UCLH provides a nationally recognised child and young people’s diabetes service for children and young people aged up to 19 years. In additional to supporting children on multiple daily insulin injections, we offer insulin pumps (which is a more flexible alternative to injections for some people). We are the regional centre for insulin pump therapy for London and the south east, with over 50% of our young people successfully using insulin pumps to manage their diabetes.
Our team consists of specialist doctors, nurses, psychologists and dieticians. Our nurse specialist team are always available to give you information, education, goal-setting, advice and support.
UCLH also offers a specialist service for adolescents struggling with their diabetes. Having a designated adolescent unit has enabled us to develop a 4-stage planned admission programme that allows young people who are really stuck with their diabetes, to start again and think about a preferred future.
Conditions treated
We care for patients with:
- Type 1 diabetes
- Type 2 diabetes
- Maturity onset diabetes in the young
- Secondary diabetes (with steroid therapy)
Service statistics
- Average clinic size: 7.4 patients
- DNA (non-attendees) per clinic: 0.25 (3.4 per cent)
- Approximate wait time in waiting room: 16.6 mins
- Approximate consultation time: 22.5 mins
- In 2010, 33.2% of children and young people achieved the recommended level of glycamic control, as compared to the UK national average of only 14.5%.
- The median HbA1c at UCLH was 8.0% for the paediatric clinic (7.8% if using an insulin pump) and 8.7% for the adolescent clinic (8.4% if on an insulin pump)
Children and young people have to live with the demands of diabetes, 24-hours a day and the management impacts on every part of their life.
UCLH provides:
- an emergency department
- in-patient care (including a specialist adolescent unit for both emergency and planned admissions)
- out-patient care (that includes interdisciplinary outpatient clinics, nurse-led clinics, nurse-led annual reviews, dietetic, podiatry and psychology clinics specifically focussed on children and young people)
- education events (parent expert study days and workshops designed for school staff)
- ongoing support via telephone, SMS, email and in 2011 a dedicated Patient Web Portal.
