Diabetes Unit

Pediatric diabetes helps by offering ambulatory care, Monday to Friday, for Type 1, Type 2, MODY, and neonatal diabetes for infants, children, and adolescents. Our multidisciplinary team consists of Endocrinologists, nurses, dieticians, and social workers. The IWK pediatric diabetes clinic is a certified Nova Scotia Insulin Pump Program Site.

How we help

The diabetes clinic works with community agencies to provide comprehensive care for children in HRM and consultative care for the Maritimes. We work closely with the Diabetes Care Program of Nova Scotia and are involved in developing provincial guidelines for the management of diabetes for children and adolescents. We also host educational placements for medical, nursing and nutrition students.

When a diagnosis of diabetes is made it means the body cannot make insulin or is unable to effectively use the insulin it produces. This causes high blood sugars, and the child/teen may experience increased thirst, increased urine output (may include bedwetting or getting up through the night to pee), and weight loss or no weight gain.

For more information about diabetes camps, please visit Diabetes Canada.

What to expect

Once diagnosed with type 1 diabetes you and your child are usually seen by our clinic staff within 24 hours. You may be sent directly to the clinic from your doctor’s office, emergency department, or seen as an inpatient if you’re admitted to the IWK.

Diabetes education for someone newly-diagnosed diabetes is usually done on an outpatient basis over two to three days. This education requires the child’s caregivers to be present and involves education from or team of health care professionals.

All meals and snacks are provided for the child/teen with diabetes. Parents and family members will need to bring their meals or be prepared to buy meals. Patients and families stay for breakfast, lunch, and supper and will return to clinic the next morning. If your child is young, please bring toys or activities to occupy them during the education.

If a hospital admission is required, you or another caregiver will be able to stay with the child overnight in the hospital.

You'll receive appointment bookings for two weeks after your initial diagnosis education, then six weeks, and then every three or four months for the first year. If additional support is needed it will be arranged on an individual basis. Please follow all instructions in the appointment letter you receive in the mail.  You’ll also receive a reminder call a week before your appointment. If you need to reschedule please do so as early as possible.

Ongoing education is offered virtually for insulin dose adjustment, introduction to the insulin pump, and carbohydrate counting. If you're a patient of the IWK diabetes clinic you will receive an email containing a link to attend these classes. If you have questions about your appointment or you need to cancel, please call at least 24 hours in advance.

Insulin pump video series

This series consists of eight videos that are designed to promote thoughtful conversation about some of the main issues and concerns of parents, young pumpers, and their health care team. They’re intended to provide background and context that will be further explored during individual or group teaching sessions with the diabetes health care team. They’re not intended to stand alone, but to complement health care team teaching.  

• Introduction:  Key Messages (8:23)
• Chapter 1:  Challenges and Benefits (17:46)
• Chapter 2:  What is a Pump? (6:40)
• Chapter 3:  Choosing a Pump (4:29)
• Chapter 4:  The Team (5:36)  
• Chapter 5:  Considering a Pump in Nova Scotia (5:33)  
• Chapter 6:  Sick Day Management (4:23) 
• Chapter 7:  A School Plan (6:44)