12 to 14 for boys), but can occur at any age from birth through adulthood. Type 2, the most common form of the disease, usually occurs after age 40. Unfortunately, Type 2 is being diagnosed more frequently in children, particularly in overweight teens. In fact, diabetes is one of the most frequent chronic diseases among children. Visit http://www.diabetes.org/for-parents-and-kids.jsp for more information about diabetes risk factors.
Insulin Pump Program
Our certified pump trainers offer individual training sessions to prepare children for pumping their own insulin. Children and their families will learn the importance of carb counting and how to utilize an insulin-to-carb ratio.
Insulin pump training and follow-up include:
- how to handle occasional higher fat meals, i.e. pizza, without high blood sugars
- how to adjust your insulin for exercise to avoid hypoglycemia
- how to use your insulin pump or injections to handle sick days
In addition to this training session, we offer continuous glucose monitoring and evaluation with a follow up report sent to your referring physician.
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