Pediatric Diabetes Care

Purpose and Rationale for the Course: The purpose of this course is to introduce medical students to Pediatric Diabetes care, a subspecialty field that involves managing children with type 1, type 2 and other forms of diabetes on the inpatient and outpatient level. This course will introduce students to the multidisciplinary care required to manage children and adolescents including the types of insulin regimens, blood sugar pattern management and outpatient follow-up. The principles taught in this course will be applicable to all medical specialties with emphasis on the pediatric patient.

Target Students: This elective is designed for medical students in the third or fourth year who seek an introduction to Pediatric Diabetes care. No previous experience in Pediatric Diabetes is required.

Course Description: During this 4 week elective, the student will evaluate and treat ambulatory patients with primarily type 1 diabetes under the supervision of the attending physician either in person or via telemedicine (Fran Cogen, MD) and rotating residents/fellows. Every effort will be made to work with the type 2 multidisciplinary clinic on some Fridays. The student will attend both am and noon conference if at the Children’s National campus and work with inpatients if possible. The student may also consider attending Camp Take Charge, a 4 day, 3 night diabetes camp under the auspices of Brainy Camps (Children’s National Health System) if the elective is chosen during July or August.

Students will have supervised direct patient contact in outpatient clinics with an attending in which the student will assist in obtaining a focused medical history, appropriate physical examination and help develop an assessment/ plan with the attending physician with the patient and family present. The student will be introduced to a specialized diabetes software template within the Cerner system.

If students are participating in the camp, students will have supervised direct patient contact in a summer camp with a faculty member in which the student will function as a medical liaison in the camp setting treating low blood sugars, calculating insulin doses before meals and adjusting insulin based on activity levels (if applicable).

Students will develop a submission to the Children’s National quarterly newsletter for our patient population on a timely diabetes-related topic based on appropriate evidence-based literature.

Students are expected to be self-directed in their learning using the appropriate diabetes related literature and participate in didactic conferences in the hospital and outpatient settings. Diabetes related papers will be provided to the student at the beginning of the elective.

Course Requirements: 

• Clinical Experience: Monday through Thursday in outpatient clinic or via telemedicine for 4 weeks plus inpatient consultation. No call required except for Camp Take Charge (if applicable). As of 1.1.24, Dr. Cogen will be seeing patients on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in person or via telemed. Arrangements will be made on Mondays, and Thursdays to work with other attending physicians or fellows.

Course Learning Objectives: 

By the end of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Describe the pathophysiology and treatment of diabetes (type 1, type 2 and other forms).
2. Apply the appropriate insulin regimen based on the current basal and bolus insulins in current practice in the ambulatory and inpatient setting using a family centered approach.
3. Demonstrate pattern management based on blood glucose monitoring.
4. Propose an assessment and treatment plan for all patients evaluated in clinic.
5. Manage diabetes in the “camp setting” (with assistance) if applicable.
6. Perform inpatient diabetes consultations under supervision of the attending physician.
7. Describe a nutritional program appropriate for type 1, type 2 and other forms of diabetes.
8. Recognize the importance of psychosocial support in the management of chronic illness.
9. Prepare evidence-based patient education materials on diabetes-related topics that are appropriate for families.