Parents of children living with diabetes understand the necessity of effective diabetes management, which is especially important during school hours.
In July, Pennsylvania lawmakers passed a bill that will allow trained non-nursing school staff to provide routine and emergency care to students with diabetes.
This is great news because children—whether they’re diagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes—need supportive, collaborative environments to make sure they receive the best care. Parents, family physicians, school nurses and other administrators must work together to create an effective management plan.
Help keep your child safe at school with these tips for effective management.
- Educate school employees about your child’s condition and health care needs
Develop written plans for your child’s care by working with your family physician and school personnel to outline diabetes medical management, individualized health care, and emergency care plans. These plans make it clear how your child should receive care. Include information on blood glucose checks, insulin administration, approved snacks and meals, and emergency procedures and contact information. - Provide diabetes equipment to school personnel
Provide the school nurse or other approved faculty member with your child’s necessary equipment, such as an insulin pump, and include instructions for use and dosage. - Educate your child about his or her hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia symptoms
Talk with your child about how to recognize the symptoms and what to do if he or she begins to experience any of the symptoms. Write down a list and provide a copy to your child, teachers, and the school nurse.
For more management tips, visit the American Diabetes Association Safe at School campaign.
You can also visit www.jdrf.org for more information on juvenile diabetes.