Barbara Davis Center Programs
The Pediatric Clinic offers complete education and support for children and adolescents with all types of diabetes. The Clinic is certified by the American Diabetes Association. Many of our doctors, nurses, dietitians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and social workers are Certified Diabetes Educators who can provide families and patients with an understanding of type 1 diabetes and encourage their confidence in its day-to-day management.
The Adult Clinic continues to strive for excellence in diabetes care and research as it provides care for approximately 3,000 patients, ages 18-75. Diabetes education is extremely vital to the Adult Clinic, whether the patient is newly diagnosed or has had diabetes for over 50 years. On staff are clinical social workers, a pharmacist, nurses, and dietitians, all Certified Diabetes Educators who specialize in educating our patients on how to effectively self-manage their diabetes and troubleshoot obstacles they may face in their health.
The BDC eye clinic, funded by the Melvin and Elaine Wolf Foundation and directed by Dr. Brian Bucca from 2007-present, provides in-house comprehensive retinal care for children and adults with diabetes. Its mission is to prevent diabetes-related eye disease and vision loss through accurate detection, comprehensive patient education and compassionate care. The Retinopathy Screening Wing offers unparalleled quality of care and state-of-the-art diagnostic retinal imaging, which assists in the detection of the earliest stages of retinopathy and also enables identification of patients with advanced eye disease necessitating treatment in order to preserve vision. The eye clinic is currently taking new patients and can provide same-day appointments and walk-in appointments (303-724-6735).
The staff of the Barbara Davis Center is committed to helping patients and their families understand diabetes, from the initial diagnosis to long-term management.
The dietitians here at the Center meet with each new onset or new-to-clinic family to teach them how to adjust diet to insulin delivery. They are also available to all patients during regularly scheduled visits, individual nutrition visits, and by telephone.
Pumps and Sensors
The Pediatric Clinic has a comprehensive program for helping patients initiate insulin pump therapy and/or continuous glucose monitoring. Certified trainers are available on-site, and all pump and sensors training is done in the outpatient setting.
Dr. Peter Chase has published Understanding Insulin Pumps & Continuous Glucose Monitors available for purchase at the front desk of the BDC or online at: www.childrensdiabetesfoundation.org
Social Work
The Barbara Davis Center’s clinical social workers meet with each new onset patient and their family in order to help them adjust to the diagnosis of diabetes. They are available to help with diabetes related issues at anytime, both during clinic visits and outside of regularly scheduled appointments.
To learn more, please schedule an appointment to visit the social work staff members:
Pediatric Clinic:
Ellen Fay-Itzkowitz, LCSW, CDE
Jennifer Tilden, LCSW
Adult Clinic:
Lisa Meyers, MSW, CDE
The Social Work Program at the Barbara Davis Center works to help patients and families through the psychological and psychosocial aspects of diabetes. Their services include:
- New Onset Education
- Clinics for new BDC patients
- Ongoing clinic patients as requested by families or BDC team members
- Differential diagnosis for children, teens, and young adults with mood, thought, or eating disorders as well as depression and anxiety
- Education
- Needle fears
- Protective services and cases of medical neglect
- Crisis management
- Research
- And more!
Beyond High School Workshop
This workshop is held once a year by the Barbara Davis Center.
The Beyond High School Program is a fun, interactive program that prepares adolescents with diabetes for several life changes during their transition from high school to college, work, and living away from parents.
This course is for young men and women who have type 1 diabetes and who are seniors in high school, have graduated from high school, or are starting out on their own. There will also be a 1-hour question and answer session for parents.
Topics discussed include:
- Communication about diabetes
- Food
- Exercise
- Relationships
- Sexual Health
- Alcohol and Drugs
- Health Care Change
- Support Systems
- Technology
- Parent Group
For questions about the program, registration, and cost, please contact Regina Reece at 303-724-6744 or regina.reece@ucdenver.edu.
Grandparent Classes
This course helps grandparents feel comfortable & proficient while caring for children with diabetes. Please be prepared for an interactive, hands-on experience and come prepared to participate and ask questions.
This course takes place four times a year in March, May, September, and November.
Topics discussed include:
- What is diabetes and why do some kids get it?
- Why does insulin help and what does it do?
- What to do when high and low blood sugars occur
- Blood sugar testing and insulin injections
- Food and diabetes
Due to space constraints, participation in each workshop will be limited to the first 25 people who register. Registration will first open for grandparents of Barbara Davis Center patients, but others may request to be on the waiting list if there is room available.
For questions about the program, registration, and cost, please contact Regina Reece at 303-724-6744 or regina.reece@ucdenver.edu.
Colorado School Nurse Conference–“Taking Diabetes to School”
This is an informative program on current intensified management of diabetes and delegation of tasks for school nurses. Through lectures and practicums, this program will enhance the knowledge and skills needed to meet the health care needs of children with diabetes in the school setting. The Barbara Davis Center presents this program to emphasize the values of family and community as an important part of the health team. We encourage attendance by all community/school based providers.
For questions about the program, registration, and cost, please contact Regina Reece at 303-724-6744 or regina.reece@ucdenver.edu.
