International recognition for the highest quality of diabetes care at UKBB

When a child is presented to a paediatrician's practice because of severe thirst, frequent urination, tiredness and sudden weight loss, the combination of symptoms quickly leads to a suspicion of type 1 diabetes mellitus. From the moment the child is admitted to the University Children's Hospital Basel (UKBB), an interdisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, diabetes counsellors, nutritionists, social services and psychodiabetologists immediately takes over the assessment and treatment in accordance with international guidelines. Within one to two weeks, the child and parents learn what they need to deal confidently with the diagnosis and reorganise their everyday lives.

However, these first one or two weeks are only the beginning of years of support that extends into early adulthood. The interdisciplinary diabetes team closely supports the families. It advises the children and families during the regular three-monthly medical check-ups, offers training in new technologies and - where necessary - supports the school, carers and environment. This close, continuous support forms the core of the care and is also the basis for the international recognition that the programme has now received.

All recognition criteria fulfilled

Alongside Inselspital, UKBB is one of two SWEET-certified centres in Switzerland. With this recognition, it becomes part of a global network of over 160 centres in 64 countries. The centres learn from each other by comparing treatment results and working on joint research projects in order to continuously develop diabetes care. Only facilities that fulfil all SWEET criteria at the highest level - including

• Comprehensive interdisciplinary care in accordance with international guidelines,
• Structured family, school and neighbourhood training,
• systematic quality control,
• documented and reproducible treatment results,
• Collaboration in international research projects,
• Involvement of parents, patients and interest groups.

In particular, the SWEET report attests to the UKBB's excellent communication with families and emphasises that it plays a leading role in technology-related training by medical professionals.

A joint success for the Basel diabetes team

The path to accreditation began a long time ago. Over more than a decade, the diabetes team led by Prof Gabor Szinnai and PD Dr Marie-Anne Burckhardt at UKBB has continuously developed its structures and interdisciplinary team. «We have established this comprehensive care for many years - and now an international specialist organisation has officially confirmed that we meet global quality standards,» says a delighted Prof. Gabor Szinnai, Head of Endocrinology and Diabetology at UKBB.

He and PD Dr Marie-Anne Burckhardt also emphasise: «Successful diabetes care is always a team effort. Every professional group involved makes a decisive contribution to ensuring that children and their families receive the best possible support. In addition to our internal specialists consisting of diabetes doctors, diabetes counsellors, nutritional counsellors and social counsellors, this also includes specialists from Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Baselland, which significantly complements our psychodiabetological services at UKBB.»

A benefit for children, young people and families in the region

The UKBB cares for around 200 children and adolescents with diabetes, many of them for years and several times a year. This long-term and reliable support ensures that families receive comprehensive and multi-professional support at every stage of the disease - from daycare centre care to school entry and transitions into working life.

From the hospital management's perspective, the award also emphasises UKBB's role in regional healthcare. Prof. Urs Frey, Medical Director of UKBB, says: «The fact that UKBB is one of the SWEET reference centres strengthens our long-term care and confirms our claim to reliably cover complex chronic diseases on an interdisciplinary basis.»