For a child with diabetes, school is not only a place to learn about history, math and reading, but it’s also a critical opportunity to learn how to manage their diabetes in an environment supervised by responsible adults. Unfortunately, many school staff members are not familiar with the disease and the care needed, which puts parents in the role of educator and advocate. By getting involved early, you can ensure that your child remains healthy and able to participate in normal school activities, help keep classroom disruptions to a minimum, and make sure everyone is prepared should an emergency occur.
Protect Your Child’s Rights to a Healthy Education
Making sure school-age children with diabetes get access to treatment starts with proper communication. The first step is to file the correct paperwork with the school, including a copy of your child’s Diabetes Medical Management Plan, or an order signed by your child’s doctor. This official health care document ensures all parties agree to how your child’s illness will be managed. In addition, parents should also be proactive about meeting with school personnel, especially teachers and medical staff, such as the school nurse. In many cases, parents will need to “teach the teacher” as to what is required on a day-to-day basis, including the need to test blood sugar levels and having unrestricted access to water or snacks if required.
Be Specific and Clear in Your Instructions
Leave nothing to chance. In addition to the official plan, consider preparing a one-page instruction sheet for your child’s primary teacher to detail your expectations regarding:
Blood sugar monitoring– Most school-age children with juvenile diabetes must take their blood sugar levels four or more times a day. If your child is old enough to take their own readings and understand them, the focus is on making sure your child is reminded and allowed to take these readings. For younger children, additional staff training may be required, even if there is a health care employee on site.
Administering insulin– Again, your child’s age and skill level will come into play. Most middle school students will have the skills needed to administer their own insulin, but should always be supervised and provided ample opportunity to visit the clinic or other approved treatment locations when insulin is needed. For younger children, be sure multiple staff members are trained in how to administer insulin.
Lunch schedule and snacks– Another consideration that impacts diabetes management is determining your child’s lunch schedule, especially since many larger schools stagger lunches over several hours. Be sure that teachers, nutritional staff and counselors all understand your child’s specific requirements, and that all team members know your child may occasionally need extra snacks to maintain proper blood sugar levels.
Physical education and exercise– While your child should be able to participate in most physical education and fitness activities, take time to educate gym teachers on the nature of juvenile diabetes. Generally speaking, kids who record a blood sugar level over 240 mg/dl should NOT exercise. This level indicates there is insufficient insulin, and blood sugar could actually rise with an increase in physical activity.
Warning signs– Describe what your child looks and acts like when they are hypoglycemic, so teachers and staff can be ready to identify behavior that indicates a problem.
Support and tools– Be sure to supply your child’s primary teacher or a key staff member with extra snacks, a blood glucose meter and any other equipment that may be needed. These may be stored at the school or brought daily.
Creating an Atmosphere Conducive to Learning
With a proactive approach to managing your child’s diabetes at school, you can help keep distractions to a minimum so your child can focus on getting an education and all the other normal experiences of going to school.
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