Diabetes Program for Children and Adolescents
Sutter Children's Center, Sacramento

The Diabetes Program for Children and Adolescents is an interdisciplinary program dedicated to promoting optimal growth and health in children and adolescents with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Each child is treated as a unique individual by a team of pediatric diabetic specialists that include pediatric endocrinologists, nurse educators, pediatric nutritionists and pediatric social workers. A child's care begins with an assessment by the core members of the team, who then come together to develop a tailored treatment and education plan that is made available to the family and referring physician. Treatment consists of patient and family diabetes education and counseling, medical nutrition therapy, and referral to community programs, agencies and consultants as needed. As the child grows, the treatment plan is adjusted to fit changing needs as they develop.

Highlighted services include:

• Insulin Pump Services, using insulin pumps that look like a small pager, children with diabetes can gain a sense of normalcy and greater enjoyment of childhood.
  
• Group classes for self-managed type 2 diabetes in collaboration with the Pediatric Healthy Lifestyle Program.
• Specific educational seminars or hands-on practical workshops related to the care of pediatric diabetes offered by local and visiting diabetes experts.
• Diabetes educators who offer workshops on management of pediatric diabetes for school personnel and/or students.
• Continuous Glucose Monitoring System, with a prescription from your doctor one can learn more about their diabetes control. This sensor system provides an average blood sugar measurement every five minutes, for at least 3 days. At the end of your test period, you return to your healthcare professional with the CGMS sensor and monitor so you can go over the data the system has collected.
• Appointments that are tailored to your needs, including team appointments, appointments for the newly diagnosed, group appointments for advanced insulin pump users, individual appointments with the nurse, dietitian, or social worker.

Diabetes Program for Children and Adolescents is an ADA Recognized Program, and is approved by the California Children's Services.

Classes and Support Groups are available for children and their families.

Referrals

Call our Pediatric Healthy Lifestyles program at (916) 262-9132.

More Information

For more information on diabetes in children, visit our health information section.