My name is Corey, and I'm a patient at the Children's Hospital Diabetes Clinic. I want to tell you what a typical visit to the Diabetes Clinic is like for me.

I am going to the clinic today to get a check-up. I have to visit the clinic once every three or four months so my team can check my blood sugars and make sure I'm still healthy. I have diabetes, which means my pancreas (an organ in my body) does not produce insulin to make me feel good, so I have to take insulin shots to feel better. When I go to the clinic, I get to see a lot of different people who are on my team, including my doctor (a pediatric endocrinologist), a nurse educator, a dietitian, a social worker, a child life specialist and some other people. And all of them are really nice!

Before I get to my room, Kesha checks my height and weight (without my shoes, of course) to see how much I've grown. Kesha also measures my temperature and blood pressure with a special machine that "hugs" my arm. Then she takes me to my room.

I only wait a few minutes, and I have another visitor -- a lab technician named Ben, who comes to take a sample of my blood. While I am waiting for my nurse to come and visit, the child life specialist, Melissa, brings in a toy cart. I get to play a game. It's fun!

Nurse Sara comes in next. I give Sara my meter, a small computer that I use every day to measure the amount of sugar in my blood. Sara takes my meter and copies all of the measurements from the past three months into a computer for her records. Cathy, the clinical nurse specialist, comes in next to make sure I am giving myself shots correctly. I have to take shots every day to help control my blood sugar. If I don't, my blood sugar will get very high and make me sick.

Some of my friends have recently begun using insulin pumps. The insulin pump is a new way of giving them the insulin they need every day to stay well. Because of the pump, they don't have to give themselves insulin shots anymore.

I am ready for the next person to visit -- I have worked very hard to make a meal plan for myself. I have to be careful about what I eat; if I eat too much or not enough, I feel sick. When I have a copy of my meal plan ready for Linda, the nutritionist, to look at, I get a special prize. I have my meal plan ready, with colored pictures and stickers, so today I get a coloring book! We talk about what I've been eating, and she says I am making good food choices.

Now it is time for my friend Elizabeth, who is a social worker. Elizabeth talks with me about any problems that I have at school or home dealing with my diabetes. I don't usually have any problems. My teachers at school are very nice and understand that I can get very sick. And at home, my mom is always helping me out by preparing my shots and cooking good, healthy meals.

The last person I get to see is my doctor, who is a pediatric endocrinologist (that just means he is a special doctor who helps kids with diabetes). He reviews my blood test results and my blood sugar measurements from the past few months. This helps him to know when I need more insulin. This month he does not change my insulin. When my doctor leaves, Sara comes in and tells me if my doctor or nutritionist has made any changes to what I have to do every day. Sara also helps Mom pick a day and time for my next visit to the Diabetes Clinic.

After we make my next appointment, Mom and I are on our way home.