Diabetes (Pediatric)

The Michigan Medicine C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital pediatric diabetes clinic offers comprehensive evaluation, treatment, and resources to help children with diabetes live long, productive lives. 

Our diabetes program is one of the largest established programs in Michigan. Our multidisciplinary team evaluates 100-150 newly diagnosed children each year and provides ongoing care and maintenance to more than 1300 children and adolescents with diabetes. 

As part of the U-M pediatric endocrinology serviceour team includes physicians, certified diabetes nurse educators, certified diabetes dietitian educators, social workers and a psychologist. We provide outpatient care for diabetes at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and at satellite clinics in Northville Health Center and Grand Rapids.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic but treatable illness, characterized by high blood glucose (sugar) levels. Children with diabetes either do not make enough insulin needed to process food (type 1 diabetes) or they are resistant to insulin (type 2 diabetes).

Symptoms of diabetes can include:

  • Frequent urination
  • Increased appetite and/or thirst
  • Vomiting
  • Weight loss
  • Blurred vision

Diagnosing diabetes

Your physician may run blood and urine tests to examine glucose (sugar) levels. The care team may also look for ketones, which are signs that the body needs more insulin.

We care for patients with type 1 diabetes, as well as for adolescents and young adults with type 2 diabetes. In addition, our specialists provide care for less common forms of diabetes such as inherited monogenic diabetes and maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY diabetes). 

Comprehensive support and education

Education and training are critical components of the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital Pediatric Diabetes Program. We provide in-depth instruction for families on how to manage diabetes, with a focus on giving families confidence in their ability to manage their child’s disease. The U-M Pediatric Diabetes education program includes group classes for children, adolescents, and families.

Diabetes research

In addition to our commitment to offering the most up-to-date care available for children with diabetes, our providers are also continually conducting research in the field of diabetes. Our faculty study a wide range of topics, including health outcomes and quality of life for children with diabetes, and the link between childhood obesity and its long-term endocrine consequences such as pubertal maturation.

U-M faculty also explore ways to improve the tools available to families to support them in managing their child’s diabetes. We focus on providing patients information about the latest diabetes technology (such as insulin brands, pumps, continuous glucose monitors) to allow them to decide if it right for them.

Take the next step

For more information about the U-M Pediatric Diabetes program, visit www.UMPedsDiabetes.com.

Call 734-764-5175 to schedule an appointment with the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital Pediatric Diabetes Program.

Referring physicians can send referral information to our Administrative location or complete an online Consult Request form to request an appointment.