Diagnostics/Consulting for Your Patients
The diagnostic and clinical services of the University of Chicago Kovler Diabetes Center are available to complement the care that you provide to your patients with insulin-dependent diabetes.
We work in a supportive, consultative role to help assure the best outcomes for your patients. Physicians and other providers from the University of Chicago Diabetes Center collaborate with referring physicians to address the challenges of managing this complex disease and minimizing its devastating complications.
As a comprehensive center focused on the many dimensions of diabetes, the University of Chicago Diabetes Centers brings an array of clinical and scientific resources that are out of reach to most community-based physicians. Our primary team includes physicians specializing in endocrinology, nephrology, podiatry, ophthalmology and neurology; scientists; a nurse practitioner with advanced training in diabetes; registered dietitians; certified diabetes educators; a social worker, and fellow physicians - all with targeted expertise in diabetes. As needed to meet a patient's specific needs, we turn to the expertise of University of Chicago specialists in cardiovascular disease, nephrology, orthopedics, bariatric surgery, vascular surgery and transplantation.
Working within a team environment that fosters inter-communication, these specialists collectively address each patient's diverse health issues. The team's recommendations are based on a thorough understanding of multiple factors, issues and complications related to diabetes.
Advanced Diagnostics
Identifying the genetic and molecular basis of an individual's diabetes is an important step toward effectively managing the disease. Through extensive testing and analysis, we refine patients' diagnoses by identifying genetic abnormalities ("anomalies") or other factors to pinpoint the precise nature of an individual's disease.
Research, Innovation and Leading-Edge Therapies
Translational research plays a pivotal role in improving treatment options for managing diabetes. As one of only five NIH-designated Diabetes Research and Training Centers in the U.S., the University of Chicago pursues lab-based research that delves into the basic biology of diabetes - exploring genetics, autoimmunity, insulin resistance, the molecular and biochemical properties of insulin-secreting cells, and the potential for cellular regeneration that may someday make supplementary insulin obsolete.
As one of the nation's leading academic centers for diabetes research and care, we can offer your patients treatment options that you may not yet have access to.
For example, patients here may benefit from application of:
New oral agents, such as sitagliptin phosphate and combination therapy
- GLP-1 agonists
- DPP-IV inhibitors to increase GLP_1 and GIP levels
- A full array of insulin infusion pumps, so that we can select the specific technology that best fits the individual's needs. We have experience with more than 15 different types of insulin pumps now available on the market.
- New glucose sensor technology and monitoring devices, based on our experience with different monitor designs
- Aggressive testing for diabetes-related heart disease, kidney disease and other potential complications
- Clinical trials of new methods for treating and managing type 1 and type 2 diabetes
- Highly individualized treatment protocols, based on thorough analysis of each patient's disease pathogenesis.
