Starting the new school year can be chaotic for most, but for parents of children with diabetes, it can be even more challenging. It means planning and preparing teachers and school staff to help keep your child safe during school days and at school-sponsored activities.
Whether your child has had diabetes for years or you are balancing school and diabetes for the first time, the following tips can help you and your child have an enjoyable and safe school year.
Take action. Notify the school right away that your child has diabetes. You don’t need to wait until the first day of school to ask for help. Schools are open over the summer to address any concerns you might have, including the specific needs of your child with diabetes. Share your child’s medical information and provide up-to-date emergency contact numbers. The best time to visit your child’s school is one to two weeks before school opens.
Understand disability laws. “Understanding disability laws for children with diabetes and knowing your child’s rights is crucial,” says diabetes educator, Sylvia White RD, CDE, owner of ParentingDiabetes.com, an educational site for parents of children with type 1 diabetes. Section 504 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is designed to help parents of students with disabilities in public schools, or publicly funded private schools, work with educators to design customized educational plans. These 504 plans legally ensure that students will be treated fairly at school. Diabetes will virtually always be found to be a disability under Section 504. Click here to learn more about School Responsibilities Under Federal Laws.
Develop a Diabetes Medical Management Plan (DMMP). A Diabetes Medical Management Plan is completed by your child’s personal diabetes health care team. The DMMP contains the medical orders for all aspects of your child’s routine and emergency diabetes care. It should be signed by the health care team and submitted to the school nurse at the start of each school year. An updated plan is needed if there are changes in your child’s diabetes care plan during the year. You can find a sample diabetes medical management plan in the Helping the Student with Diabetes Succeedv guide.
Complete your child’s health care plans. Meet with the school nurse to go over your child’s school health care plans.The school nurse will use the medical orders to prepare your child’s Individualized Health Care Plan (IHP) and Emergency Care Plans for Hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) and Hyperglycemia (high blood glucose).
The IHP, sometimes called the nursing care plan, contains the strategies for implementing the medical orders in your child’s DMMP in the school setting. The IHP incorporates an assessment of the school environment as well as student-specific information such as developmental information. The school nurse should review the IHP with you and your child before it is implemented and establish a timeline to periodically review and evaluate progress toward desired health goals throughout the school year.
The Emergency Care Plans for Hypoglycemia and Hyperglycemia is also based on the DMMP. It summarizes how to treat and recognize your child’s symptoms of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, and whom to contact for help. The Emergency Care Plans for Hypoglycemia and Hyperglycemia should be copied and distributed to all school personnel who have responsibility for your child during the school day and during school-sponsored activities. The school nurse should also provide you with completed copies as well.
Educate teachers and school personnel. White says, a medical care plan and 504 plan for children with diabetes must be implemented with the school nurse or personnel, but a parent should also educate teachers and caregivers about diabetes. “Cheat sheets for treating low and high blood sugars are great for a quick reference for teachers, including recognizing symptoms. Treating a low blood sugar is most important because blood sugar can drop suddenly and quickly if untreated, resulting in unresponsiveness and even death,” says White.
Provide the school with needed supplies. “Your child, the teacher, and the nurse need an easy plan with access to supplies. Parents should provide diabetes supply boxes to each teacher, including the gym teacher and librarian. Supply boxes should include snacks for low blood sugar treatment, including items with 15 grams of fast acting carbohydrates such as glucose tablets, hard candies, and juice boxes. Snacks such as peanut butter and crackers should also be included to help sustain blood sugar if a meal is delayed. Also, include water bottles for high blood sugars,” says White. Other supplies to keep in the nurse’s office or other designated area include blood glucose meters, supplies for taking insulin, urine and blood ketone testing and a glucagon kit.
Prepare your child. Preparing both the school and your child can ease your fears and help your child feel confident. While at school children with diabetes should: know whom to contact for help (such as a teacher, nurse, or coach), know how to handle lunchtime and other eating situations, and have all the supplies and snacks needed to manage diabetes easily.
To learn more about keeping your child with diabetes safe in school download the Helping the Student with Diabetes Succeed guide.
Constance Brown-Riggs, MSEd, RD, CDE, CDN is a registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator, national speaker and author of The African American Guide to Living Well with Diabetes.. She is a Dannon One Yogurt Every Day Nutrition Advisor.
By subscribing, you consent to receive emails from BlackDoctor.com. You may unsubscribe at any time. Privacy Policy & Terms of Service.
