LIFT-YA Program

We’d like to help you get where you want to be with diabetes. There is a program at Joslin Diabetes Center that can give you more frequent appointments, more focus on setting goals and overcoming barriers, and help organizing the logistical side of your care.

LIFT-YA is a pathway of care within Joslin’s Young Adult Program that is open to patients with type 1 diabetes who want to improve their glucose control and quality of life. It offers visits with a team of clinicians who understand the young adult stage of life. It also gives patients a centralized peer contact who can help with following through on things you discuss at appointments.

LIFT-YA is for people: 

• Age 18-34
• With type 1 diabetes
• Whose diabetes isn’t optimally managed right now
• And who can commit to appointments with their team, some virtual and some onsite, every few weeks for about 6 months

The LIFT-YA team includes:

• Elena Toschi, MD is the director of the Young Adult Program. She focuses on improving the care and outcomes of people with type 1 diabetes through developing new ways to educate them, guiding their decision-making processes around daily diabetes tasks, and helping them take advantage of insulin pump and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology as part of their self-management.
• Giulio Romeo, MD is the Associate Medical Director of the Adult Diabetes clinic at Joslin. He studies how people become resistant to insulin leading up to their potential diagnosis of diabetes and is also interested in the relation between diabetes and problems with the heart and blood vessels. He is part of the Young Adult Program and has great understanding of pump and CGM use, physical activity, and challenges faced by young adults with T1D.
• Jennie Votta, DNP, NP-C is a Doctor of Nursing Practice who is especially interested in nutrition and exercise. She is knowledgeable about diabetes technologies and is always striving to improve the quality of life for those living with diabetes. She enjoys helping patients create and work towards personal goals for their diabetes management that take into account the demands of everyday life.
• Chelsey Gibson, BSN, RN provides education and self-management support for people living with diabetes. Gibson is a part of the Young Adult Program as well as the Joslin inpatient consult team. She emphasizes individualized care and strives to empower patients by providing them with the appropriate tools to succeed in their daily management.
• Madeline Bennetti manages the Young Adult Program and coordinates patients’ transitions from pediatric to adult care. She enjoys educating peers about how to navigate the healthcare system with diabetes. She helps facilitate Joslin’s group programs for Young Adults and is interested in helping patients meet others with T1D.

Email LIFT-YA [at] joslin.harvard.edu to inquire about the program and see if it’s a good fit for you.

FAQs for Prospective Patients

• Is this just for people with type 1 diabetes? No, patients with all types of diabetes are well-served in the Young Adult Program. The only exception is diabetes in pregnancy – that is a separate special clinic at Joslin. Our support group and intensive program is currently just for those with type 1 though. We are working on developing more ways to support young people with T2D.
• I turned 18, do I have to switch to an adult provider now? Not usually! The average age that patients transition from their pediatric care team into this program is 24. Joslin’s pediatrics department sees many patients through their college years.
• I live far away, can I be seen virtually? Joslin isn’t able to provide exclusively virtual care. Young Adult patients commit to traveling to Boston for at least some appointments.
• Will I have to switch from Young Adult to Adult? No, this program is within the Adult Diabetes clinic at Joslin. Your care team won’t change due to turning 30.
• How do I start my transition? Email youngadult [at] joslin.harvard.edu or call Joslin’s scheduling office at 617.309.2440.

FAQs for Existing Patients

• Whom do I contact for a prescription refill, question or issue? Joslin’s Adult Diabetes clinic phone number 617.309.2400 reaches Medical Office Coordinators who handle clinical matters and get requests to the right provider if needed. You can also use the patient portal if it isn’t time-sensitive.
• How do I book my follow-up appointments? Call Joslin’s centralized scheduling office at 617.309.2440.
• I go to a provider that isn’t listed here, am I not in the Young Adult Program? You are! All providers at Joslin can see Young Adult patients. Sometimes due to fit and availability, someone else is better for you who isn’t listed above. All the benefits of the Young Adult Program are still available to you.
• Is there a way for me to get additional support and coordination of care? Yes. Check out the LIFT-YA program (Leveraging Intensive Follow-up Treatment for Young Adults).