Diabetes Program (Childhood and Adolescent ) - Departments & Programs - Children's National Medical CenterDepartments & Programs - Children's National Medical Center
The Childhood and Adolescent Diabetes Program is the largest center caring for children with diabetes in the mid-Atlantic region, which includes the District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia, and the only one in the region willing to accept all new patients. We use a multidisciplinary team approach to provide comprehensive care to more than 1,800 patients with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes up to the age of 22 years. The team is under the direction of Fran Cogen, MD, and includes six physicians, certified diabetes educators (CDE), registered nurses, dietitian, psychologist, and a dedicated social worker. As an American Diabetes Association (ADA)-recognized education program, Children’s team helps children, teens, and their families understand and cope with all aspects of diabetes and its management.
Our Diabetes Advisory Committee, consisting of family members, community stakeholders, and Diabetes Team, meets at least annually to evaluate and recommend family-centered initiatives for the program.
Every three to four months, patients meet with our physicians and staff to evaluate their diabetes management. Our goal is for children with diabetes to live long happy lives without complications and to manage their diabetes appropriately until a cure is developed.
New onset instruction at time of diagnosis, including insulin administration, blood glucose monitoring, medical nutrition therapy, exercise, and coping skills
Daily phone follow-up for new patients to adjust insulin doses
Follow-up “Concepts” class within one month of diagnosis
Intensive management including “Basal/Bolus” treatment using injected insulin and insulin pump therapy
Medical nutrition therapy
Continuous glucose monitoring technology
Continuing diabetes education for new technology, changes in treatment, and problem management
Psychology intervention for behavior and coping issues
Research The diabetes program participates in TrialNet, a multicenter study that involves testing family members of patients with type 1 diabetes for antibodies, which will predict an increased risk of the development of type 1 diabetes. Contact Audrey Austin, MD, at 202-476-5328 for further information.
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