Diabetes has become a serious health care threat, with nearly 21 million children and adults in the United States - 7 percent of our population - estimated to have diabetes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in three children born in this country five years ago is expected to develop diabetes.

Beaumont Children's offers one of the largest pediatric endocrinology programs in Michigan. Children visit the Beaumont Children's Hospital Endocrinology Clinic to be treated for diabetes, growth or hormone problems by a multidisciplinary team of board-certified pediatric endocrinologists, diabetes nurse educators, nutritionists and social workers.

Beaumont's pediatric endocrinology program also offers counseling and education for parents, to ensure that children develop in an environment that supports increasing responsibility for diet, daily monitoring, medication and lifestyle choices. Parents receive 24-hour telephone access to their child's care team. They learn how to manage the disease in very young children and then gradually help the older child become self-sufficient.

The Beaumont Children's Hospital pediatric endocrinology team members are exceptional teachers who call upon the extended resources of dietitians, psychologists and social workers to identify breakdowns in disease management and help children become consistent and ultimately responsible for their own health.

Among the problems treated by pediatric endocrinologists are:

  • Acquired hypothyroidism
  • Ambiguous genital development
  • Congenital adrenal insufficiency
  • Congenital hypothyroidism
  • Cushing's syndrome
  • Delayed onset of puberty
  • Diabetes insipidus
  • Diabetes Mellitus Type 1
  • Diabetes Mellitus Type 2
  • Hyperparathyroidism and hypercalcemia
  • Hyperprolactinemia
  • Idiopathic short stature
  • Klinefelter's Syndrome
  • Male gynecomastia
  • Obesity associated with insulin resistance
  • Pituitary tumors
  • Pituitary hormone deficiencies
  • Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
  • Prader Willi Syndrome
  • Precocious or early puberty
  • Rickets
  • Septo-optic dysplasia
  • Thyroid cancers
  • Turner's Syndrome