Always Learning
Ongoing education is a key component of pediatric diabetes care at Golisano
A diagnosis of pediatric diabetes can prove challenging for both young patients and their families. The chronic issue requires continuous care and evaluation by trained pediatric endocrinologists, and the management of diabetes in children differs in many ways from the management protocol for adults.
First opened in 2008, the Pediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes Center at Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida is the only one of its kind in the region. “We understand that being diagnosed with diabetes is a life-changing event for children and their families,” says Dr. Cayce T. Jehaimi, a pediatric endocrinologist at Golisano Children’s Hospital. “Diabetes in any form is a complex disorder and must be managed with individualized care. Our caregivers go above and beyond to help children, adolescents and teens lead healthy, normal lives. We are dedicated to helping children adjust to their new normal and navigate the everyday aspects of childhood.”
The multidisciplinary team at Golisano’s pediatric diabetes center offers support and advice for children and their families regarding the various aspects of diabetes care. In addition to meeting with their endocrinologist, patients can schedule
an appointment with a nutritionist, pediatric nephrologist and gastroenterologist to discuss concerns or issues. Physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners and other staff all possess years of experience working with children and adolescents with diabetes.
“We provide coordinated outpatient care from diagnosis until a child is considered an adult, and we are the leading center for outpatient management of newly diagnosed diabetes in the area,” says Dr. Jehaimi. “We work with both children and their families to provide holistic care and personalized treatment plans based on the latest research.”
When a new diagnosis is made, the patient and their family go through a rigorous diabetes education process. “Our team takes on the mission of not only offering educational classes on diagnosis, but also maintaining and enhancing such an experience through monthly classes that we offer at our clinic,” explains Dr. Jehaimi. “We have dedicated nutritional classes geared toward diabetes with a focus on carbohydrate counting skills, and we offer pump and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) training classes for those who are interested in them.”
The pediatric diabetes team at Golisano has seen the impact this kind of information and instruction can have on patients and their parents. “We consider education an investment and an empowerment tool in the hands of any parent of a diabetic child,” says Dr. Jehaimi. “There is a huge learning curve in management of diabetes, and the mission of our team at Golisano is to make such a process easier and less stressful.”
Ongoing education plays a huge part in that mission, whether it’s provided through a class or during a routine appointment. “Our internal records show that we have been able to prevent up to 90% of all of our established diabetics from being readmitted to the hospital,” says Dr. Jehaimi. “That speaks volumes about the hard work and dedication of our team at the Pediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes Center at Golisano Children’s Hospital.”
“Our caregivers go above and beyond to help children, adolescents and teens lead healthy, normal lives. We are dedicated to helping children adjust to their new normal and navigate the everyday aspects of childhood.”
—Dr. Cayce T. Jehaimi, pediatric endocrinologist at Golisano Children’s Hospital