The Riley Hospital for Children Diabetes Center at Indiana University Health cares for approximately 1800 children with diabetes mellitus, ranging in age from infancy to young adulthood. We provide comprehensive, team-based care which seeks to help your child take control of their diabetes, to grow and develop in a healthy manner, and to minimize the long-term effects of diabetes.

Children with diabetes enter the Riley Diabetes Program either during a hospital admission at the time of diagnosis or by referral to the outpatient clinic.

All patients referred to Riley at IU Health with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus who require insulin are hospitalized for approximately two days of medical evaluation and individual instruction in basic survival aspects of diabetes management. Over 170 children enter the program each year by this route. Parents begin participating in their child's care from the time of diagnosis. Topics discussed during the initial education sessions include basic diabetes skills like blood sugar testing, insulin injections, recognition and treatment of hypoglycemia, meal planning, carb counting and sick day management.

Patients previously diagnosed with diabetes may be referred to the Diabetes Program through the outpatient clinic at Riley at IU Health. In the clinic, pediatric patients undergo a comprehensive medical, nutritional, educational, and psychosocial evaluation. Patients are asked to complete a knowledge assessment packet prior to the clinic visit to determine any educational deficits. Appropriate laboratory work is performed. After evaluation, most patients receive ongoing outpatient education through the outpatient diabetes clinics. Approximately 40 patients enter our Diabetes Program annually through this route.