House Bill 470, which seeks to limit gender-affirming care for any Kentuckian under 18, was recently introduced in the Kentucky House. The bill would revoke the license of any provider confirmed to have given gender-affirming care to a minor. Below is the statement Norton Children’s shared with lawmakers at a house judiciary committee hearing on…
Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute has received $500,000 in funding from the James and Judith K. Dimon Foundation. The gift, made to the Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation, will support hiring additional endocrinology specialists to help care for patients with diabetes, especially older children getting ready to transition to adult-based care. This follows an October 2022 gift…
Most people hear about thyroid disorders among adults, but did you know children can have thyroid issues as well? The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the front of the neck. It affects many of the body’s functions and organs and can impact growth, metabolism and sexual development. “Thyroid dysfunction is diagnosed when…
Hypopituitarism is when the pituitary gland, which is located in the brain, is underactive. Most frequently, it does not produce enough of the hormones needed for growth and development. This condition also can impact other functions of the endocrine system, including a child’s blood sugar and blood pressure. “Hypopituitarism can cause poor growth as well…
After your child receives a Type 1 diabetes diagnosis, you may wonder, “What about school?” Developing a Section 504 plan for diabetes that formalizes your child’s needs is part of federal law that gives students the right to receive the diabetes care they need to be safer and participate in school activities. 504 plan for…
Prediabetes in kids is on the rise in the U.S., and the numbers are concerning. Nearly 1 in 5 adolescents, ages 12-18, are living with prediabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prediabetes is the precursor of Type 2 diabetes. It happens when a child’s blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but…
Preventing or delaying the onset of Type 2 diabetes in children can include small, simple changes to increase daily physical activity and eat a healthier diet. Even a small amount of weight loss can help prevent or delay diabetes. In Kentucky, 23.8% of kids ages 10 to 17 are obese. That’s the highest obesity rate…
Does COVID-19 affect diabetes? COVID-19 can increase the risks of diabetes complications. Although children with diabetes are not more likely to get COVID-19 because of their condition, it can lead to other health concerns. Viral infections and high blood sugar also can cause inflammation in diabetes patients, which contributes to more serious illness and diabetes-related…
Trey Adams is an active 11-year-old. He competes nationally in taekwondo and various styles of dance and practices one or the other pretty much every day. A little more than year ago, Trey started wetting the bed. When he went with his mother to his pediatrician to find out what was going on, a finger-prick…
Norton Children’s Hospital has achieved a national certification for inpatient diabetes care. Norton Children’s is the first pediatric hospital in the country to receive it. Inpatient diabetes care is provided by the pediatric specialists with the Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute. Specifically, the hospital received the certification for its glycemic management program. Glycemic management is the…
Norton Children’s Hospital and the Lift a Life Novak Family Foundation today announced the creation of the Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute. A $15 million lead gift from the Lift a Life Novak Family Foundation is the starting point of a $60 million vision to expand diabetes care for children and adults, as well as build…
Treating diabetes with food When it comes to managing diabetes, medications and insulin aren’t the only ways to help. Food can be an effective form of diabetes treatment, according to Morgan Kopka, RDN, L.D., a diabetes educator with Norton Children’s Endocrinology, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine. The latest research shows combining so-called “culinary medicine”…