Our highly experienced diabetes specialists, nurse practitioners, certified diabetes educators, dietitians, and other specialists are skilled in treating the complex needs of diabetes patients, and use a coordinated approach to help you live life to the fullest. ### Clinical Diabetes Program - [Contact Us](#contact-us) - [Specialty Clinics](#specialty-clinics) - [Treatments & Services](#treatments-services) - [Our Team](#our-team) - [Patient Resources](#patient-resources) - [Additional Information](#additional-information) - [Research Overview](#research-overview) ## Contact Us [ 732 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA 02118 2nd Floor BMC, Preston Family Building ](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/732+Harrison+Ave,+Boston,+MA+02118) [617.638.7470](tel:617.638.7470) Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. [ ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/c83f92e3-15e1-4e47-b414-b196caa1fbe3/Preston_wide_project2?io=transform:fill,width:300,height:200&format=jpg) ](/visiting-us/preston-family-building) ## Specialty Clinics [### Endocrinology A program providing diabetes and endocrine care, including management of diabetes and conditions affecting the thyroid, adrenal glands, bone health, and hormones, with testing, imaging, education, and long-term support. ](/departments/endocrinology) ## Treatments & Services ### Gestational Diabetes Care Patients with diabetes during pregnancy will be supported through close management during pregnancy and immediately after delivery, to reduce the risk of complications to the mother and baby. This special program is led by obstetricians and is designed for mothers who develop diabetes during pregnancy (a condition called gestational diabetes) and those women who have diabetes before they become pregnant. The visits may involve seeing an endocrinologist, dietitian, or both. Medications, meal plans and exercises will be personalized to best fit the patient’s lifestyle and blood sugar patterns. [Read more](/content/gestational-diabetes-care) ### Inpatient Diabetes Support Clinical research has identified hyperglycemia (high blood glucose or blood sugar) as a factor that increases length of stay, hospital complications, and even inpatient mortality. The inpatient program is designed to meet current national standards for glycemic control in hospitalized patients, for those with known diabetes, and those with newly identified hyperglycemia. The team can initiate insulin therapy in the hospital if appropriate, teaching all the necessary skills for independent management. The team of endocrinologists and nurse practitioners follow patients throughout their stay. The goal of the program is to improve the transition from inpatient care to outpatient care while designing an individualized regimen. [Read more](/content/inpatient-diabetes-support) ## Our Team ### Diabetes Doctors ### [Asem H. Ali, MD](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/asem-h-ali-md) Endocrinologist ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/8af97b75-7c93-481e-9b72-a6e1c27e77ad/Asem-Ali_840_2x3?io=transform:fill,width:333,height:500&format=jpg) ### [Mirian Barrientos, NP](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/mirian-barrientos-np) ![Placeholder image for doctor](/themes/custom/bmc_base_theme/assets/images/placeholders/headshoticon-v2.svg) ### [Michael C. Cheney, MS, NP, CDCES](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/michael-c-cheney-ms-np-cdces) Nurse Practitioner; Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/3a5074e3-2f60-4053-ae19-e636820b0bec/Cheney_Michael-jpg?io=transform:fill,width:333,height:500&format=jpg) ### [Kathryn L Fantasia, MD, MSc](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/kathryn-l-fantasia-md) Endocrinologist ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/4b72ad0c-ac99-44d3-b740-588c31be4a0d/Fantasia_Kathryn-jpg?io=transform:fill,width:333,height:500&format=jpg) ### [Samar Y. Hafida, MBCCh](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/samar-y-hafida-mbcch) Endocrinologist and Weight Management Specialist ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/1a5554a6-8883-4038-b131-686cacae1501/Samar-Hafida?io=transform:fill,width:333,height:500&format=jpg) ### [Johanne Jeudy, NP](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/johanne-jeudy-np) ![Placeholder image for doctor](/themes/custom/bmc_base_theme/assets/images/placeholders/headshoticon-v2.svg) ### [Katherine L. Modzelewski, MD](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/katherine-l-modzelewski-md) Endocrinologist ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/6ef3d4a9-c4e5-4e14-b293-a13a76fdc5d3/Modzelewski-Katherine?io=transform:fill,width:333,height:500&format=jpg) ### [Ivania M. Rizo, MD](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/ivania-m-rizo-md) Endocrinologist; Director of Obesity Medicine ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/a7e4fac7-3328-4c4a-82c2-0a62e14f443e/Ivania-Rizo?io=transform:fill,width:333,height:500&format=jpg) ### [Devin W. Steenkamp, MBChB](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/devin-w-steenkamp-mbchb) Endocrinologist ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/7adfb3d0-0591-409c-9493-c409a4163d1c/Steenkamp-Devin?io=transform:fill,width:333,height:500&format=jpg) ### [Catherine A. Sullivan, MD](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/catherine-sullivan-md) Endocrinologist ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/1d077ebf-17ba-466e-981a-102c7295da37/Sullivan_Catherine?io=transform:fill,width:333,height:500&format=jpg) ### [Howard Wolpert, MD](https://www.bmc.org/about-us/directory/doctor/howard-wolpert-md) ![Placeholder image for doctor](/themes/custom/bmc_base_theme/assets/images/placeholders/headshoticon-v2.svg) ## Patient Resources [### Diabetes Resource Center ](/diabetes-resource-center) ## Additional Information [Insulin](/diabetes/insulin-OLD) [Managing Hypoglycemia](/diabetes/managing-hypoglycemia) [The Plate Method for Diabetes](/diabetes/plate-method-diabetes) ## Research Overview ### Our Research Team The diabetes research unit is composed of an interdisciplinary team engaged in basic, translational, and clinical diabetes research. The department is engaged in a number of research studies, many sponsored by the pharmaceutical industry, which aim to help develop more effective treatment and management options for patients with diabetes. **Research interests of our team include:** diabetes types 1 and 2, atypical diabetes, MODY, inpatient diabetes management, and diabetes pathophysiology and the role of T cells. For more information, visit Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine’s [Diabetes Research](http://www.bumc.bu.edu/endo/research/diabetes/) page. ### Clinicians Kathryn Fantasia, MD [Katie Modzelewski, MD](https://www.bumc.bu.edu/busm/profile/katherine-modzelewski/) [Devin Steenkamp, MBChB](http://www.bumc.bu.edu/busm/profile/devin-steenkamp/) [Catherine Sullivan, MD](https://www.bumc.bu.edu/busm/profile/catherine-sullivan/) ### Basic Science Investigators [Jude Deeney, PhD](https://www.bumc.bu.edu/busm/profile/jude-deeney/) [Hans Dooms, PhD](https://www.bumc.bu.edu/busm/profile/hans-dooms/) ### Research Support Staff Asya Sullivan Robert Seitter Astrid Atakov Castillo Kati Swift ### Ongoing Studies *None currently.* ### Previous Studies *Please click on the study title for more information.* **SWITCH PRO (Novo Nordisk)** This clinical trial is comparing the effect of insulin degludec and insulin glargine. Participants will first go through a 4-week screening and run-in period. If eligible to continue in the study, participants will be treated with insulin degludec (100 U/mL) and insulin glargine (100 U/mL) during two different periods each of 18 weeks duration. Both medicines are approved for use in humans and available on the market. In order to evaluate changes in blood sugar level over time while being treated with the two different insulins, participants will be asked to wear a small blood sugar sensor on the back of their upper arm 3 times during the study. **GAZELLE** If you are an adult between ages 18 and 65 living with type 1 diabetes you may be eligible to take part in the GAZELLE clinical research trial. This trial will look at an investigational fast-acting insulin to see if it works as effectively as an existing fast-acting insulin already being used to treat diabetes. Trial-related medications, procedures, equipment and supplies will be provided at no cost; health insurance is not required to participate. **INSTRIDE 4** The INSTRIDE 4 Study is looking at the ways the investigational insulin works to control blood sugar levels in patients with Type 1 Diabetes and to check how safe they are. All participants in this study receive the potentially long-acting investigational medication, in addition to an FDA-approved, rapid-acting insulin at mealtimes. Approximately 200 people are participating in this study internationally. The study is about 26 weeks (6 months) long. **PIONEER 2** Boston Medical Center was one of hundreds of sites to conduct the second phase 3a trial with oral semaglutide for treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes. Oral semaglutide is a new GLP-1 analogue taken once daily as a tablet. The 52-week, open label trial investigated the efficacy and safety of 14 mg oral semaglutide compared with 25 mg empagliflozin in 816 people with type 2 diabetes, inadequately controlled on metformin. The confirmatory endpoints were defined after 26 weeks of treatment. Read their [full results announcement](https://www.novonordisk.com/media/news-details.2195846.html). **Linagliptin Inpatient Trial** Full title: A Randomized Controlled Trial on the Safety and Efficacy of Linagliptin (Tradjenta®) Therapy for the Inpatient Management of General Surgery Patients with Type 2 Diabetes. This study compared linagliptin (a once-daily diabetes pill) plus as-needed rapid insulin shots vs. long acting insulin glargine plus scheduled rapid insulin shots for the treatment of diabetes patients after they have surgery. Approximately 280 participants from 4 United States medical centers participated. **Linagliptin Outpatient Trial** Full title: The safety and efficacy of Linagliptin (Tradjenta®) therapy for an A1c directed post-discharge management algorithm of general surgery patients with type 2 diabetes: Only those individuals who completed the Linagliptin Inpatient Trial were invited to participate in this extended study. This study compared the effect of Linagliptin (diabetes pill) with insulin shots for the treatment of diabetes after participants left the hospital. **Technology usage among patients in the Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes, Nutrition and Weight Management** The purpose of this survey was to characterize the patient population of the BMC Endocrinology, Diabetes, Nutrition and Weight Management Clinic. We sought to dispel myths about technology access and usage among our patients. The survey was adapted from Pew Research Center’s technology questionnaire and their data. The survey contained questions about internet usage, device ownership, preferred communication methods, use of technology for health, social media usage, and optional demographic information. ### Contact Us **Patients and visitors:** If you are interested in hearing about studies that you may be able to participate in, please consider [enrolling in the ENDO Registry](https://redcap.bumc.bu.edu/surveys/?s=9NH9TLXJWA). Alternatively, you may email or call [617.638.5906](tel:617.638.5906). Are you interested in learning more about clinical research? Please explore [Clinical Research Basics](http://www.bumc.bu.edu/endo/research/clinical-research-basics/).