Children's Diabetes & Endocrinology

Endocrine glands produce hormones that affect how your child’s body works and develops. When these glands don’t function properly, your child or teenager may experience diabetes, a growth disorder, puberty-related developmental problems or another health condition.

Central Coast’s Only Pediatric Endocrinology Program

Turn to the Pediatric Endocrine and Diabetes Clinic at Cottage Children's Medical Center, the only pediatric endocrinology program on California’s Central Coast. You’ll find board-certified pediatric endocrinologists trained in the latest ways to treat endocrine disorders, and your loved one will get help growing up as healthy as possible.

Conditions We Treat

Stay close to home while getting care at Cottage Children's Medical Center, part of Cottage Health’s Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, for many disorders related to growth, hormones or metabolism, including:

• Bone diseases
• Calcium metabolism problems
• Diabetes
• Delayed or early puberty
• Growth problems, such as short stature or gigantism
• Hormone metabolism issues
• Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism
• Lipid disorders
• Obesity
• Ovarian or testicular dysfunction
• Overactive or underactive pituitary gland or adrenal gland

Endocrinology Tests & Treatments

Your child’s doctor may recommend one or more of these diagnostic procedures or medical treatments:

• Adrenal surgery – Removes tumors that may cause hypertension, metabolic problems and other conditions
• Bone age assessment – Evaluates the maturity of children’s bones, usually by X-ray
• Continuous glucose monitoring – Uses a tiny sensor placed under the skin’s surface to measure blood sugar levels for up to a week to show how they change as your child eats or becomes active
• Growth hormone treatment – Injects hormones into your child’s body to treat short stature
• Insulin pump – Acts like a pancreas by delivering timely, precise doses of insulin to your child’s body 24/7 through a small device
• Stimulation testing – Induces certain glands to release hormones and then measures the amount of hormones secreted to see how well the glands work
• Thyroid nodule removal – Eliminates lumps on the thyroid gland that make it harder to swallow or breathe or that can cause hyperthyroidism
• Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test – Checks TSH levels in your child’s blood to help assess thyroid function

Extensive Diabetes Education

If your child receives a diagnosis of diabetes, learn how to manage the condition with help from Cottage Children's Medical Center’s certified diabetes educators—specialized medical professionals found at only a few health care facilities on the Central Coast.

When you choose Cottage Children's Medical Center for children’s diabetes care, you’ll likely see the same diabetes educator each time you visit our hospital or Pediatric Endocrine and Diabetes Clinic. That means your family gets the best guidance from someone you know and trust. In addition, classes are offered throughout the year will help your family make friends with your peers and learn ways to live well with diabetes.

Coordinated, Multidisciplinary Care Team

Your child will get care from a variety of specialists who understand the unique ways disorders of the endocrine glands affect growing bodies. Your family’s care team will include an endocrinologist and other pediatric professionals, such as:

• Pediatric critical care physicians, or intensivists - Communicates directly with the primary care physician throughout your child’s treatment
• Pediatric registered dietitian – Plans healthy meals and counsels your family on nutrition
• Certified diabetes nurse educators- Give the most up-to-date methods of care for diabetes patients
• Pediatric social workers - Offers counseling and referrals to community resources

Designated Special Care Center (SCC)

The Diabetes and Endocrinology Clinic at Cottage Health holds the designation of Special Care Center (SCC) from the state of California. That means children with acute and chronic conditions can receive comprehensive care—covered by California’s Children’s Services—close to home. Not only can you continue working with your local doctor, but you also benefit from easy access to top-quality treatment, urgent care and follow-up services for complex conditions, all without the need to travel long distances to out-of-area facilities.