Paediatric Diabetes (Markham Site only)

Over three million Canadians suffer from diabetes.  Type 1 diabetes, formerly referred to as “Juvenile” or “Insulin Dependent Diabetes” occurs when the pancreas no longer produces insulin.  The disease affects over 200,000 children and adolescents across Canada with the greatest rise occurring in five to nine year olds. 

The Government of Ontario identified Type 1 diabetes as a priority by announcing, in its 2006 Budget, $12 million to fund insulin pumps and related supplies for young people with Type 1 diabetes.  By 2008-09, this number grew to $30 million.

Program Details

The MSH Paediatric Diabetes Program is the longest running diabetes program in York Region. With over 1,700 patient visits and over 900 phone consultations a year, our multidisciplinary team provides outpatient care through a paediatric endocrinologist, diabetes nurse educator, registered dietician and social worker.

Upon diagnosis, children are scheduled for a series of visits to our Paediatric Diabetes Daycare Program. This unique 3-day service provides children and their families with the tools and skills needed to manage their condition, including medication management and nutritional education.  Children are then guided and supported through follow up, every 3 months until the age of 18, through the Paediatric Diabetes Clinic. Our dedicated team is on call 24-hours a day, providing a lifeline to patients when they need it most. 

• Diabetic Daycare 
• Outpatient Clinic
• Insulin Pump Program
• Annual Diabetes Day
• Diabetes in the Classroom
• Young Adult Transition Program  

The Paediatric Diabetes Clinic Today

Presently in the Peadiatric Diabetes Clinic at Markham Stouffville, we provide care to approximately 450 families who have a child with diabetes. The vast majority of our patients have Type I diabetes and range in age from just under two years to 18 years of age.  Over the next several years, we expect this number to grow annually as the number of children in our community, between the ages of four to 16, is forecast to expand by an additional four per cent.  

Our volumes are expanding exponentially as the number of children with diabetes increases and also as the scope of our services increases.  We provide multidisciplinary clinic visits, insulin pump therapy, continuous glucose monitoring, individualized teaching and specialized management for children at high risk. We provide twenty-four hours per day, seven days a week, phone call support for families who have a question about their child’s diabetes management and this support often prevents an inconvenient and costly trip to the emergency department.  Post pump education is extremely important as an ongoing part of care as is education for newly diagnosed clients or those struggling with diabetes as their children go through various developmental phases. 

The Future - Tracey Rubinoff Paediatric Diabetes Clinic

Diabetes is on the rise. When children are diagnosed with diabetes there is an overwhelming amount of education necessary to keep them safe.  Diabetes Educators and specialists are continually challenged to find creative and innovative ways to maintain the flow of current and essential education to children and their families.  Our patients are extremely diverse, often creating barriers to learning related to the child and family’s specific educational background, ethnicity and/or social situation.  Education must be delivered in a format that is interesting, culturally sensitive, evidence based and available in a variety of presentation formats.  This education is essential to ensure that the child and family are knowledgeable and competent in the management of Type I diabetes and to ensure the child’s well being.  

Our new state-of -the art Diabetes Clinic, which will begin construction following the completion of the Hospital expansion, will ensure that we continue to meet these challenges with new and innovative approaches. We will meet the demand of our growing community and address the acuity needs of our present patients.  The new facility will also allow us to better support network projects and initiatives look for new and innovative ways to deliver care, educate clients and share this nationally. 

Through the support of the Tracey Rubinoff Foundation, our Paediatric Diabetes Clinic will be located in our newly-renovated facility along with our Maternal Child Outpatient Clinic following the expansion. All patients will benefit from MSH’s unique partnership with the East Markham Community Centre & Library, creating a centre of health & wellness.

For more information and to support the Tracey Rubinoff Foundation please visit www.traceyrubinofffoundation.org

Paediatric Diabetes Daycare

Why?

We understand that a diagnosis of diabetes and the thought of staying in a hospital can be very stressful for children and their family.  For this reason, we have created an outpatient program designed to teach children and their family how to manage their diabetes, focusing on blood testing, diet and insulin administration. 

When?

Children who are newly diagnosed with diabetes are scheduled for a series of daycare visits.  Most children require three consecutive days of education.  Parents and children will arrive before breakfast and go home to sleep each day.

Outpatient Clinic

When?

We hold our Outpatient Clinics every Wednesday, and frequently on Fridays. Patients should attend at three-monthly intervals.

Why?

It is important for children with diabetes to attend regular follow-up clinics, so that we can identify any problems promptly and give advice on how to manage the condition successfully.

What?

Members of our diabetes healthcare team give advice about issues such as changes in routines or insulin dosage, and identify any problems that may be interfering with the day-to-day management of your child’s condition. In addition to giving remedial advice, our team will monitor your child’s growth and perform any necessary tests, including a Haemoglobin A1c assessment, the most widely used measure of long-term glycaemic control in diabetes.

Insulin Pump Program

When?

This is an ongoing part of our multi-disciplinary care and teaching.

Why?

Patients meeting eligibility criteria are given a three-month pump trial, education and follow-up about insulin pumps.

What?

This initiative is fully funded through the Ministry of Health Assisted Devices Program for patients up to 19 years of age.  Coverage includes funding for insulin pumps and supplies.

Annual Diabetes Day

When?

Every year in the spring at our Markham site.

What?

Watch out for our Annual Diabetes Day, presenting programs of interest and inspiration to our community families dealing with childhood diabetes.

Diabetes in the Classroom

Why?

In response to requests from parents, teachers and students with diabetes, we have developed an interactive program to help classmates with a diabetic peer to understand the many challenges they overcome each day.

What?

We have developed Primary, Junior and Intermediate programs, run by members of our Diabetes Education Centre.

Young Adult Transition Program

When?

Planning for transition to adult diabetes clinics begins at the age of 16 in the Paediatric Diabetes Clinic.

Why?

Effectively transitioning our young adult patients (18 and over) to Adult Diabetes Care is critical to long-term, successful management of their condition.

What?

Our program begins at the age of 16 and involves an individualized assessment, a resource transition guide and a formal plan of care. The first visit with the adult clinic will occur before the last paediatric visit, to ease the transition.