Diabetes Program

Your Visit

As a patient in the Diabetes Program at Boston Children’s Hospital, your child will typically have at least four medical visits per year, one every three months. Generally, your visits will alternate between your endocrinologist and your diabetes nurse educator.

We encourage all of our patients to meet with a dietitian once a year, and more often if you need or want to. Many of the families we work with also find it helpful to meet with a member of our mental health team to address social or emotional issues related to living with diabetes.

While no two patients’ experiences are exactly alike, there are certain things you can do to prepare for your child’s first appointment with the Diabetes Program at Boston Children’s Hospital.

What to bring to your first appointment

Before your first appointment, we’ll mail you a questionnaire that covers your child’s entire medical, family, social and birth history. We know it’s very long, but it’s important for our medical team to all this information while treating your child. Please fill it out and bring it to your first appointment.

Please also bring the following items if you have them:

A list of your child’s current medications
Medical records from other institutions
Any medications or equipment (such as a blood glucose meter) your child currently uses
Diabetes logbook or diary
Contact information for any health care providers your child is seeing (physician, dietitian, specialists)

We ask for any adult attending a visit at Boston Children’s please have a photo ID on them. Adults may be asked to show photo ID prior to entering the hospital.

What to expect at your first appointment

Your initial consultation may include:

A medical evaluation

A doctor skilled in pediatric endocrinology and diabetes treatment will assess your child’s health. They may also contact your child’s primary care provider to help coordinate your child’s care plan.

A learning session with a nurse educator

Nurse educators are the front line of helping you understand your child’s condition and how to manage it. They’ll explain every aspect of caring for your child, including measuring insulin, injecting it and (if applicable) using an insulin pump. Most importantly, they will give you the information you need to ensure your child’s best health and well-being.

A nutrition evaluation with a registered dietitian

This can help you customize a meal plan for your child. The dietitian can also educate your family on the role of food in managing diabetes.

Additional resources

Patient education

From the very first visit, our staff will be on hand to walk you through your child’s treatment plan and answer your questions. After your visit, they’ll be available by phone to continue the care and support you received while at Boston Children’s.

Social work and mental health professionals

Our social workers and mental health clinicians have helped many families as they come to terms with diabetes. We can offer counseling and assistance as you learn to cope with your child’s diagnosis and help you address emotional and social stress and financial difficulties.