Redwood City, Santa Clara, San Jose, S. San Francisco

Care and support for children with diabetes

When Gracie Lewandowski was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 8, her parents were devastated.

“It was a real emotional challenge for me, my husband, and our other five kids (aged 6–19 at the time),” says Gracie’s mom, Ramona Lewandowski. “I was afraid of the responsibility and worried about her being a healthy, normal child.”

Type 1 diabetes, sometimes called juvenile diabetes, is an autoimmune condition in which the body is fighting against itself.

“In this case,” says Pratima Misra, MD, a pediatric endocrinologist at our Santa Clara Medical Center, “the person's body does not make enough insulin.”

According to the American Diabetes Association, more than 186,000 children under the age of 20 have diabetes. More than 23 million children and adults in the United States are living with diabetes.

At our Santa Clara Medical Center, many families like the Lewandowski family receive care, support, and education through our Pediatric Endocrinology Department. The team includes two pediatric endocrinologists, two registered nurses, and one dietitian who are certified diabetes educators; a social worker; and a medical assistant.

“Type 1 diabetes requires a lot of education on the part of the parents,” says pediatric endocrinologist Debra Cohen, MD. “Our team provides care from the moment a child is newly diagnosed. We involve the entire family and non-family caregivers in our educational and support programs.”

Today, about a year after her diagnosis, Gracie is busy doing typical fourth-grade things with her friends. Her mom and dad give her insulin injections three times a day, and her condition is under control.

“Dr. Cohen is a very kind and gentle doctor who instilled confidence in me and made me feel comfortable with this huge responsibility,” says Lewandowski. “It’s also very comforting to know that I can always reach one of the diabetes nurses or advice nurses by phone or e-mail when I have a question about Gracie’s insulin, how to handle a cold or flu, or am feeling confused or insecure.”

For more on the topic, go to our health encyclopedia and search for “type 1 diabetes”

 

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