Diabetes

New Patient Appointment or 214-645-8300

Diabetes specialists at UT Southwestern Medical Center provide expert, compassionate care in one of the nation's leading health care facilities, skillfully working to help patients effectively control their diabetes and reduce or eliminate potential complications.

U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals for diabetes and endocrinology care

Nationally Ranked in Diabetes Care

UT Southwestern Medical Center is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation's top 20 hospitals for diabetes and endocrinology care.

Multidisciplinary Care for Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease characterized by high blood glucose (blood sugar) levels. People with diabetes have high blood sugar because their bodies don’t produce enough insulin – the hormone that turns nutrients into energy – or because their cells don’t respond to the insulin that is produced.

Undiagnosed and untreated, diabetes can result in cardiovascular disease, kidney damage, stroke, amputations caused by diabetic foot conditions, and blindness due to diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetes has become an epidemic in the U.S., where more than 30 million people – nearly one in 10 – are believed to be affected. About 25% of people with diabetes don’t know they have it, and among people 18 years old and older, an estimated 84 million have prediabetes.

At UT Southwestern, we have the knowledge and experience to accurately diagnose and effectively manage diabetes. Our specialists evaluate and care for people with all types of diabetes and diabetes-related concerns. In addition, our dedicated Diabetes Management Program offers patients and families comprehensive diabetes education, including programs in both English and Spanish.

From initial consultation through long-term follow-up care, our patients receive comprehensive treatment and education for effective diabetes management.

Diabetes Management and Education

Diabetes education makes a significant difference in helping patients and caregivers properly manage the disease and avoid related illnesses. UT Southwestern’s Diabetes Management Program offers a wide variety of educational programs for people with diabetes.

Available in both English and Spanish, our diabetes education programs include:

Diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes)
Insulin initiation
Insulin pump program
Renal program

A physician’s referral is needed to participate in the program, and we provide updates to referring physicians about their patients’ progress. Insurance coverage must be verified prior to scheduling. Group and individual appointments are available Monday through Friday.

Our Research

UT Southwestern's Touchstone Diabetes Center is devoted to the study of the cells and tissues that contribute to or are affected by diabetes and diabetes-related diseases.

Our investigators conduct both basic and clinical research in an effort to better understand the impact of diabetes and obesity on cardiovascular disease and cancer. They work in tandem with our clinicians to bring the most current medical advances to patients.

A UT Southwestern study, for example, revealed the safety and impressive effectiveness of a “triple therapy” using insulin, metformin, and a thiazolidinedione drug. This combination provides outstanding blood sugar control without weight gain, a common side effect of Type 2 diabetes drug therapies. Effectively controlling blood sugar dramatically reduces the risk of developing serious diabetes-related complications.

Additionally, UT Southwestern researchers identified a gene variant that may serve as an important genetic marker in identifying people at risk for Type 2 diabetes. The findings could enable more effective diabetes screening techniques and allow people to make important lifestyle changes that could help prevent the onset of diabetes.