Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

What is Type 1 Diabetes?

Type 1 Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases seen in childhood and is the most common form of diabetes seen in children. Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. As a result, the pancreas produces little or no insulin. Insulin is a hormone that brings glucose from the bloodstream into the body’s cells to be used as energy. Without insulin, the body cannot use glucose as energy.  Type 1 Diabetes can be managed with insulin therapy via injections or insulin pump.

What is Type 2 Diabetes?

Type 2 Diabetes occurs when the pancreas cannot make enough insulin to meet the body’s demand or when insulin resistance occurs.  Insulin resistance is a fancy term that means the cells in the body cannot respond to or use insulin, even when there are high levels of insulin present in the bloodstream.

Newly diagnosed?

Our Diabetes team will determine whether your New Onset Diabetes teach will be inpatient (in the hospital) or outpatient (in our clinic) based on your medical need.

  • New Onset Diabetes Teach (at 730 Welch location)
    • As a newly diagnosed diabetes patient or family member, this period of time is often overwhelming. Our goal is to help you and your family feel confident and safe managing your diabetes independently. While this may appear challenging, our care team of doctors, nurse practitioners, diabetes educators, nutritionists, social workers, and psychologists are here to guide you along the way.
    • If your first visit will be in our outpatient clinic, you should expect an education session lasting up to 4-5 hours reviewing the basics of diabetes self-care. This includes proper insulin use and dosing, blood sugar checking, Nutrition education, and day-to-day management skills and safety. All family members involved in the patient’s care are strongly encouraged to attend. Since this visit will be longer than a normal appointment, we kindly request that you bring a lunch for your entire family. At the end of your new onset teach, you will be scheduled for a 1-2 week follow up appointment.  Between your New Onset Teach and your 1-2 week follow up visit, you will be in close touch with our Doctor-on-call to review blood sugars, insulin doses, and any urgent questions.
    • If you are admitted to the hospital, you will be taught the basics of Diabetes care by your bedside nurse and dietician and will meet one of our endocrinologists. Before you leave the hospital, we will make you an appointment to meet with our Diabetes team 1-2 weeks after discharge from the hospital for your first outpatient (clinic) visit. You will be in close touch with our Diabetes team, including doctor on-call and Certified Diabetes Educators (CDEs) during the time between hospital discharge and your first clinic appointment.
    • As a newly diagnosed patient, you and your family will meet with our team very frequently as there is so much to learn! Once our Diabetes team feels confident in your abilities to manage your diabetes independently and safely, your appointments will be less frequent.
  • 1-2 Week Visit
  • 1 Month Visit
    • This clinic visit will be scheduled 1 month after your 1-2 week visit and will last between 45 minutes and 1 hour. We will routinely review your blood sugars and insulin doses and answer any questions you may have.
  • 1-3 Month Visit
    • Further follow-up will be determined by your MD/NP at your 1 Month visit, and is typically every 3 months.

Our Diabetes team is always available to guide you with any questions you may have between clinic visits. 

  • For Emergencies, please call 911
  • For urgent questions, please call the doctor-on-call: (650) 497-8000 and ask for Pediatric Endocrinologist on call.
  • For non-urgent questions including prescription refills/issues, routine blood sugar questions (Monday-Friday during business hours):
    • MyChart allows you to reach your provider/CDE directly. Please sign up at the front desk at your next clinic appointment.
    • You can also call our office at (650) 498-7353 and leave a message. We will return your call between 24-48 hours. 
    • Alternatively, you can email our office: diabetes@stanfordchildrens.org

Appointments

  • To make an appointment or change/cancel your existing appointment, please call (650) 721-1811
  • If you need to cancel an appointment, please notify our office at least 72 hours before your appointment as a courtesy to our staff and other patients and families, like you, waiting for an opening.

What should I bring to my appointment?

  • New Onset Teach
    • Blood sugar logs/Glucometer (if you have one)
    • Any diabetes supplies that may have been given to you
    • Lunch for patient and family members
    • Water
  • Follow up appointments
    • Blood sugar logs/Glucometer (if you have more than one glucometer, please bring ALL of them)