"When I was asked to bring everybody I lived with for my first visit, I felt really good about that. I liked having my husband involved so that information wasn't just coming from me."

The special focus on families makes the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center unique among diabetes treatment facilities. The Center encourages all family members of the patient to participate in the education and treatment process. Parents, spouses, children, siblings and other family members and friends are encouraged to accompany patients to consultation visits. Having family and friends working together with the Center's caregivers helps patients prevent the serious complications that can arise from diabetes.

"Our experience shows that the management of diabetes can be improved dramatically if family members understand the disease and are able to help," says Dr. Robin Goland, Director of the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center.