Children and young people's diabetes

Our nationally-recognised service helps children and young people (up to 19 years) with type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, monogenic diabetes such as maturity onset diabetes in the young (MODY) and steroid related diabetes.

• We advocate the use of technology to achieve the best possible diabetes outcomes
• We support children and young people to use insulin pump therapy including hybrid closed loop pumps
• Many of our children and young people use continuous glucose monitoring or flash glucose monitoring
• Children, young people, and their families are seen in MDT clinics at least 4 times a year
• Whilst we want to see young people face to face for most of their MDT clinics, we can also offer virtual and telephone clinics.
• We offer additional clinics that include nurse-led clinics and dietetic led clinics.
• We provide integrated specialist psychology support which includes groups such as Tree of life, navigating exams and transition to secondary school (GREAT group)
• We recommend that our families routinely upload their devices and can support families to learn how to interpret this information and adjust insulin dosages, in between their clinic appointments.
• We are unable to visit nurseries and schools for children and young people who live out of area. Support for staff (telephone support and diabetes education) will be provided virtually, with an expectation that any hands on training required will be done at the hospital.

We cannot manage diabetes without your help – the role of both parents and young people is vital. Our long-term aim is to encourage and support you to become an expert in your diabetes management.

If you want to find out more about what care for children and young people with diabetes should include and clinic outcomes, you can visit the National Paediatric Diabetes Audit (NPDA) website 

We know that exercise can present challenges for managing blood glucose levels.

There are 2 clinics run specifically to help children and young people manage exercise and Type 1 Diabetes.  

Monthly exercise & diabetes management clinic

This clinic is held on the 4th Friday afternoon of the month and accepts referrals for advice about the management of sports and diabetes for patients who are not under the care of UCLH. The clinic is run by Francesca (specialist dietitian with sports nutrition and prescribing qualifications). Each appointment is an hour long and aims to provide advice specific to sports management to help manage diabetes and improve sports performance. The clinic includes an assessment of body composition, the creation of a sports nutrition eating plan and a review of the impact of specific sports on blood glucose levels. Members of the referring MDT are welcome to attend the clinic with families. These appointments can be held face-to face or virtually via MyCare.

Referrals to the clinic should be sent to:

Francesca Annan, Clinical Specialist Paediatric/Adolescent Diabetes Dietitian,
University College London Hospitals,
6th Floor Central,
250 Euston Road,
London NW1 2PG

Weekly exercise and diabetes management clinic
This is held on Friday mornings for children and young people who attend the UCLH children and young people’s diabetes service and run by is the paediatric diabetes dietitians. Each appointment is an hour long to allow time for a detailed discussion about exercise and sports management. In addition to providing sports specific advice, the appointments can be used to plan management for activity trips with schools and other organisations.