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.
