Getting children ready for the first day of school is not always the easiest thing to do. If your child has diabetes, it can become even more complicated. Communication is the most important element in making school a safe place to be. Most school systems have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), a 504 Plan (Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act) or other protocol in place, for children with special needs.
Many schools with these kinds of protocols also offer an opportunity for parents and staff to meet to discuss the needs of the child for the upcoming year. This is a great opportunity for parents to educate all the people who will come in contact with the child during the school day. If your school system does not have an education plan for special needs kids, then asking for this kind of meeting from the school administrators is an appropriate plan of action.
Who are the major people in your child's school day?
- The school principal
- Teachers, including gym teachers, and other specialty teachers
- Coaches and other after-school personnel
- School nurse
- Bus drivers
- Lunchroom workers
What to bring to a meeting:
- Emergency phone numbers
- A glucometer with test strips and extra batteries
- A glucagon kit
- Samples of 15-gram sugar sources
- Dosing regimen and sliding scale, if your child has one
- The kind of insulin delivery system that your child uses, whether an insulin pump, insulin pen or syringe and bottle of insulin.
- If your child wears an insulin pump, it might be helpful for your child to attend the meeting, so everyone can become acquainted with how the pump works.
What to discuss with school personnel?
- Blood glucose monitoring - How to use a glucometer, what kind of supplies are needed, and what the levels mean
- Insulin administration - including doses/injection times prescribed for specific blood glucose values and the storage of insulin.
- Meals and snacks
- Hypoglycemia - what it looks likes, what it feels like for the child, what needs to be done
- Glucagon kit - how to use it, why to use it
- Hyperglycemia - what it looks likes, what it feels like for the child, what needs to be done
- Make sure the teachers know that the child may be using a glucometer in the classroom, because quick monitoring can prevent hypos and hypers
- Arrangement for child to have permission to eat a snack if necessary, even on the school bus, or in gym class
- Blanket permission to use the bathroom and have access to water or other liquids whenever needed
- Permission to visit the school nurse whenever necessary
What to pack for your child everyday:
- Snacks such as juice boxes, 100-calorie packs of crackers, or other single serving snacks
- Insulin delivery system if your child administers his own insulin
- Blood glucose monitor with extra strips, lancets and batteries
- Log book for keeping track of blood sugars
What to keep in the nurse's office:
- 15-gram sugar sources, such as small cans of juice, glucose tablets or gel, hard candies or jelly beans, fruit leathers or dried fruits
- Juice boxes
- Glucagon kit
- Spare syringes, and a spare bottle of insulin
- Extra batteries, strips and lancets
Additional resources:
- How To Use a Glucometer
- How to Give an Insulin Injection
- What is Hypoglycemia?
- What is Hyperglycemia?
- Download a Sample 504 Plan from the ADA
With advance planning and some good communication and coordination, your child's transition back to school can be less stressful for everyone.
Sources:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. National Diabetes Education Program. Helping the Student with Diabetes Succeed: A Guide for School Personnel. 2003.
"Diabetes Management at School." American Diabetes Association. ADA. 30 Aug 2007.
