Better Winnipeg: HSC provides all encompassing care for kids with diabetes

WINNIPEG — When a child is diagnosed with any disease it can be devastating for the family.

But the Health Sciences Centre is trying to change that – especially for those diagnosed with diabetes.

In its 30th year, the Diabetes Education Resource for Children & Adolescents (DER-CA) was ground breaking when it was first created by Dr. Heather Dean.

The program is the only of its kind in Manitoba assisting kids with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. It also assists families from northwestern Ontario, and eastern Saskatchewan as well.

“It’s a interprofessional clinic made up of physicians, nurses, dieticians, social workers, psychologists and administrative staff that provide interprofessional care to children with diabetes.” said Dr. Seth Marks, medical director of the clinic.

A team of experts assembled all under one roof with each playing a special role in assisting the family, from diagnosis up to the age of 18.

“When they come into clinic we help go over how much insulin they’re on, find out how things are – making sure they’re changing their sites, rotating, things like that.” said Rhonda Thorarinson, a nurse at the clinic.

“I get a lot of panicked parents and patients thinking they can never have birthday cake again or go out for Halloween or have candy again,” said Christine Unruh, a dietitian. “But I put them at ease in letting them know that those things are allowed in moderation.”

The clinic is always seeing new patients walk in the door.

“We’re always busy,” said Dr. Marks. “One week you can get no new families and no new kids, and the next week you could have six new families and kids.”

The program currently has close to 500 children with Type 1 diabetes, and close to 300 with Type 2 diabetes.

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One of the children that’s been in the program for eight years now is Miles Dyer. He was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was 12 months old.

Without the support of the DER-CA program, life would likely be a lot different for Miles.

“I remember when he was a baby looking at that wall of camp kids and thinking that’ll be such a great thing for him to do when he’s older,” said Liz Myers. “The doctors have seen him grow up, it’s great.”

Better Winnipeg is a weekly feature that highlights people, events and organizations that make Winnipeg a better place to live. Share your story ideas with us at betterwinnipeg@globalnews.ca.