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Your First Week

It's important to be properly prepared to manage type 1 diabetes before you leave the hospital after a new diagnosis. During your in-patient stay, you should be informed of the basics on treating diabetes. In addition to this information, there are other things you should be aware of. We have compiled this information in this guide.

Care at Home
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To provide the best care for your child, you should stay in contact with the clinic during the first few weeks to address concerns and establish care routines.

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  • Send us Your Diabetes Data logs (blood glucose, insulin doses, carbs consumed) on a daily basis.

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  • Call us every day to discuss blood sugars (for the first 7-10 days).

    • Make sure you have your log sheet with you to review blood sugars, carb counts, and insulin doses​

    • Monday - Friday: Call your diabetes educator between 8 AM to 5 PM at (734) 764-5175

    • Weekends: Ask for the Pediatric Endocrinologist on call during normal hours to review blood sugars at (734) 936-4000

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  • Call us if you have an emergency.

    • Moderate to large ketones

    • Severe low blood sugar (glucagon administered or blood sugar not rising into target range with appropriate treatment)

    • Vomiting more than 3 times

    • Unable to keep fluids down or no fluid intake within 4 hours

    • Not sure what to do

Day 1
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When you go home, you should have approximately 30 days worth of supplies. You must arrange for your next shipment of supplies - it is not provided automatically. You will need to discuss where to get supplies with your insurance company. You can read more about dealing with insurance in our Insurance Guide.

 

  • Call the clinic so you can talk with a diabetes educator about your care routine and get any of your questions answered.

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  • Call your insurance company to find out where to get your blood glucose test strips and other supplies on a regular basis for the rest of the year. 

    • Make sure you have your insurance card in front of you when you call​

    • Tell them the supplies you need (long-acting insulin, rapid-acting insulin, syringes, glucagon, lancets, urine ketone test strips, blood glucose meter and test strips)

    • Ask them if you need to go to a pharmacy, a durable medical equipment (DME) company [What's this?], or a mail-order pharmacy to get your supplies

Day 2-5
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  • Call your child's school and explain that they have been newly diagnosed with diabetes.

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  • Talk with your diabetes educator about making a Diabetes Medical Management Plan (DMMP).

    • ​By law, public schools are required to provide a responsible adult to help manage the diabetes even if there is not a school nurse.

    • Parents are not required to go in for every blood sugar check and/or shot.

    • If you are having issues with the school, our social worker can help and provide a 504 plan [What's this?].

Beyond the Basics Diabetes Education Class
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As part of your diabetes diagnosis, you will be given a date to attend Basic Diabetes Education. One of our diabetes educators will give you in-depth instruction on how to manage diabetes.

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As you prepare for class, please be sure you have the necessary paperwork and supplies. These can be found under Forms & Handouts.

  • Complete your annual DSME Assessment form if you have not done so

  • Write down any specific questions you have for the educator

  • Bring Your Diabetes Data log sheet, the "Choose Your Foods" pamphlet, and the Pink Panther book you received in the hospital

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Our diabetes education classes are held in the Pediatric Diabetes Education classrooms (Taubman Center Rm. 2386 & 2387). Check the Clinical Programs page for more information about the variety of classes offered.​

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Forms & Handouts

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If you need to review or print any documents you received in the hospital or at your education class, you can find them under Forms & Handouts.

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