Brett was only 8 years old when he was admitted to Miller Children’s with a blood-glucose level of 488, more than five times higher than the normal blood sugar level. Brett was soon diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach.
At Miller Children’s, a team of board-certified pediatric endocrinologists, certified diabetes educators, nurse specialists and dieticians began an individualized care plan of diabetes education and condition management while stabilizing his blood sugar. This allowed Brett and his family to learn how to handle the delicate task of balancing medication, food and exercise to avoid long-term complications of the disease. Brett also was given an insulin pump to help manage his diabetes.
“Type 1 diabetes is caused when the body’s immune system destroys the pancreas’ insulin-making cells,” says Mario Brakin, M.D. “Thanks to the insulin pump, which constantly delivers insulin through a small tube that is inserted under the skin, Brett is easily able to receive the insulin his body is not able to make itself. This pump allows Brett to have more freedom when it comes to meal size, timing and exercise.”
Brett is now 19 years old and a freshman at the University of California, Irvine where he is going to school to become an endocrinologist. He has been using his insulin pump to manage his diabetes for the past 10 years. His average blood glucose levels have improved substantially since using the pump and he claims it has changed his life in terms of flexibility. Brett is able to live his life like a normal teenager thanks to the help of Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach. “The nurses and doctors at Miller Children’s have made me realize that diabetes wasn’t the end of the world,” stated Brett. “It’s just another stage of life and I can deal with it.”
Endocrine, Diabetes & Metabolic Centers
The Miller Children’s Endocrine, Diabetes and Metabolic Center is dedicated to providing a multi-disciplinary and multi-specialty approach to diagnostic services and treatment plans for children from birth to 21 years (sometimes into adulthood), with acute and chronic endocrine or metabolic disorders. The Endocrine, Diabetes & Metabolic Center houses two comprehensive California Children's Services (CCS) centers, complete with multi-disciplinary teams:
Endocrine & Diabetes Center
The Endocrine & Diabetes Center offers comprehensive programs in—endocrinology, growth disorders,and diabetes. These specialized programs are designed to diagnose, treat and manage childhood conditions such as type 1 and type 2 diabetes, obesity, growth disorders, thyroid disease, hypoglycemia, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, disorders of sexual development, rickets and metabolic bone disease, diabetes insipidus, Turner's Syndrome and other defects of the endocrine system, including adrenal, thyroid and pituitary glands. The endocrinologists and specialty care team also sees and treats patients who are hospitalized in the NICU, PICU, and general pediatrics units.
Metabolic Center
The Metabolic Center treats infants and children with amino acid disorders, organic acid disorders and fatty acid oxidation disorders. Patients with inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs) receive a comprehensive evaluation and care plan from a specialized metabolic care team. The primary metabolic therapy for IEMs is through dietary management. The Metabolic Center also treats adults who are a part of the Genetically Handicapped Persons Program (GHPP).
Miller Children’s Stands Apart
- There is a shortage of pediatric endocrinologists across the nation; however Miller Children’s has three board-certified/eligible pediatric endocrinologists that rotate throughout the Endocrine Center and the general pediatrics units.
- Miller Children’s Hospital is the only children’s hospital in the region with a unique Support Kids With Diabetes (SKWD), to help support families of diabetic children.
- Miller Children’s Metabolic Center offers low protein, participatory cooking classes to help families and patients learn how to properly cook meals for patients with metabolic disorders.
- Miller Children’s Metabolic Center’s has a hands-on dietician, who works with the child’s school in preparing appropriate lunches for children with metabolic conditions.
|
care centers 
