Don’t Ignore the Signs of Diabetes
Acting early and recognizing the symptoms can prevent serious issues down the road.
Recognize the signs
Pediatric Diabetes Resource Center
The Pediatric Diabetes Resource Center (PDRC) is your dedicated partner in managing your child’s diabetes. We provide comprehensive care to children throughout Illinois, combining medical expertise with compassionate support.
What is childhood diabetes?
Childhood diabetes happens when a child’s body doesn’t produce or use insulin properly. Without the right amount of insulin, your child’s blood sugar can reach unhealthy levels. Type 1 diabetes is more common in kids, although there is an increasing number of Type 2 diabetes cases in children.
What to Expect at Your Appointment
The PDRC is located on the campus of OSF Children’s Hospital of Illinois. At your appointment, you and your child will meet with specialized diabetes care providers who focus exclusively on managing diabetes in kids.
You’ll receive education and developmental and emotional support to help your child manage their diabetes. We’ll work with your child’s other providers to create a personalized diabetes self-management plan that meets your child’s specific needs, lifestyle and preferences.
Meet Your Care Team
Your child will be cared for by a variety of providers, including registered nurses, diabetes nurse educators, registered dietitians and licensed social workers. Every member of this diverse team is either certified or working towards certification in pediatric diabetes.
Pediatric Diabetes Transition Program
We’re committed to supporting your child every step of the way. Our Pediatric Diabetes Adult Transition Program will help your child move from pediatric to adult care as they grow. Beginning at age 17 and continuing through college-age, they’ll receive focused education and support to prepare them to gradually take ownership of diabetes management. As they become adults, we ensure a smooth transition to our adult endocrinology services, where they’ll continue to receive high quality, compassionate care.
Why Choose Us
At the PDRC, we are committed to helping children with diabetes thrive by providing the best possible care and support. The recognition we’ve received from respected organizations underscores our dedication to empowering families and ensuring children with diabetes have the tools and resources they need to live healthy, fulfilling lives.
Community Engagement Award
The PDRC is a recipient of the Community Engagement Award from the Breakthrough T1D Illinois Chapter. This honor reflects our team’s dedication to supporting families affected by diabetes and our commitment to helping your child thrive.
American Diabetes Association Award
The PDRC has been awarded recognition from the American Diabetes Association as a program that offers high quality education for the patients we serve. This recognition helps ensure your child will receive the best care and resources to manage their diabetes effectively.
Recipes for Diabetes in Children
Looking for delicious and diabetes-friendly recipes for your child? We’ve got you covered! These breakfast, snack and dinner ideas are designed to help manage blood sugar while keeping taste and nutrition top of mind.
Resources
We have everything you need to support your child’s health and well-being. Explore these resources to help your child manage their diabetes.
Downloadable Forms
The forms below will help you manage several aspects of your child’s diabetes, including tracking blood sugar, insulin and more.
Events
We offer a wide variety of events for both you and your child to take advantage of.
Additional Websites
Our team has compiled this helpful list of resources for families navigating diabetes.
School Resources
In accordance with the Illinois Care of Students with Diabetes Act, we provide training for school staff to become delegated care aides through our Diabetes Education Program. Delegated care aides are school employees who agree to receive training in diabetes care and to assist students in implementing their diabetes care plan.
Training is available in person on the first Wednesday of each month from 12:30-4 p.m. at OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center or virtually on demand. The cost for this training is $45 per person.
By law, delegated care aides must receive training from a licensed health care provider with expertise in diabetes. The training will cover topics such as blood sugar monitoring, carbohydrate counting, insulin dosing and delivery, hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia management, ketone management, diabetes documentation, psychosocial aspects and insulin pumps and sensors.
OSF HealthCare is accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation (P-0807) to provide nursing continuing professional development.
Participants who attend the full in-person event, sign the roster, complete an evaluation, and demonstrate skills will receive 3.0 contact hours. Those attending the full online session and completing an evaluation will receive 2.6 contact hours.
For questions, call (309) 624-2480 or email diabetescenter@osfhealthcare.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to follow a special diet and/or limit carbohydrate intake?
No - A healthy, well-balanced diet that includes all the important food groups (whole grains, vegetables, fruits, milk/dairy and protein-rich foods like meat and beans) is the best way to support your child’s overall health.
Most children with diabetes are encouraged to eat until they're satisfied, so there’s no need to limit carbohydrate intake unless there’s a specific need. If your child requires a tailored plan for managing weight or carbs, our dietitians at the PDRC will work with you to create a personalized plan that meets your child's unique needs.
Can my child still participate in sports?
Yes! Physical activity is great for all children, and it's especially important for managing diabetes. Regular exercise can boost your child’s overall health and helps keep blood sugar levels in check. Our dietitians and nurses at the PDRC are here to guide you on how to safely incorporate sports and physical activities into your child’s routine, while also teaching you how to prevent low blood sugars during exercise.
What is the gram number in parenthesis after the serving size on a food label?
This number is how much the serving size of that particular food weighs (in grams) if put on a food scale. It is not the number of carbohydrate grams. You will always need to go to the “Total Carbohydrate” line on the label to find the carb grams.
How do I handle school parties and birthday treats?
Children with diabetes can still enjoy an occasional treat. With accommodations, they should be able to participate in the same activities as their peers, including school parties and celebrations.
To maintain your child’s insulin levels, you may wish to ask a staff member to check the labels on treats or have your child take them home to eat later. Our team can guide you on how to use nutrition facts from food labels with tools like CalorieKing to determine carbohydrate amounts.
What can I do if my insurance is not covering supplies as well as it used to or if my copays have increased?
There are three options for this situation
- You can go to the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services website and apply for All Kids. Even if you have insurance, you may still qualify for the Kid Care rebate or one of the other programs.
- ou can call Partnership for Prescription Assistance at 1-(888) 477-2669 or visit their website.
What do I do if my child complains that shots hurt or the insulin burns when injected?
If your child complains that the insulin is burning under the skin after injection, it may be helpful to rub the area immediately after to increase circulation.
If you find that shots are hurting, there are a few techniques that might help:
- Try numbing the site with ice before the injection.
- Have your child take a deep breath, exhale and inject/insert the pump site immediately after they have completely exhaled.
- For small children, you may be able to distract them by proposing a challenge. Ask them to sing a song all the way through before the injection/pump site insertion is complete.
What do I do if my child is missing blood sugars, skipping insulin doses/boluses or seems unmotivated to complete their diabetes self-care tasks?
You can offer to check their blood sugars, count carbohydrates, give shots or insert their pump sites for them to give them a break and recharge their diabetes care batteries! Just like adults, kids can get tired of managing their diabetes and may need a little break now and then.
Ask for a Referral
Looking for compassionate care for your child’s diabetes? Contact your primary care provider about a referral to the Pediatric Diabetes Resource Center. Need a primary care provider? Browse our directory.
Search ProvidersIn the spirit of Christ and the example of Francis of Assisi, the Mission of OSF HealthCare is to serve persons with the greatest care and love in a community that celebrates the Gift of Life.