Adult Clinic at BIDMC at Joslin Diabetes Center

Personalized Care for You

In the Adult Clinic at BIDMC at Joslin Diabetes Center, each new patient is assigned to a care team made up of endocrinologists, nurse practitioners, and registered nurses, dietitians and exercise physiologists, all of whom are certified diabetes educators. This multi-disciplinary approach ensure people with diabetes get the most advanced medical care, education and aggressive prevention and management of complications.

Our team works with you to manage your diabetes by creating a personalized care plan, based on your unique health profile and lifestyle. We will work directly with your primary care physician and other healthcare providers throughout your experience at Joslin.

If you’re an adult living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, it’s possible to manage your condition and live a long, healthy life. Patients from all over the world visit the Adult Clinic at BIDMC at Joslin Diabetes Center to manage their condition, prevent complications, and learn the latest wellness techniques.

Your Journey at Joslin

Discover how our patient care approach stands out and why people from all over the world visit Joslin for treatment and ongoing care.

Our doctors rely on several different approaches to diagnose diabetes and prediabetes:

A1C: This test measures your average blood glucose for the past couple of months. It doesn’t require you to fast or drink a special liquid. If you have an A1C of greater than or equal to 6.5%, you will be diagnosed with diabetes.
Fasting plasma glucose (FPG): This diagnostic test requires you to fast for at least eight hours before the test, so it’s usually done in the morning before you eat breakfast. An FPG will test your fasting bloog glucose levels. If your levels are 126 mg/dl or higher, you will be diagnosed with diabetes.
Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT): The OGTT checks your blood glucose levels before and two hours after you drink a special liquid. With this test, your doctor can learn how your body processes glucose. If your two-hour blood glucose level is 200 mg/dl or higher, you will be diagnosed with diabetes.
Random (casual) plasma glucose test: This is a blood test that can be done at any time. Doctors will often order this test for patients with severe diabetes symptoms. If the test reports a blood glucose of greater than or equal to 200 mg/dl, you will be diagnosed with diabetes.

Our treatment approach is different for every patient — and varies depending on whether a patient is diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. That’s because every one of our patients has unique healthcare needs. In general, we we’ve found these techniques help our patients thrive and enjoy better health:

Monitoring blood sugar: We ask our patients to monitor and record their blood sugar throughout the day. This makes sure their blood sugar levels stay in check. We also offer regular A1C testing at our clinic.
Insulin therapy: Many people with type 1 diabetes, as well as some people with type 2 diabetes, need insulin therapy. We offer a range of the latest insulin therapies, and your doctor will work with you to find the right approach.
Medication: Sometimes we prescribe oral or injected medications to support the pancreas and release insulin, or prevent the release of glucose from the liver. Your doctor will talk with you about available medication options and if they’re right for you.
Nutrition counseling: Our team includes a registered dietitian who can prepare a specialized nutrition plan for you. You can work together to understand the types of foods you should eat, how much, and how often.
Exercise plans: Regular exercise can help regulate your blood sugar levels. Plus, exercise can give you more energy and supports your mental wellbeing. An exercise physiologist will prescribe a doable exercise plan that includes activities you enjoy.
Specialty care, when needed: We are in close proximity to some of Boston’s top hospital and specialists. When needed, we partner with experts at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center for bariatric surgery, transplantation, and other specialized care.

Educating patients is a big part of what we do at Joslin. Our experienced nurse educators offer one-on-one consultations with patients, as well as group classes. In our classes, we cover important topics, such as:

The basics of diabetes
Your first steps in living with diabetes
Creating an exercise plan
Healthy foods to eat
How to use an insulin pump
New technologies that treat diabetes
And much more

Our patients become lifelong members of the Joslin family. We work with them throughout their lives to help keep diabetes under control. This starts with careful blood glucose monitoring — both throughout the day and through regular A1C testing.

Because lifestyle changes make a big impact on diabetes, our dietitians and exercise physiologists will help you maintain your health going forward. We’ll recommend adjustments to your exercise routine and diet, as needed, and do everything possible to keep complications at bay.

As a Joslin patient, you’ll be welcomed by our whole team, get to know our staff, and be invited to patient events and activities. Joslin patients receive more than just treatment for diabetes — they experience lifelong support and community.

Adult Care Specialties

Our team works with you to manage your diabetes by creating a personalized care plan, based on your unique health profile and lifestyle.

Diabetic young woman preparing for a run

Young Adult Care

Joslin offers a specialized clinic for young adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The specialists in our Young Adult Clinic understand the unique needs of pre-teens, teens, and younger adults — and customize treatment approaches just for them.

Browse Young Adult Care Services

Pregnancy Program

Having a baby is one of the happiest times in a woman’s life. But, a diagnosis of diabetes can make it more stressful. The team at Joslin treats pregnant women with diabetes so they can enjoy peace of mind during pregnancy and have a healthy baby.

More About Our Pregnancy Program

Senior Black Man Exercising Outdoors with Dumbells

Geriatric Program

Older patients have unique challenges when managing their diabetes. By providing exceptional care, we ensure that you or your loved ones have the tools they need to meet those challenges.

More About our Geriatric Program

Specialty Programs

Joslin offers easy access to leading medical specialists within our center. Our adult care specialty programs include:

Your Care Team

At Joslin, your team has some of the world's top experts, dedicated to curing diabetes and entirely focused on caring for you and your family.

Find an Expert

Diabetes Educator with Joslin AADI patient discussing nutrition.

Managing Your Diabetes

It takes more than medicine to manage diabetes, so we'll partner with you and your family to teach you the tools that will help you for life.

VIEW SUPPORT TO MANAGE YOUR DIABETES

Meet our Specialists

No one has more experience treating diabetes and its complications than the staff of the Joslin Clinic.

Elizabeth Bashoff, MD

Senior Staff Physician

Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Richard Beaser, MD

Senior Staff Physician

Clinical Investigator

Medical Director, Continuing Medical Education

Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Florence Brown, MD

Staff Physician

Co-Director Joslin and BIDMC Diabetes in Pregnancy Program

Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Nuha Ali El Sayed, MD, MMSc

Staff Physician

Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Jason Gaglia, MD, MMSc

Assistant Investigator and Staff Physician

Section Head, Clinical, Behavioral and Outcomes Research

Director of Hood Center for the Prevention of Childhood Diabetes

Co-Director, Clinical Translational Research Core

Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Om Ganda, MD

Clinical Investigator and Senior Staff Physician

Medical Director of the Lipid Clinic

Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Elizabeth Halprin, MD

Staff Physician

Section Chief, Adult Diabetes

Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Osama Hamdy, MD, PhD

Senior Staff Physician

Director of International Medical Affairs

Medical Director, Obesity Clinic Program and Inpatient Diabetes Program

Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School

Susan Herzlinger-Botein, MD

Research Associate and Staff Physician

Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Fioralda Kico, NP

Nurse Practitioner

Cara Kilroy, MSN, ANP-BC

Nurse Practitioner

Maria Koen, FNP

Nurse Practitioner

Joan Larrabee, MD

Staff Physician

Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Roeland Middelbeek, MD

Staff Physician

Assistant Investigator

Associate Program Director, Fellowship in Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, BIDMC-Joslin Diabetes Center

Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Joanna Mitri, MD, MS

Research Associate and Staff Physician

Assistant Professor, Harvard Medical School

Medical Director, Care Advisory and Affiliate Programs

Lyle Mitzner, MD

Staff Physician

Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Medha Munshi, MD

Staff Physician

Director, Geriatric Diabetes Program

Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Nicole Patience, MS, RDN, LDN,CDE, CEDRD

Nutrition Educator

Eating Disorder Specialist

Mary-Elizabeth Patti, MD

Investigator and Staff Physician

Director, Hypoglycemia Clinic

Co-Director, Molecular Phenotyping and Genotyping Core

Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Marilyn Ritholz, PhD

Senior Psychologist

Assistant Professor in Psychology, Harvard Medical School

Giulio Romeo, MD

Assistant Investigator and Staff Physician

Associate Medical Director of the Adult Diabetes Section

Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Sylvia Rosas, MD, MSCE

Investigator and Staff Physician

Director, Latino Kidney Clinic

Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School

Melissa Rubinsky, MSN, AGPCNP-BC, ACNS-BC

Nurse Practitioner

Shanti Serdy, MD

Staff Physician

Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Amanda Sheehan, MSN, FNP-BC, NP-C, RN

Nurse Practitioner

Robert Stanton, MD

Investigator and Staff Physician

Chief, Kidney & Hypertension Section

Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School

William Sullivan, MD

Senior Staff Physician

Medical Director, Joslin Needham Clinic

Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Elena Toschi, MD

Research Associate and Staff Physician

Director, Young Adult Program

Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Mark Williams, MD

Senior Staff Physician

Director of Dialysis

Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School

View More Adult Clinic Specialists

A Joslin patient talking with his doctor.

Becoming a Joslin Patient

Your First Steps

If your primary care physician has diagnosed you with diabetes or prediabetes, you’ve come to the right place. Joslin Diabetes Center is one of the nation’s top institutes for diabetes care, education, and research. Learn what you should expect when you are referred to Joslin — and how easy it is to become a new patient.

To make an adult care appointment, call 617-309-2400 or make an appointment online.