First, we will assign your child an entire team of healthcare professionals to help teach the basics of diabetes and how to manage the condition. Our team includes a physician, nurse, dietitian, and care ambassador who will be in contact with you regularly to ask how things are going.

Any child or teen age 18 or under is eligible if they’ve had diabetes for less than two years. We also welcome children age 18 or under who have had diabetes longer than two years, but haven’t received care at Joslin.

We can help arrange referrals and work with your insurance company, so your child can be seen at Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston. 

• Care by our pediatric endocrine specialists
• Education by certified diabetes educators
• Services of a care ambassador to help the entire family with any diabetes-related issues that arise
• Routine laboratory work
• Round-the-clock access to the healthcare team
• Regular communication with the child’s primary care provider
• Access to our health services, including eye, kidney, and mental health specialists
• Help getting insurance coverage for necessary diabetes supplies and services

The JumpStart Program does not include:

• Costs of hospitalizations, certain procedures, and specialty services not offered at Joslin Diabetes Center.
• Care for medical problems unrelated to diabetes.
• Hotel or travel expenses (although we can help arrange local transportation).
• Cost of diabetes supplies, including meters, strips, syringes, insulin pumps (although we will try to work with companies that sell these supplies to provide treatment-related supplies that are needed).
• Co-payments required by your healthcare insurer.