Deepa Mathew, DO, understands the challenges a child’s diabetes diagnosis poses for a family. When she was 17, her 8-year-old sister was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes.

Her family absorbed everything the caring and knowledgeable healthcare professionals had to teach. Soon, with the help of her family, her sister learned to manage her disease.

Today, she is a nurse.

Meanwhile, the experience inspired Dr. Mathew to become a pediatric endocrinologist. She and pediatric endocrinologist Pamela Abrams, MD, work closely with pediatric diabetes nurse educators and nutritionists at St. Luke’s Pediatric Endocrinology in Center Valley to provide expert care for children and adolescents with diabetes.

In addition, they diagnose and treat other conditions related to hormones and the glands that produce them, such as growth and puberty.

“My goal is to provide children and their families with the tools, knowledge and support they need for a successful and healthy life,” Dr. Mathew said. “Being diagnosed with diabetes can be overwhelming. Living with it requires hard work. Because of my family’s experience, I feel a special connection with children with diabetes and their families and empathize with their challenges. You can’t take a vacation from diabetes; it’s something you cope with every day. But fortunately, you can live a full, happy life. My sister is proof.”

Diabetes is a group of diseases that affect how the body uses blood sugar (glucose), an essential energy source for cells that make up muscles and tissue. Glucose is the brain’s primary fuel source. Too much sugar in the blood can lead to serious health problems.

Type 1, also known as juvenile diabetes, is the most common type affecting children. The pancreas no longer produces insulin needed to survive. Type 1 diabetes patients must replace insulin. Today, many patients use an insulin pump, rather than a needle and syringe. In addition, continuous glucose monitors measure blood sugar every few minutes and send information about glucose levels, reducing finger sticks.

“Fortunately, over the past several years, life-enhancing treatments and devices have made living with all types of diabetes easier,” she said.

Also known as insulin-resistance diabetes, type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder, in which insulin production slows down over time. Unlike type 1, patients can manage and sometimes even reverse their insulin dependence with increased activity and a healthy diet.

Because Dr. Mathew sees patients frequently over many years, she develops close relationships with them. She recalls a nine-year-old baseball player who, when first diagnosed, worried he’d miss the spring season.

Mathew and her colleagues gave his family the knowledge and support needed to enable him to participate. Months later, his mother commented how grateful they were that he could play with his friends.

“What we do by showing our patients a little patience and support is incredibly meaningful and appreciated,” she said.

St. Luke’s Pediatric Endocrinology is at the Pediatric Specialty Center - the region’s only freestanding facility dedicated entirely to kids. For an appointment, call 484-658-KIDS (5437).