Care Ambassadors
Every new pediatric patient with diabetes who comes to Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston for care is assigned a "care ambassador." A care ambassador has been specially trained to help families navigate the health care system and provide diabetes management support. Your care ambassador will meet with you at each health care visit and help you in between visits with questions, problems or any resources you need.
The first year after diabetes is diagnosed is particularly challenging for families. There is so much to learn and many adjustments to make. Diabetes requires frequent blood glucose checks and multiple injections, taking into account meal planning and exercise. Children’s school and activity schedules tend to vary daily, which adds to the challenge.
Better Results
Your care ambassador will regularly call you to see how your family is doing. The goal is to help families identify small issues before they become bigger problems.
Research has shown that children and teens with type 1 diabetes with care ambassador support services are over three times more likely to improve their blood glucose levels than those who received standard care. They come for more clinic appointments; have fewer episodes of severe hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), and fewer emergency room visits or hospitalizations.
Poor blood glucose control increases the likelihood of developing serious complications like blindness and heart disease later in life. It is extremely important to start good diabetes care early and make it a lifelong habit.
JumpStart to Lifelong Health
The care ambassador model is a key feature of JumpStart, which provides free care to newly diagnosed children or teens with either type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes. We want to make sure that every child or teen gets off on the right track. The pay-off is a lifetime of better health.
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