Pediatric Metabolic Health Program
The Pediatric Metabolic Health Program team includes specialized pediatric physicians, nurses, dietitians, health coaches, and feeding specialists. We are motivated to strategically deliver a comprehensive care plan to children at risk or suffering from metabolic syndrome and other metabolic conditions.
About Metabolic Syndrome
Approximately one in four teenagers suffer from Metabolic Syndrome (MetS). It is one of the leading reasons that children are expected to have a shortened life expectancy, compared to their parents.
MetS can be best treated through early identification. Not only is MetS reversible, but it is also preventable, especially with early, integrative, targeted interventions focused on diet and lifestyle.
Conditions we treat
At Swedish Pediatric Metabolic Health, we are experts at working with children with:
- Hypertension
- Hyperlipidemia, dyslipidemia
- Insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia
- Malnutrition
- Metabolic syndrome (MetS)
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
- Obesity
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
- Prediabetes
In addition, we can coordinate care with specialists for sleep apnea, behavioral health, fitness training, and mindfulness.
Treatments and services
We customize treatment to your child’s unique needs. Your initial visit will be in person while subsequent visits will be a mix of both virtual and in-person appointments.
Our services include:- Comprehensive assessment and treatment plan
- Virtual and in-person visits
- Labs and imaging such as ultrasound on a case-by-case basis
- Endocrinologist to diagnose and treat disorders of the endocrine system
- Gastroenterologist to provide expertise regarding the digestive system
- Nutrition counseling and fitness planning
- Medication management
- Health coaching
In addition, we look forward to partnering with your family in offering community-based, weekend classes on cooking, grocery shopping, nutrition, mindfulness, fitness and health coaching.
FAQs
Treating MetS is most effective when we use an integrated, multidisciplinary approach, with continuity in mind. That’s why we’ve designed a program with six visits arranged in a very deliberate fashion, meant to maximize motivation and success. Our intake coordinator will schedule you and your child for this series of visits. Each visit will include guidance and education about innovative interventions to treat and reverse MetS.
If you can’t commit to all six appointments, speak to your pediatrician about an alternative way to seek care with our specialists one-on-one.
Your child’s six appointments will happen in this order:
- Endocrinologist
- Health coach
- Dietician
- Health coach
- Gastroenterologist
- Health coach
Following your initial visits, we may suggest some additional appointments to best support your child’s individual needs. We will help you coordinate care with our feeding therapist and/or other specialists such as nephrology (for high blood pressure), sleep medicine (for obstructive sleep apnea), and sports medicine, as needed.
We also have two dedicated pediatric nurse navigators who are available to answer your questions throughout the program.
Initial visits will take about an hour. Follow-up appointments will lasting approximately 30 minutes to an hour.
It is important that you arrive on time for your appointment. If you need to cancel or reschedule, please contact us as soon as possible.
Yes. Health coaching visits will mostly be by Zoom or phone. The dietician visits will be a mix of virtual and in person. Your child’s first visit with the physicians will almost always be in person. Follow-up physician visits can be virtual.
After you schedule your child’s appointment, we’ll send you a packet with intake forms. Please fill out these forms before the appointment and bring them with you. Also bring your insurance or Medicaid card, and any additional information you think will help our clinicians better understand your child’s diet, lifestyle and health patterns.
When the assessment is complete, you will receive a customized treatment plan. This plan may include the need for further testing, or additional referrals based on your child’s specific condition. At the end of each visit, you can expect to take home written instructions, to help you follow the plan and recommendations. A summary of the evaluation will also be sent to your child’s primary doctor after each visit.
As the evaluations progress, we’ll share impressions and/or results of medical tests. We have two dedicated pediatric nurses to coordinate care, explain test results, and ensure follow-up plans are clear. We are constantly brainstorming ways to improve how we can serve you and your child better. We hope to offer services like group sessions and classes on weekends, and will share all these updates with you as they are available.