Diabetes Clinic at the Royal Children's Hospital (RCH)
Our diabetes clinics run on a Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon. The first appointment is at 2pm and the last appointment for the day is at 4:20pm.
Frequency of diabetes clinic visits
Appointments to see your diabetes doctor will be made for every three to four months.
Location
Diabetes clinic is located in Specialists Clinics which is on the ground floor. Clinic entry is opposite Woods pharmacy and The Creature.
A1 Clinic is first on the left when you enter Specialists Clinic and A6 pathology (where to get your HbA1c done) is opposite A1 Clinic.
Hospital map
Contact to change an appointment
You can contact The Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) Specialist Clinics on 9345 6180 to reschedule your appointment. Please keep in mind that as our appointment slots are filled up three to four months in advance, you may not be able to get another doctor’s appointment for a
significant period of time.
Preparing for your appointment for face to face appointments
- Arrive early for your appointment for screening on entry to the hospital, and make sure that your child has checked in for Pathology to have their HbA1c test at least 30 minutes before their first appointment (medical/ complications screening clinic etc)
- Bring your logbook and glucometer as well as any devices used for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)
- At each Face to face appointment your doctor will give you a pathology slip for your HbA1c to bring to your next diabetes clinic appointment. If you forget this slip, your appointment may be delayed
- Remember to ask for a school or work certificate for you and/or your child in your appointment with the doctor
- Bring hypo food and diabetes supplies
Insulin Pumps and Diabetes Clinic
The only way that that you can review and manage your diabetes care with a pump is by uploading it to a computer, reviewing the patterns of glucose and making changes to the settings.
The night before, or morning of your clinic appointment, you need to upload your pump so that the doctor and treating team can review the settings with you.
If this is not done, then your appointment may be cancelled or cut short.
If you have an issue with uploading your pump, you need to contact the pump company as soon as possible to fix the issue:
Medtronic: 1800 668 670
AMSL: 1300 851 056
Telehealth and face to face appointment
Clinics are booked for face to face appointments. If you require a telehealth appointment, contact the Specialists Clinics 9345 6180.
Telehealth appointments
For telehealth appointments:
Making your next appointment
After you finish your appointment with the doctor, your doctor will generate another one to be made and you should get this appointment in the next 2-4 weeks.
You can also go to reception desk at A1 clinic so that you get this made on the day. If you do
not hear about an appointment after 4-5 weeks, contact Specialists Clinics 9345 6180.
Diabetes Allied Health Team
The Diabetes Allied Health Team can usually be seen on the day of your doctors appointment.
- Diabetes Nurse Educator: there are always two diabetes nurses allocated to being available during clinic times. Let the doctor know if there is something you would like to discuss with the nurse and they will be able to find a nurse who is available. If nurses are busy or a
longer time is needed, call the diabetes office 9345 6661 the next day to discuss what you need and if an appointment is needed this can be made.
- Dietitian: you need an appointment to see the dietitian in diabetes clinic. These are 10–15 minute appointments. It is a good to have a review with the dietitian every 12 months. To make the appointment, call Specialists Clinics 9345 6180.
- Diabetes Social Worker: social workers are sometimes (not always) available during clinic times. Speak to the doctor if you would like to speak to the diabetes social worker or call the diabetes office the next day to arrange a social worker to call you.
Complication screening clinic at the RCH
Diabetes Complication Screening is offered to children and adolescents with diabetes as a routine screening tool. Screening allows for the detection of very early signs of complications, where changes can be put in place to stop or reverse that complication.
The Diabetes Complication Screening Clinic assessments includes a photo of the back of the eye, to check for nerve damage to the eyes, blood tests to screen lipids, coeliac, thyroid and thyroxine levels and a urine test to check kidney function, a postural blood pressure and an assessment of peripheral neuropathy.
Your doctor has to refer you child to the Diabetes Complication Screening Clinic. Usually the screening appointment will be booked in alongside your next endocrinology appointment. At times, there can be waiting list, if this is the case it will be booked in alongside your appointment in 6 months’ time.
When should my child be getting Diabetes Complication Screening at the RCH?
If diagnosed with diabetes under the age of 11 years old first diabetes complication screening at approximately five years after diagnosis. And then every two years thereafter.
If diagnosed at 12 years of age, the first complication screen is approximately two years after diagnosis, and then every two years thereafter.
Who organises when my child needs a complication screening?
Your Endocrinologist will refer your child to the Diabetes Complication Screening Clinic. It will be booked in alongside your next diabetes appointment, on either a Tuesday or a Wednesday afternoon.
How will I get notified of my appointment?
An appointment letter with instructions will be sent to your home address. As part of the screening, your child will need to get a sample of the first urine of the day. The reason for this is that an early morning sample gives a much more accurate result than one done during the day. If you forget to do the morning
sample a midday sample can still be used. You can collect a yellow collection container from your local pharmacy or pathology. You can keep it in the fridge at home until the appointment.
What happens when my child gets their Diabetes Complication Screening?
Your blood tests will be ordered and waiting for you at pathology (A6) where you usually get your HbA1c. Please do not use a kiosk to check in. Remember to tell the check in personal that your child is having a Complication Screening which requires a
blood test.
What checks are done as part of the Diabetes Complication Screening?
- Urine test to check the amount of protein being passed via the kidneys into the urine
- Blood test to check blood lipids, thyroid function and coeliac antibodies
- Blood pressure both lying and standing
- Vision testing including retinal photo and a visual acuity assessment
- Nerve testing of the foot
My child has been asked to do three early morning urine samples- what does this mean?
It is very common to have mildly increased levels in your urine if the test is done from a midday sample. If this happens we need to check the levels more closely and we will mail out a request for your child to get three early morning samples to check
if it is a consistent result
Can we see our family doctor for follow-up of our child’s diabetes?
Your family doctor is very important in your child’s overall health care; however you must also have regular visits to your diabetes team. International recommendations and best practice are that children with diabetes should be seen at least three or four times each year by a team with specialised knowledge
and experience in children’s diabetes. The diabetes team keeps in touch with your family doctor so that he or she is fully informed about the diabetes. Your family doctor’s role in diabetes management is to manage vaccinations, medication prescriptions, minor illnesses, travel needs etc. If you don’t see
your family doctor regularly it is difficult for them to help you when you need them.
Helpful links when coming to the RCH