Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center at Columbia University Medical Center

Happy Father's Day! Here is a wonderful story about the Berrie Center's very own father-daughter dynamic duo, Dr. Rudy Leibel and Dr. Natasha Leibel!

Father-Daughter Science+Medicine Super-Duo Inspires on Father’s Day 🌟👨‍🔬👩‍⚕️

Meet Dr. Rudy Leibel and Dr. Natasha Leibel, the extraordinary father-daughter stars of Columbia University Irving Medical Center - pictured above at Natasha’s medical school graduation in 1998. Working in parallel at the forefront of science and medicine, they've dedicated their careers to improving the treatment of patients with and while drawing inspiration from each other for decades.

Dr. Rudy Leibel is a world-renowned scientist and the co-discoverer of leptin, the hormone in fat that has revolutionized our understanding of metabolism. Dr. Leibel’s co-discovery of this hormone in the 1990s was a key step in a long line of observations and research that ultimately led to the development of the recent headline-grabbing drugs for obesity such as semaglutide (brand name Ozempic). His more recent work has illuminated the molecular genetics of body weight regulation, a field of outsize importance given the epidemic of obesity in our country.

Dr. Natasha Leibel, an acclaimed pediatric endocrinologist, tirelessly cares for patients with types 1 and 2 diabetes. She and her team are particularly interested in identifying rare forms of the disease. Although only working four floors away, Natasha and Rudy’s work rarely overlaps except in the study of those unusual cases of diabetes that may be due to single gene mutations. In those instances, Natasha turns to Rudy’s expertise as a molecular geneticist and to his elite research team to work out the complex identification of these rare forms of the disease.

Their relationship of mutual learning and inspiration has not only benefited their patients but also the scientific community as a whole. Read more on this extraordinary father-daughter duo, whose impact is sure to be felt for years to come, on our page ➡️ https://bit.ly/42N6uFM

To Dr. Rudy Leibel and all the dads out there, Happy Father's Day!

You can find the Berrie Center team at the Kyler Cares health fair this Saturday, June 1! Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet screenings will be available. We hope you will join us for all things diabetes!

Happy Dog Appreciation Month! Have you met Pushkin, the Berrie Center's amazing pet therapy dog? If you love Pushkin as much as we do, comment below!

The Berrie Center's roster of education classes and support groups addresses the many needs of patients with T1D. Coming up on May 16th is a class for Pregnant and Postpartum Women with Type 1 Diabetes. Please take a look at the schedule and register for a class that works for you! Email [email protected] for more information.

The line up of group classes and support groups at the Berrie Center for 2024 is here! Please note that some diabetes education classes will be billed to your insurance. RSVP to [email protected].

Contact [email protected] for more information!

A discussion not to be missed! Hear from our diabetes experts on Zoom on February 20th from 6-7pm. Registration is free. Click here to register: https://bit.ly/3wbtFyV

The line up of group classes and support groups at the Berrie Center for 2024 is here! Please note that some diabetes education classes will be billed to your insurance. RSVP to [email protected].

The Berrie Center research team will be offering free Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet risk screenings to all eligible family members at our annual Halloween Party & Candy Exchange! Eligible family members are between the ages of 2.5 - 45 years old that have a sibling, parent, or child with type 1 diabetes; and anyone between the ages of 2.5- 20 years old that have a niece, nephew, aunt, uncle, cousin, half-sibling, or grandparent with type 1 diabetes. Look for the research team at the TrialNet table, and feel free to send any related questions to [email protected]!

Join us on November 1st from 4:30-6:30pm for our annual Halloween Party & Candy Exchange. All patients of the Berrie Center and their siblings are invited! RSVP to [email protected]!

Did you know that there is more to diabetes than type 1 and type 2? Researchers at the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center are participating in a national NIDDK-funded research study to better understand rare or atypical forms of diabetes.

If you've ever been told that you don't have the typical features of type 1 or type 2, please reach out to our research specialists at [email protected] to determine if you may be eligible to participate in the RADIANT study.

We are hosting a teddy bear picnic for Berrie Center patients ages 2-5 and their families! Email [email protected] for details!

Risk screening through Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet is offered at no cost to eligible individuals to evaluate their risk of developing . Our team is always ready to help! TrialNet screens can take place at the Berrie Center or in the convenience of your own home. Contact us at 212-851-5425 or [email protected] for more information!

A new study at the Berrie Center called DESIGNATE is testing an investigational drug to see how it preserves beta cell function in people with new onset type 1 diabetes. We are looking for participants between the ages of 18-45 who were diagnosed with within the past 18 months. Please refer to the study website https://www.designate-study.org/ to learn more or send an email to [email protected] to find out if you are eligible.

Joining a clinical trial at the Berrie Center can be a very rewarding experience. According to a current research participant, being in our latest Type 2 Diabetes study PRECIDENTD has been truly positive and informative.

PRECIDENTD is trying to find which of two classes of FDA- approved medications or a combination of the two is better for Type 2 Diabetes and lowering the risk of heart and kidneys diseases.

To find out more about this study please visit: https://precidentd.org/ or send an email to [email protected] to be screened.

We’re looking forward to seeing our Summer Fun participants next week! In addition to the fun activities planned, our research team will be offering free TrialNet diabetes risk screenings every morning at drop-off to family members of those with type 1 diabetes. If you are interested in screening any eligible family members, bring them to the Summer Fun drop-off in the morning, any day between July 17th and July 21st. The research team will have a table set up on the first floor of the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center building. Look for a sign that says “TrialNet”!

Are you a person with diabetes but your symptoms don’t fit the typical pattern of type 1 or type 2? You may be eligible to be a part of the Rare and Atypical Diabetes Network (RADIANT) research study. Learn more about your diabetes and help researchers from across the U.S. better understand all types of diabetes. To learn more and find out if you may be eligible, contact us (see below) or visit atypicaldiabetesnetwork.org.

Did you know Berrie Center researchers are studying how bone health during growth is affected in children with Type 1 Diabetes? You and your child will receive information about the quality and
strength of your child’s bones, as well as a height prediction. For more information please email Dr. Mishaela Rubin at [email protected].

Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet offers free risk screening for those who have a relative with type 1 diabetes. Risk screening uses a simple blood test that can detect your risk of T1D years before symptoms appear. If you are in the early stages of T1D, you may also be eligible for a prevention study. Take the first step and get screened for T1D by contacting our research team or visiting http://trialnet.org/participate!

It's Summer Fun time! Register today to reserve a spot for your child! Email [email protected] for more information!

Heading to college in the Fall? Join us for our annual Taking Diabetes to College Workshop at the Berrie Center on July 26 from 4-6PM. RSVP to [email protected]!

Pediatric families: See below for details on a timely webinar from one of our friends and supporters!

On March 30th, the French-American Aid for Children will present the latest edition of its Child Health Webinar Series. This free webinar will focus on children’s emotional well-being in the post-covid environment. See below for details!

💻 🎧 DON’T MISS IT!

🗓 Please join us on March 30th @ 6:00PM for a one hour FREE Webinar focusing on children’s emotional health.

REGISTER TODAY:
🔗 https://faafc.org/webinars/promoting-your-childs-emotional-well-being/

Prevention and intervention for mental health disorders is critical to help children thrive and schools and after-school programs play a key role in promoting emotional well-being. Over 70% of children who currently receive services do so in a school setting.

Parents and caregivers often struggle to identify if their child needs help. Our panelists will share tips for caregivers on what to look for and how to help their child who may be struggling with a common mental health disorder such as anxiety, depression or ADHD.

Learn more by visiting www.faafc.org

💻 🎧 DON’T MISS IT!

🗓 Please join us on March 30th @ 6:00PM for a one hour FREE Webinar focusing on children’s emotional health.

REGISTER TODAY:
🔗 https://faafc.org/webinars/promoting-your-childs-emotional-well-being/

Prevention and intervention for mental health disorders is critical to help children thrive and schools and after-school programs play a key role in promoting emotional well-being. Over 70% of children who currently receive services do so in a school setting.

Parents and caregivers often struggle to identify if their child needs help. Our panelists will share tips for caregivers on what to look for and how to help their child who may be struggling with a common mental health disorder such as anxiety, depression or ADHD.

Learn more by visiting www.faafc.org

While most forms of diabetes are classified as type 1 or type 2, a greater range of unrecognized types of diabetes likely exists. The Rare and Atypical Diabetes Network (RADIANT) is dedicated to discovering and defining these rarer forms of diabetes. Researchers at the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center are working with this study to better understand atypical forms of diabetes. To learn more and find out if you may be eligible, contact us (see below) or visit atypicaldiabetesnetwork.org. "

Thanks for the Site Spotlight, Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet! Our team is always ready to help! TrialNet screens can take place at the Berrie Center or at your home. Feel free to contact us for more information. See below for details!

The Berrie Center Halloween Candy Exchange Party is back! Join us on Tuesday, November 1st, from 4:30 to 6:00pm EST at the Berrie Center to exchange your Halloween candy for a new toy! This event is open to pediatric patients and families of the Berrie Center only. RSVP required to [email protected]!

Headed to college with T1D? Join us for our annual Taking Diabetes to College Workshop! It will be held via Zoom on Thursday, July 27th from 4-5:30PM. RSVP required to [email protected].

Parents of incoming freshmen are invited to attend a separate Zoom at the same with Dr. Natasha Leibel. Email [email protected] for more information.

Missed Dr. Vargas present on weight gain and childhood diabetes? No problem! Click here to access the recording: https://faafc.org/webinar/an-alarming-rise-in-excess-weight-and-diabetes-in-children-strategies-and-solutions/

Dr. Juliana Cohen, and Dr. Ileana Vargas-Rodriguez talked about the increasing prevalence of chronic conditions in the U.S., where over 14 million children and adolescents are defined as obese. Moreover, an estimated 11.3% of our overall population has been diagnosed with diabetes, including 8.8 million children.

Drawing from their experience treating young patients, Drs. Cohen and Vargas-Rodriguez informed us about the serious short and long-term risks of these diseases. They concluded by sharing practical strategies and resources for families, regarding foods, beverages, and physical activities.

Register today for this free webinar with Dr. Ileana Vargas!

🥦🍎🩺 Can culinary medicine help manage and prevent the onset of ?

Dr Juliana Cohen (nutrition epidemiologist and professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health) and Dr Ileana Vargas (pediatric endocrinologist and leader of a new education program at the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center at Columbia University Medical Center) will provide us with hands-on tips on how to encourage healthier habits and give us the tools to assess if the children in our care are at risk.

🚨DONT MISS this free Webinar: Register today
👉 https://faafc.org/webinar/an-alarming-rise-in-excess-weight-and-diabetes-in-children-strategies-and-solutions/

Thank you to Quinn Roth, her family, and the entire Stars Cheer Classes community for their support of the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center. Read about Quinn and her journey with on our site: https://bit.ly/3foPejT

Anthony Ferrante Jr. Named to New Research Role at Diabetes Center Anthony W. Ferrante Jr., MD, PhD, a longtime faculty member at Columbia, has been appointed associate director of research at the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center.