Type 2 Diabetes Program

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, your initial visit will include:

• laboratory tests
• a 60 minute comprehensive medical evaluation (physical examination, discussion of medical and family history and a diabetes education session)
• a 60 minute initial nutritional counseling session
• diabetes education and management information

Before your visit, please complete the following items:

• Request that medical information from your primary care provider (and previous diabetes care providers) be faxed to our office before your visit. This information includes your child's growth chart and any laboratory tests related to his/her diabetes' diagnosis. Our fax number is 617-730-0467.

• Call our office and leave a message to confirm your appointment 72 hours prior to your visit. Unconfirmed visits may be cancelled.

• Obtain insurance authorization for participation in our program. If your insurance company requires referrals, you will need to obtain a referral for each component of the program in which your child will participate, such as medical, nutritional and mental health services. If you do not obtain required authorization prior to your visit, you will be asked to sign a waiver and pay a $50 deposit for each visit. Please note that referrals do not guarantee coverage, so please check with your insurance carrier.

• Complete both the New Patient Questionnaire and the Food Intake Survey and bring these with you to your appointment. The questionnaire should be given your child's medical provider, and the food intake survey should be given to the dietitian during your visit.

The doctor will determine the appropriate tests required to best evaluate your child's clinical circumstances.

Fasting directions
If your child's appointment(s) is/are in the morning (and will end before 11 am) and s/he is age 5 years or older, then s/he should begin fasting at midnight the night before the appointment. Your child may have water but no other food or beverages. Please bring a snack for your child to eat after the blood draw.

If your child's appointments is/are in the afternoon or s/he is under the age of 5 years, then fasting is not required for the blood tests.

Medical and counseling sessions

During your initial consultation, you will meet with an endocrinologist, a dietitian and usually a psychologist who will:

• discuss the possible reasons why the patient has, or is at risk for, type 2 diabetes and why he may be overweight/obese
• develop an appropriate diabetes treatment/prevention plan
• review potential complications resulting from excessive body weight, including issues related to self-esteem
• provide an individualized dietary treatment plan and physical activity goals
• formulate a plan for long-term follow-up, including individual behavioral modification and/or group therapy

Approximately one week prior to your visit, you will receive a packet of information in the mail, which will include: