Browsing Tag

endocrinology

Endocrinology

Hypothalamic obesity – a potential breakthrough

Setmelanotide provides hope for patients with hypothalamic obesity.

Acquired hypothalamic obesity has long presented a complex challenge in healthcare, leaving pediatric patients struggling to lose weight. An innovative study involving a medication called setmelanotide aims to address this problem. Hussein Abdul-Latif, M.D., shed light on this groundbreaking research, offering insights into its origin, mechanism and potential impact.

Often arising from injuries or conditions affecting the hypothalamus, such as craniopharyngioma, acquired hypothalamic obesity makes it very difficult for pediatric patients to lose weight. There is also some evidence that slower metabolic rates and potential hormone deficiencies contribute to the problem in this specific patient population, along with other factors not fully understood yet.

Setmelanotide targets melanocortin receptors, which are crucial in regulating the body’s satiety signals. Abdul-Latif noted the medication’s impact on correcting the disrupted signals that lead to continuous hunger and reduced metabolism—two key factors contributing to this form of obesity.

“Our study is an extension of studies looking at the various genetic components to acquired hypothalamic obesity,” Abdul-Latif said. “We knew this medication was effective in treating obesity related to certain genetic conditions, so the next natural step was to consider whether it could be used for hypothalamic obesity resulting from injury to the hypothalamus.”

The ongoing phase three trial involves multiple sites, including Children’s of Alabama, enrolling patients up to 30 years old. So far, Children’s has recruited five patients to test the medication.

This trial utilizes a double-blinded method, where some participants receive the medication while others receive a placebo. Throughout the study period, researchers monitor each patient’s weight, satiety and skin pigmentation changes over a designated period. To date, only minor adverse events have been noted, including darkening of the skin and injection site issues.

Abdul-Latif also stressed the significance of this research in offering hope to those struggling with acquired hypothalamic obesity. He highlighted that this condition, previously perceived as challenging to treat effectively, now has a potential breakthrough. The medication provides promise for a segment of the population in need of more personalized solutions, hinting at a positive outlook for the future of treating this condition.

The clinical trial should end in April 2025. “At the end of the study, we give the medication to everybody regardless of their study cohort. That’s a nice incentive for prospective participants who may be desperate for something to help them lose weight,” Abdul-Latif said.

While the medication shows promise, Abdul-Latif emphasized the importance of exercise and hormone supplementation in conjunction with the treatment. The goal is to not only aid weight loss but also improve overall health and optimize the medication’s efficacy.

This groundbreaking research signifies a critical step forward in addressing acquired hypothalamic obesity. For participating patients, setmelanotide offers a newfound sense of hope. The ongoing clinical trial and subsequent FDA approval could signal a transformative breakthrough, marking a significant milestone in health care. As the study progresses, continued enrollment, diligent monitoring, and analysis of results will pave the way for a deeper understanding of setmelanotide’s efficacy and its potential to revolutionize the treatment of acquired hypothalamic obesity.

January 29, 2024 by
Endocrinology

Exploring GABA and GAD for Type 1 Diabetes

A study led by Gail J. Mick, M.D., shows promising results for treating new-onset cases of type 1 diabetes with GABA and GAD.

Could an over-the-counter supplement help save insulin production in new-onset type 1 diabetes? That’s the question pediatric endocrinologists Gail J. Mick, M.D., Kenneth McCormick, M.D. (now retired) and colleagues at Children’s of Alabama set out to explore. The answer, according to their recently published article in the journal Nature Communications, is, quite possibly.

The study explored the potential of the amino acid gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), found in health food stores, and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), an enzyme that acts on glutamate to form GABA, to preserve pancreatic islet function.

GABA is an important neurotransmitter in the brain. However, it is also critical to insulin production, with GABA receptors found within the islet beta cells responsible for insulin production. Meanwhile, GAD converts abundant circulating glutamate from dietary protein and intestinal microbiota into GABA. 

Animal studies showed their potential to stimulate insulin secretion, inhibit glucagon overproduction, dampen inflammation and promote beta cell regeneration. Still, getting a clinical trial approved in a pediatric population took years.

“Nobody does first-line studies in children,” Mick said. “For safety reasons, studies are typically conducted in adults, but in type 1 diabetes, adults differ from children. In children, the autoimmune destruction of insulin secretion is faster.

“It took a lot of luck, hope and a dream we were going to cure diabetes with something safe and oral” to get FDA approval for the trial, she said.

The study randomized 97 children (average age of 11) within five weeks of their diagnosis to oral GABA with or without a GAD-alum injection. However, the researchers were constrained to low doses of the compounds, given the FDA’s concern about potential side effects.

Although the study didn’t meet its primary goal of preserving beta cell insulin production, the GABA/GAD combination significantly reduced glucagon levels, improving blood sugar levels. The study also found lower levels of the inflammatory cytokine expression implicated in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes. There were no adverse effects.

“Not only did we see reduced glucagon, but there were also beneficial immunologic effects,” Mick said. “We’re delighted by that.” The immunology results were recently published in the journal Biomedicines.

The positive outcomes show enough promise that further studies with higher GABA doses are warranted, Mick said, perhaps in combination with other agents, such as GLP-1 receptor agonists, which also have beta-cell regeneration effects.

“It’s fascinating,” Mick said. “Just fascinating.”

January 29, 2024 by
Endocrinology

Children’s, UAB to study diabetes in minority youth

Cases of Type 2 diabetes are on the rise among minorities in the U.S.

By Emma Shepard (UAB)

The prevalence of Type 2 diabetes in youth is increasing in the U.S., primarily among minorities, with Black and Hispanic youth showing the greatest increase. Neither the reason for the increase nor the mechanism underlying the disproportionate risk in minority youth is known.

Researchers at Children’s of Alabama and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) have received more than $3.7 million from the National Institutes of Health to study the increasing prevalence of diabetes in youth as part of a nationwide consortium. Ambika Ashraf, M.D., director of the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes at Children’s of Alabama and UAB, and Barbara Gower, Ph.D., interim chair and professor in the UAB Department of Nutrition Sciences, will lead the UAB site.

The study is part of a project designed to identify the predictors of Type 2 diabetes in youth. UAB and Children’s, located in the U.S. diabetes belt and home to the UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center and Diabetes Research Center, were collectively one of 15 institutions selected to participate.

“Our research aims to further understand health disparities in diabetes prevalence, as well as study the impact of particular risk factors on the conversion of prediabetes to Type 2 diabetes,” Ashraf said. “This knowledge would allow us to better treat children, especially minority children, who have prediabetes.”

Prediabetes is a serious health condition in which blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough yet to be diagnosed as Type 2 diabetes. 

Over the course of the project, which will end in November 2027, researchers hope to enroll 1,500-3,000 youth who are at risk for diabetes. The main objective of the study is to identify factors that predict conversion to Type 2.

All participants will be non-diabetic, but at risk, at the time of recruitment and baseline testing. The team of researchers will record body composition, beta-cell function, insulin sensitivity, diet, physical activity, psycho-social factors, the intra-uterine environment, genetic polymorphisms related to diabetes risk and other factors that may affect risk for Type 2 diabetes.

August 23, 2023 by
Endocrinology

Personalized Care for Pediatric Thyroid Cancer Patients

Dr. Sajal Patel leads the Thyroid Nodule Clinic at Children’s of Alabama.

Pediatric endocrinologists at Children’s of Alabama are caring for children and adolescents with thyroid cancer in a leading-edge, multidisciplinary thyroid nodule clinic. Sajal Patel, M.D., and Nicole Barnes, M.D., take a multidisciplinary approach to assessing thyroid nodules and, if they are cancerous, managing them in conjunction with pediatric surgeons, nuclear medicine specialists and pathologists, along with their adult counterparts.

Thyroid cancer is rare in children, with a prevalence ranging from 4 to 5 per 100,000 compared with approximately 14.3 per 100,000 in adults. However, thyroid nodules in children are far more likely to be cancerous than in adults. The nodule clinic team meets regularly to review cases and optimize treatment plans. “This ensures that each patient receives the most suitable and personalized care,” Patel said.

The first step in treating thyroid cancer patients is surgery to remove all or part of the thyroid and any affected lymph nodes. This is followed, if needed, by radioactive iodine to destroy any remaining thyroid that may harbor small foci of cancer. After that comes continued surveillance through the clinic and management with thyroid hormone replacement.

“Thyroid cancer tends to be very slow spreading and localized, either within the thyroid or lymph nodes in the surrounding area,” Patel said. “It doesn’t typically metastasize.” For this reason, oncology is not a cornerstone of multidisciplinary thyroid cancer management. “When you need systemic treatments like immunotherapies or chemotherapy, then oncology gets pulled in.”

The disease typically manifests in the teenage years. When diagnosed in younger children, the team considers genetic cancer syndromes and does genetic testing to assess familial cancer risk. These syndromes include PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome, DICER1 syndrome and multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome. The team follows these cases closely, relying on pathology and genetics to analyze tissue samples and family histories.

The clinic is currently managing 10 to 15 children with thyroid cancer. The relatively large number of patients the clinic has followed over the years has contributed to a wealth of retrospective data, Patel said, which is vital given the rarity of the condition.

The clinic is involved in a collaborative project with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to establish a comprehensive thyroid cancer and nodule registry. The registry aims to provide long-term follow-up data, analyze treatment outcomes and gather information that can improve the care of pediatric thyroid cancer patients. “Currently, much of the knowledge in this field is derived from adult data,” Patel said, “making the need for dedicated pediatric research even more critical.”

August 23, 2023 by
Endocrinology

Addressing Endocrine Issues in Cancer Survivors

Dr. Nicole Barnes’ clinic tackles the many endocrine-related challenges cancer survivors can face.

When pediatric endocrinologist Nicole Barnes, M.D., started at Children’s of Alabama in December 2021, it made sense for her to begin a clinic designed specifically for childhood cancer survivors, who often experience endocrine issues from their cancer or treatment. Barnes came to Children’s from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, where she specialized in survivorship care.

“About 50% of children who are cancer survivors have at least one endocrine disorder,” she said. These endocrinopathies include growth hormone deficiency, disorders of puberty, thyroid abnormalities, poor bone mineral density and metabolic disorders. Some survivors are also at risk for infertility. Barnes started the Endocrine Care for Children with Cancer Clinic to address all these issues.

“Primary care physicians may not be accustomed to identifying endocrinopathies associated with survivors’ treatment exposures,” Barnes said. Even general pediatric endocrinologists may not be familiar with the clinical guidelines published by the Children’s Oncology Group for monitoring childhood cancer survivors. “We’re taught in training about cancer-related endocrine disorders, but until you’ve treated multiple children with cancer you may not fully appreciate the impact endocrine disorders can have,” she said.

One reason is the subtlety of the signs and symptoms. “For instance, a premenarchal 13-year-old female may not be concerning in the general population,” Barnes said. “However, a premenarchal 13-year-old female childhood cancer survivor exposed to total body irradiation and alkylating chemotherapy agents is at high risk for ovarian failure and should be monitored and treated accordingly.” 

Barnes’ clinic currently meets twice monthly. So far, she has seen several patients during and after treatments. She hopes to coordinate more closely with oncology and the Children’s of Alabama Taking on Life after Cancer (TLC) Clinic—which provides a varied and multidisciplinary approach to managing the special needs of pediatric cancer survivors—in order to catch endocrine issues early.

She hopes to bring more attention to endocrine disorders in pediatric cancer survivors while educating clinicians and families that remission is not the end of a child’s cancer-related health journey. “Ongoing monitoring for growth, puberty, bone health and metabolism remains essential,” she said

“I enjoy treating these children and adolescents. They’re survivors,” Barnes said. “Although cancer may rob them of some of their potential, I have the opportunity to optimize their growth and development.”

August 22, 2023 by
Endocrinology

Creating Brighter Futures for Patients with Turner Syndrome

Dr. Giovanna Beauchamp leads the Turner Syndrome Clinic at Children’s of Alabama.

Turner syndrome is a genetic condition that affects only females. Caused by a missing or partially missing X chromosome, it can lead to a variety of health and developmental challenges. For years now, Children’s of Alabama has been addressing the diverse needs of this population with its quarterly Turner Syndrome Clinic.

Pediatric endocrinologist Giovanna Beauchamp, M.D., runs the multidisciplinary clinic, which includes specialists in genetics, pediatric and adolescent gynecology, audiology, child life, nephrology, cardiology and social work. Patients range from infants through teenagers and are typically referred just after diagnosis.

The clinic model is crucial, Beauchamp said, because Turner syndrome impacts numerous body systems, as well as girls’ emotional health. Common issues include short stature, puberty and fertility problems, hearing loss, heart defects, thyroid disorders, diabetes risk, learning difficulties, anxiety and social struggles.

Treatments offered through the clinic include growth hormone injections to increase height, estrogen therapy to induce puberty, medications for endocrine problems like thyroid issues, and referrals for neuropsychiatric testing to identify learning needs.

The clinic’s social worker helps secure any necessary school accommodations, such as more time for test taking. However, Beauchamp said, “these girls are extremely bright. They can sometimes have a few struggles with math, but they tend to be pretty gifted with their language skills.” They may also have issues with focusing and a higher risk of attention deficit disorder, all of which the clinic team can help with. “It’s important to know if they have any learning differences that may need to be tackled with a little bit of extra help and support,” she said.

The child life specialist is particularly important, Beauchamp said. “A lot of our girls can have some anxiety and get nervous when it comes to their visits.” Plus, the visits typically last longer than routine endocrinology visits. But the child life specialist provides a variety of activities and games, such as drawing and arts and crafts, to keep them engaged and relaxed.

“We aim to be a one-stop shop to provide the best and most thorough care for girls with Turner syndrome,” Beauchamp said.

August 22, 2023 by
Endocrinology

Lipid Clinic Addresses Abnormal Cholesterol Levels in Children

Dr. Ambika Ashraf is the director of pediatric endocrinology at Children’s of Alabama.

Through early intervention, the lipid clinic at Children’s of Alabama is aiming to give kids with lipid problems a shot at healthier adulthoods.

The clinic used to be hosted as part of the weight management clinic at Children’s until leaders realized that lipid problems are not limited to children with obesity. Ambika P Ashraf, M.D., director of pediatric endocrinology at Children’s of Alabama, runs the clinic with nurse practitioner Erin Tuanama, N.P., and pediatric endocrinologist Christy Foster, M.D. Patients also receive nutritional counseling, recommendations for physical activity and lifestyle changes and, depending on their condition, genetic and cardiology consultations. The clinic meets weekly, and the team currently follows more than 1,000 patients.

Twenty-percent of children between ages 12 and 19 have some type of lipid disorder, and that rate jumps to 42% in children who are obese.[i] Ashraf calls pediatric dyslipidemia “a no man’s land” because different pediatric subspecialists take care of children with the condition.

As the only pediatric lipid clinic in the state—and one of the largest directed by pediatric endocrinologists in the Southeast—Children’s sees patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). This genetic disorder affects about one in every 250 people and dramatically increases their risk of premature heart disease. The clinic receives referrals from throughout the South and treats patients with rare, genetically linked types of dyslipidemia, such as familial chylomicronemia (FCS), severe hypertriglyceridemia, familial combined hyperlipidemia and sitosterolemia. “Lipid problems start early in childhood, and it’s very important to intervene in a timely manner to prevent the cardiovascular risk,” said Ashraf, who is board certified in lipidology and is a fellow of the National Lipid Association.

Early diagnosis is critical for early intervention, which can prevent the heart disease and stroke that dyslipidemia can bring later in life. At the clinic, patients with high triglycerides or combined dyslipidemia (high LDL and triglycerides) are primarily managed with diet and lifestyle changes. Losing just 5-10% of their body weight can normalize cholesterol levels in children with dyslipidemia resulting from obesity. Those with high LDL levels and those with FH often need medications, such as statins, and lifestyle changes.

Science proves that this early intervention can lead to a healthier adulthood. One study compared adults with FH who started a statin when they were children to their parents with FH who didn’t start a stain until middle age. Just 1% of those receiving early treatment had experienced cardiovascular events by age 39, and none had died of cardiovascular causes. Conversely, 26% of their parents had experienced cardiovascular events by age 39, and 7% had died from cardiovascular causes.

“In the past, a lot of pediatricians thought they didn’t have to treat lipid problems,” Ashraf said. “We used to think we could wait to treat these children. But we have a window of opportunity to prevent later events. We can’t wait.”

In 1991, the National Institutes of Health’s National Cholesterol Education Program recommended selective cholesterol screening of children with certain risk factors or those with FH. Twenty years later, recognizing the power of prevention and the growing epidemic of obesity in the pediatric population—which often results in dyslipidemia—the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) recommended universal screening for all children ages 9-11 and again between ages 17 and 21.The AAP also provided criteria for when children should see a lipid specialist versus managing the condition with diet and exercise.

The AAP and NHLBI also recommended screening children ages 2-10 if they have high-risk factors, such as parents or grandparents who had heart attacks or other cardiovascular diseases before age 55 (for men) or 65 (for women).

A recently published study found that nationally just 17% of healthy children were screened, while between 22% and 77% of children with high-risk heart conditions were screened. When Ashraf began directing the lipid clinic in 2006, only about 10-20% of local pediatricians adhered to the screening guidelines, she said. But after intensive education, including setting metrics, holding grand rounds and instituting an annual day of education, now more than half of Alabama pediatricians follow the recommended guidelines.

[i] May AL, Kuklina EV, Yoon, PW. Prevalence of Abnormal Lipid Levels Among Youths — United States, 1999—2006. MMWR. 2010; 59(02);29-33.

January 16, 2023 by
Endocrinology

Can Diabetes Prematurely Age DNA in Teens and Adolescents?

Dr. Christy Ann Foster is a pediatric endocrinologist at Children’s of Alabama.

How does diabetes change a teenager’s gene expression? That’s the question researchers in the Endocrinology and Diabetes Division at Children’s of Alabama are exploring. The topic is vital given the stratospheric rise in Type 2 diabetes in adolescents.[1] In addition, the disease appears to be more aggressive than adult-onset diabetes, with adolescents losing up to 15 years of life expectancy due to comorbidities.

Research in adults shows that many complications of diabetes, including increased risk of cardiovascular and kidney disease, diabetic retinopathy, nerve damage and early mortality, appear to be related to epigenetic aging, in which gene expression changes while the underlying DNA remains the same. Epigenetic age is an indicator of biological aging, capturing the impact of environmental and behavioral influences across time on cellular function and the potential for disease. The higher a person’s epigenetic age acceleration, the higher their all-cause mortality and morbidity is. Ideally, a person’s epigenetic age corresponds to their chronological age; the epigenetic age of a patient with diabetes may be years older than their chronological age.

“I think the study of epigenetics is fascinating because it shows the way our genes can be changed by other influences,” Children’s pediatric endocrinologist and study leader Christy Anne Foster, M.D., said. “If we can understand these influences and how they can modify the impact of our genetics, there is potential for intervention.”

However, little research has been done on such epigenetic changes in children, and none in those with diabetes and/or obesity. Which is exactly what the study focuses on.

“With the impact of seeing such an increase in Type 2 diabetes in adolescents, and even pre-adolescents, we want to understand what developing this condition so early means for their long-term health,” Foster said.

The first step is a pilot study using the DNA of children and adolescents ages 12-18. Researchers are comparing the DNA of patients with diabetes and obesity to the DNA of those without either. They’re also comparing the DNA of patients with obesity to that of normal-weight children and adolescents. Researchers hope the study will establish that epigenetic aging occurs in adolescents with diabetes and/or obesity and will help them identify risk factors that can be addressed.. If the study is promising, researchers plan to do longitudinal studies to follow the impact of dietary and therapeutic interventions on epigenetic age acceleration.

One challenge will be determining whether the changes are the result of diabetes or something else, which is why the control group is so important, Foster said.

If the investigators do find a direct link between diabetes and DNA methylation, they may not be able to directly modify it, Foster said, but they could potentially support patients based on their social determinants of health and manage their risks that way.

Foster is partnering with Bertha Hidalgo, Ph.D., an associate professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s School of Public Health. She’s also collaborating with researchers at the University of Minnesota, who are analyzing the DNA for epigenetic changes. “Given the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes in pediatric patients, understanding these changes in that population is critical,” Foster said. “These young people are at such high risk for complications with such a long-term diagnosis. The more we understand, the more we can hopefully improve their quality of life.”

[1] Lawrence JM, Divers J, Isom S, et al. Trends in Prevalence of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes in Children and Adolescents in the US, 2001-2017. JAMA. 2021;326(8):717-727. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.11165

January 16, 2023 by
Endocrinology

A Multidisciplinary Approach to Metabolic Bone Disease

Drs. Margaret Marks (left) and Ambika Ashraf lead the metabolic bone disease clinic at Children’s of Alabama.

Treating metabolic bone disease in children involves a team of specialists including a pediatric endocrinologist, pediatric orthopedic surgeon, geneticist, physical medicine rehabilitation specialist and nutritionist. Where once patients and their families had to navigate this web of specialists, now the metabolic bone disease clinic at Children’s of Alabama assembles the entire care team, whom patients often see in one visit, thanks to a multidisciplinary approach.

“When we initially started out, we weren’t sure how many patients we’d have,” clinic director Ambika Ashraf, M.D., said. “Subsequently, we realized most of these patients were going out of state.” Today, the clinic follows more than 300 patients. Most are from Alabama, but patients also travel from Tennessee, Mississippi and Georgia.

Since most of the conditions the clinic sees are complex and require multidisciplinary care, “getting to see the different specialists on the same day is a huge benefit,” Ashraf said. Otherwise, it could take six to eight months to get an appointment with individual specialists.

Patients have a varied spectrum of conditions including osteogenesis imperfecta; fibrous dysplasia; complex disorders of calcium, phosphorous and vitamin D metabolism; fragility fractures due to low bone density and osteoporosis; hypophosphatasia; and skeletal dysplasias.

Pediatric metabolic bone disease spans a spectrum from mild disease with a relatively low risk of fractures to disease so severe that just a small bump could result in a broken bone. Despite treatment, patients tend to be small in stature for their age, with multiple deformities resulting from fractures and poor healing, Ashraf said. They are also prone to problems in other areas, including cardiovascular and pulmonary complications. “We make sure they see those specialists, too,” she said.

The most common condition the clinic treats is osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), or brittle bone disease, a genetic defect that affects the body’s ability to make collagen, which is required for strong bones. These children may have dozens or even hundreds of fractures before they reach adolescence.Most patients with OI receive bisphosphonate infusions in the Children’s infusion center to strengthen their bones.

Physical medicine, or physiatry, plays an important part in managing these children, Ashraf said, because many have some type of abnormality related to muscle tone or movement, joint laxity, joint contractures or muscle weakness. They may also need help with a wheelchair, braces/splints or other mobility devices.

“This is a fascinating time for metabolic bone disease,” Ashraf said. Just a decade ago, there were few treatments beyond the supportive and palliative. For instance, until a few years ago, the only treatments for X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets were oral phosphate and calcitriol. They helped, but not enough, and patients still required frequent surgeries. With the availability of burosumab, a monoclonal antibody that binds to and inhibits the activity of fibroblast growth factor 23—which blocks phosphate absorption—children with the condition now need fewer surgeries and experience fewer limb deformities.

Bisphosphonate infusions help reduce the number and severity of fractures in OI patients, and physical therapy can help with deformities. For hypophosphatasia, enzyme replacement helps manage the condition. Caring for these children “is a joy,” Ashraf said. “Especially when we can make a difference in their quality of life.”

January 16, 2023 by
Endocrinology, Inside Pediatrics

High-Risk Diabetes Clinic Keeps Kids Out of the Hospital

Children’s of Alabama offers clinic to help high-risk diabetes patients.

The 2018 death of a teenage patient was a wake-up call for Children’s of Alabama pediatric endocrinologist Mary Lauren Scott, MD. The patient had type 1 diabetes and had been admitted numerous times over the previous few years with sky-high blood sugar. He died at home from diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a diabetic emergency in which the body breaks down fat for fuel because it doesn’t have enough insulin.

In response, Scott, who also has type 1 diabetes, took action. She and her team searched their data and found 10 patients in the previous year who had been admitted three or more times with DKA. Such admissions are a red flag that the patient isn’t taking their insulin doses at home and that they have a risk of dying or having a medical emergency they can’t recover from. 

“When you’re dealing with a chronic disease such as diabetes and patients have recurrent hospitalizations, we get burnt out too,” she said. “That makes it difficult to have the kind of positivity, motivation and drive to help them surmount the insurmountable and deal with what, for them, feels impossible. It’s hard, it’s complicated, and it’s not uplifting when you feel like you’re not able to help the patient.”

Scott, who was already directing a clinic for children and adolescents with type 2 diabetes, started another clinic in 2018 specifically for these high-risk patients. The primary goals of the clinic are to prevent hospitalizations and saving lives. The patients are all adolescents, at an age when they—instead of their parents—typically start handling their insulin injections and blood glucose tracking. 

The clinic meets half a day each month. The focus is on communication. Parents, social workers, nurses, nurse practitioners, diabetes educators and counselors work as a team to build trust with the teenagers. “We speak to them differently to get them to open up to us more than they perhaps ever have with other providers,” Scott said.

That means ensuring them there is no shame attached to missing insulin doses; what’s important is that they talk about it. “We tell them, ‘We need to know how to help you, so we can help you find success,’” Scott said. “We try to make the focus more about what’s working for [them] with [their] diabetes, what’s not working, and what [they] think would make things easier.” 

Patients must go six months without hospitalization before they graduate from the program.

The clinic is not just for patients, but for their families, as well. The patients are often drawn from minority and low-income backgrounds and have single parent households, Scott said. “The parent works and is also trying to manage a teenager who’s depressed or burnt out,” she said. “They can’t do everything.”

Because many of the parents have a history of interaction with child protective services, they rarely opened up to the staff about their child’s difficulties. With the new approach, parents are now more likely to talk about what’s happening at home and what they need help with. “That’s where we typically find success for these patients,” she said. 

The results have been impressive. 

  • 14 of the original 15 patients graduated. The one remaining is the youngest patient with significant home life issues. 
  • 8 of the 14 had a lower A1C when discharged. 
  • 6 of the 14 had no DKA admissions while in the clinic; all had three or more before joining the clinic. 
  • 12 of the 14 had fewer missed visits even though they came to clinic monthly instead of every three to four months.
  • Half had lower rates of DKA.
  • 12 of the 14 started continuous glucose monitoring while in clinic, and four also received insulin pumps, leading to a dramatic improvement in their health.
  • No patients died.

There are currently eight more patients enrolled, and more will be invited in the coming months, Scott said.

September 5, 2022 by