Managing Diabetes in School

The Basics

Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate пїЅ пїЅ

Should I tell the school that my child has diabetes? " пїЅ Yes, let your childs school know right away if he or she has diabetes (or "diabetes mellitus " пїЅ). пїЅ пїЅ

Who will manage my child's diabetes in school? " пїЅ Most likely, 1 main person will help to manage your child's diabetes in school. If your school has a nurse, he or she will be the main person. If not, another staff member can be the main person. If this person does not know how to take care of diabetes, he or she will need to learn how. пїЅ пїЅ

Your child can also help manage his or her diabetes in school. As your child gets older, he or she can do more and more to manage it. But even if your child manages the diabetes on his or her own, a staff member at school should know about it and be ready to help in case of a diabetes emergency. пїЅ пїЅ

What should the school do to manage my child's diabetes? " пїЅ The school should work with you and your child's diabetes team to make a written plan. This plan will list all the ways that the school will manage your child's diabetes. The school should let you know if they have questions about your child's diabetes or if any new problems come up. пїЅ пїЅ

What information should be in my child's school plan? " пїЅ Your child's school plan should have information about how to take care of the diabetes day to day. It should also have information about how to treat problems or emergencies that might happen. The plan should include information from both you and your child's doctor about: пїЅ пїЅ

Your child's medicines " пїЅ This should include all the medicines your child takes, where they are kept, and when and how they are given. The timing and dosing of your child's insulin are especially important.
Your child's meals and snacks " пїЅ For example, the plan might list foods that your child should or shouldn't eat. If your child needs to eat on a schedule, it can list the times and amounts that he or she should eat.
Checking your child's blood sugar level " пїЅ The plan should discuss who will check your child's blood sugar, and when and how it will be checked.
Symptoms that could mean your child's blood sugar level is too low or too high " пїЅ Let the school know which symptoms to watch for.
How to treat a blood sugar level that is too low or too high, including when to get emergency help
How to reach you, another family member, and your child's doctor in case of an emergency
How to safely include your child in physical activities, school parties, field trips, and other special events
Your child's other needs " пїЅ For example, your child might need to leave class at certain times of the day to take insulin, use the bathroom, or eat a snack.

The person who manages your child's diabetes in school should share this plan with the other school staff. He or she should tell them how your child's diabetes will be managed, which symptoms to watch for, and what to do in case of an emergency. пїЅ пїЅ

Every year before the school year starts, you and the school should review your child's plan. You might need to change the plan as your child gets older. пїЅ пїЅ

What can I do to help the school manage my child's diabetes? " пїЅ To help the school manage your child's diabetes, you can: пїЅ пїЅ

Bring in the diabetes supplies that your child will need at school " пїЅ This can include daily medicines, blood testing supplies, and emergency medicines.
Leave food or snacks for your child at school " пїЅ You might want to make up snack bags that the school can give your child if his or her blood sugar gets too low.
Offer to teach the staff and students about diabetes and how it is managed
Share information about your child's health with the school and let them know if anything changes with your child's diabetes

What else should I know? " пїЅ By law (in the United States), most schools must meet the needs of children with diabetes. If your school has a problem meeting your child's needs, talk with your child's doctor or nurse. You can also look at diabetes websites, such as the American Diabetes Association (www.diabetes.org) and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (www.jdrf.org). пїЅ пїЅ

All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. пїЅ пїЅ

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Nov 04, 2014. пїЅ пїЅ

Topic 16599 Version 3.0 пїЅ пїЅ

Release: 22.8 - C22.208 пїЅ пїЅ

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Managing Diabetes in School

The Basics

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

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