Cook Children’s Health Care System offers diabetes plan
Specialist in H1 treatment
DUBAI, Dec 14: Cook Children’s Health Care System, a not-for-profit pediatric health care organization based in Fort Worth, Texas, now offers international patients an Endocrine and Diabetes program, specializing in the treatment of hyperinsulinism (HI).
HI is a rare and severe disorder that frequently causes persistent hypoglycemia in newborns and children. Cook Children’s multidisciplinary Endocrine and Diabetes program offers a Hyperinsulinism Center that is only one of two such centers in the United States. This center provides a specialized team dedicated to treat HI in kids and young adults.
Says Executive Director International Patient Services Cynthia Gonzalez at Cook Children’s Health Care System: “Cook Children’s embraces an inspiring Promise — to improve the health of every child, through the prevention and treatment of illness, disease and injury. We are aware that many children living in the Gulf region are affected by diabetes and congenital HI. By including our Endocrine and Diabetes program within our international services, we look forward to making a difference with the assurance that each child will receive the most advanced care available, in a family-centered care environment.” Cook Children’s physicians and staff are experienced in treating all diabetes-related issues in children from birth through their transition into adulthood.
With diabetes, education is a key component of treatment and disease management. As such, Cook Children’s Health Care System provides certified diabetic nurse educators and dieticians to assist children and their families. The Cook Children’s diabetes program is also recognized by the American Diabetes Association for Quality Self-Management Education.
Since the opening of the Cook Children’s Hyperinsulinism Center in 2010, more than 150 children have been evaluated and treated for congenital HI.
The center is led by Medical Director Paul Thornton, M.D., one of the few physicians in the United States with extensive clinical and research experience in congenital HI. Dr Thornton’s work is so well respected, he was recently named a Rare Disease Hero by Rare Disease Communications. The award recognizes five physicians each year for groundbreaking research and treatment in the rare disease community.
Says Dr Thornton: “As we continue to treat children from across the country and the world, we’re excited to share information about our program and the excellent team providing quality, family-centered care.”
Actively involved at the international level, Dr Thornton and the specialty medical team work with other renowned physicians, researchers and specialists to continually improve the care and treatment of children with HI. The result is that the Cook Children’s program is continually delivering the most advanced treatments, and even cures, for infants, children, teens and young adults with this very rare disease.
Children who are newly diagnosed with hyperinsulinism are admitted to
Cook Children’s Medical Center to receive a comprehensive medical evaluation. Depending on the type of hyperinsulinism and the treatment plan, the initial admission is two to six weeks.
Starting from day one, the Cook Children’s team assists parents with the full understanding of their child’s condition — a service that is now also provided in Arabic. The program teaches parents how to take care of their child, so they’ll have the skills necessary to manage the disease in their daily lives. After leaving the medical center, routine follow-up care continues on an outpatient basis. For those who’ve traveled a long distance to receive care, Cook Children’s Health Care professionals work with the patient’s local endocrinologist both during and after their visit to Cook Children’s.
For more information about Cook Children’s International Program for Endocrine and Diabetes, as well as the Congenital Hyperinsulinism Center in English and Arabic visit: cookchildrensinternational.org.