Question:
From Santa Clara, California, USA:
My 8 year old son is newly diagnosed Type 1 diabetes. What are the benefits of a pediatric endocrinologist as
opposed to an adult endocrinologist?
Answer:
There is a world of difference between an adult
endocrinologist/diabetologist and a paediatrician with a special interest in
childhood diabetes. I don't want to sound arrogant but the majority of
adult physicians are unused to dealing with the whole family and childhood
diabetes is certainly a condition that affects all family members.
Additionally, diabetes changes dramatically with age and a knowledge of
growth, puberty and their effects upon psychology, physiology and blood
glucose is essential to good care. A common mistake is to believe that
diabetes is diabetes no matter what the age group. If your 80 year old
mother had diabetes, would you take her to a paediatrician? I rest my case.
KJR
[Editor's comment: I must very vigorously and wholeheartedly agree with Dr.
Robertson's commentary. There are several categories of physicians who
might claim competence to deal with childhood diabetes: if you have access
to a pediatric endocrinologist who specializes in diabetes and who works
together with a pediatric diabetes team including diabetes nurse educators,
diabetes dietitians, exercise physiologists, and others, you've got the
best. WWQ]
Original posting 4 Dec 97
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