For children newly diagnosed with diabetes, a brief hospital stay is usually recommended to initiate therapy and provide proper education for the patients and parents. St. Louis Children’s Hospital offers a well-established diabetes education program that begins when a child is first diagnosed in the hospital and is maintained through young adulthood.
A combined approach from the Diabetes Team of physicians, diabetes nurse educators, dietitian and social worker provide patients and families an individualized focus. Staff nurses on the designated patient floor at the hospital also provide continuous follow-up instruction and assistance.
Once a patient is discharged, our physicians and diabetes nurse educators are in daily contact with the patient and family, sometimes several times each day. Often, our patients need assistance in understanding their insulin dosage or adjusting to life at school or home. Your Diabetes Education Handbook is also a great resource.
Diabetes Teaching topics:
- Overview of Diabetes
- Self Monitoring
- Nutritional Management
- Exercise and Activity
- Diabetes at School
- Working with Caregivers
- Complications of Diabetes
- Psycho-social Issues
- Family Management and Life Style
Diabetes Teaching Tools:
- Diabetes Handbook
- Sleep-overs, Camping and Travel with Diabetes
- Diabetes Sick Day Action Plan
- Diabetes Sick Day Record Sheet
- Screening for Diabetes Complications
- Hypoglycemia Teaching Tool
- Glucagon Teaching Tool