The diabetes unit

The diabetes unit was established in 2001 when the Copenhagen Hospital Cooperation (H:S) and Steno Diabetes Center agreed on a new collaborative form. The diabetes unit treats people with diabetes from the H:S catchment area who formally attended the outpatient clinic at Steno Diabetes Center. Their treatment is still managed by staff from Steno, as in accordance with the operational agreement between H:S and Steno.

Personnel
The team in the diabetes unit is made up of a medical secretary, a diabetes specialist nurse, a bioanalyst, a clinical dietician and a chief physician. The secretary and nurse work fulltime in the diabetes unit, whereas personnel from the Steno Diabetes Center rotate between the diabetes unit and Steno Diabetes Center. The purpose is to ensure patients continuity of care, i.e., as far as possible, patients meet the same practitioner at each visit.

The same treatments
The diabetes unit and the outpatient clinic at Steno Diabetes Center have the same treatment aims; they also offer the same approach to diabetes management and the same treatment options. People with type 1 diabetes and those with type 2 diabetes attend the unit for regular check-ups with both a doctor and nurse and once a week with a clinical dietician as well. The diabetes unit uses electronic patient medical records.

Rigshospitalet’s eye clinic has facilities in the diabetes unit where photoscreening for diabetes-related eye changes is done; other examinations are done in Rigshospitalet’s eye department. Investigation of symptoms of diabetic complications is done in the clinical physiology department in Rigshospitalet. All patients in outpatient care in the diabetes unit may use Steno’s 24-hour telephone service. If hospitalisation is necessary, it is at Steno Diabetes Center.