Perth Children’s Hospital’s (PCH) Diabetes Service has seen an increase in type 1 diabetes cases over the past five years, an upwards trend experienced not only in WA, but the rest of the world.
In order to meet the rising needs of all children with type 1 diabetes and their families in WA, the Diabetes Service will offer additional clinics in 2021.
The clinics will run on Wednesday mornings at PCH and cater for very young children with type 1 diabetes — infancy through to pre-school — and their families.
Known as the Early Years Clinic, the clinics will address characteristics unique to young children with type 1 diabetes and how features of early development relate to the management of the condition.
Routine diabetes care and topics such as diabetes technology, early nutrition, sleep, behaviour and getting ready for kindy/school will also be covered in the quarterly appointments.
It is also hoped that families that are facing similar issues in caring for their young child with type 1 diabetes will be able to connect and share their experiences with one another.
If you have a child aged 4 or under and have not yet been contacted by the service coordinator, please contact Luise or Christine on 6456 5036 for more information. Once the clinic is underway, feel free to email your feedback and suggestions to Luise.russell@health.wa.gov.au or PCHOutpatientsDiabetesEndocrinology@health.wa.gov.au.
*** REMINDER: If you have a query that is clinical in nature, please email the triage team at Perth Children Hospital’s Diabetes Service, PCHDiabetesTriage@health.wa.gov.au.
If your query concerns Children’s Diabetes Centre research, please email diabetes.research@health.wa.gov.au ***
First published Monday 14 December 2020.