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Diabetes Education During Your Hospital Stay

Preparing for Your Classes

  • Af-Soomaali PDF
  • Español PDF

Welcome from the Seattle Children’s Diabetes Team!

There is a lot to learn about diabetes. Over the next 1-2 full days in the hospital we will be providing you with a diabetes handbook and in-person diabetes education so you will have the knowledge and skills to care for your child when you go home.

We will schedule another education session shortly after discharge to build upon the skills you learned in the hospital. Our goal is to schedule this follow-up session prior to discharge, if this does not happen please call 206-987-2493 within your first week home.

To prepare for your teaching sessions:

  • Contact your child’s main caregivers and have them attend these classes with you
  • Arrange childcare

If your child and/or their siblings are too young to quietly sit through class, please arrange for a family member or friend to care for them during these times. If you are unable to arrange childcare with such late notice, please tell your floor nurse right away so they can try to arrange for a hospital volunteer to watch your child (children) during class times. Classes are often held in a separate classroom on the same floor as your hospital room.

What to expect while in the hospital

Please plan to be ready for your day by 9:00 a.m. During the day you will be meeting the endocrinologist (diabetes physician), social worker, registered dietitian, and a certified diabetes educator (nurse) to receive the education needed to discharge.

Provider Curriculum Topic
Endocrinologist Plan of care update
Social Worker Coping with diagnosis
Diabetes Nurse Intro to diabetes
Educator Blood sugar monitoring
Insulin and injections
Insulin dosing
Hypoglycemia
Registered Dietician Nutrition assessment

Remember to eat, sleep and take care of yourselves as parents as well! ☺

Sincerely,

The Seattle Children’s Diabetes Team

To Learn More

  • Ask your child's healthcare provider
  • seattlechildrens.org/patient-education

Free Interpreter Services

  • In the hospital, ask your nurse.
  • From outside the hospital, call the toll-free Family Interpreting Line, 1-866-583-1527. Tell the interpreter the name or extension you need.
Seattle Children's Hospital

Seattle Children’s offers free interpreter services for patients, family members and legal representatives who are deaf or hard of hearing or speak a language other than English. Seattle Children’s will make this information available in alternate formats upon request. Call the Family Resource Center at 206-987-2201. This handout has been reviewed by clinical staff at Seattle Children’s. However, your needs are unique. Before you act or rely upon this information, please talk with your healthcare provider.

© 2026 Seattle Children’s, Seattle, Washington. All rights reserved.

06/01/2023
PE2811
Patient and Family Education | Endocrinology

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4800 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105

206-987-2000 866-987-2000 (toll-free) 206-987-0391 (TTY)

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Seattle Children’s complies with applicable federal and other civil rights laws and does not discriminate, exclude people or treat them differently based on race, color, religion (creed), sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin (ancestry), age, disability, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law. Financial assistance for medically necessary services is based on family income and hospital resources and is provided to children under age 21 whose primary residence is in Washington, Alaska, Montana or Idaho.