School is just around the corner, and that means diabetes at school is just around the corner as well. As the sun sets on summer and you’re preparing all the back to school supplies, you will need to prepare diabetic supplies too.
But that’s not all. There are other things you will need to prepare as well. Some of these things are practical daily things, and some are more mental, emotional, or conversational. Also, some things you will need to do involve considering others and their points of view. Let’s take a look at how to best prepare for diabetes at school.
preparing for DIABETES AT SCHOOL
As you are preparing yourself and your child for school this year, you are also preparing to manage diabetes at school. One of the most helpful things you can do is consider this scenario from several different perspectives to know you are fully ready for the school year.
BONUS: 32 DIABETIC SCHOLARSHIPS FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS
Consider Different Perspectives
You are probably intimately familiar with your own perspective on managing diabetes at school. You are aware of your thoughts, feelings, hopes, and fears for your child. You likely relate a lot to this Mom’s Perspective post.
But have you considered others’ perspectives too? Who else will be caring for your child during the day? What information and resources do they need within the school setting?
The point in considering other people’s perspectives on diabetes at school is this: the clearer the communication the more prepared you are, the more success you will have working as a team to manage diabetes at school.
A Teacher’s View of Diabetes at School
Classroom teachers are the adults with your child the most during the school day. So your child’s teacher will obviously need to know some essential information about managing diabetes at school. What resources can you provide her to help the most?
You will need to provide a basic overview of what diabetes is (and that no two diabetic students operate identically with this disease). The teacher will need to know the signs of high blood sugars and low blood sugars, and treatments for each — even if it’s the nurse to administer it.
Another idea for the teacher is to set up something like a 504 plan or an IEP for your child (more on this below). This helps to protect them in case they experience a low blood sugar during a test by ensuring them they can have that time back to finish their work on the test.
FOR THE TOP 5 THINGS A TEACHER SHOULD KNOW, READ THIS POST.
The School Nurse Managing Diabetes at School
Your child’s school nurse can be a major help in managing diabetes at school. With a nursing background and knowledge of diabetes, you can consider her an extension of your diabetes care team for your kiddo during the school day.
My co-blogger Brandy RAVES about her son’s school nurse. That’s because they work as a team and are in great communication. They have a notebook that goes to and from school each day that allows them to track things and talk with one another. (She talks about this in her blog post here.)
So what all does the school nurse need in order to be set up for success? I would suggest a meeting with the school nurse before school starts. Talk out your expectations and ask questions. Provide her with all the low snacks, dosing instructions, correction guidelines for low blood glucose and high blood glucose, target range for blood sugar, and all the details she will need before the school year even starts.
She will also need to know who to contact for emergency care in the event your child’s health needs their immediate attention. And remember to ask if the nurse needs any additional information you haven’t already provided.
Today’s nurses can follow and watch CGM numbers and respond accordingly, too. (What an improvement from when I was a school kid with diabetes back in the day!) So if your child wears a CGM, make sure they are able to access numbers throughout the day.
FOR A Q&A WITH A SCHOOL NURSE ON DIABETES, READ THIS POST.
Your Child’s View of Diabetes at School
The perspective I would argue is the most important is that of your child. Not only are they just (insert your child’s age here) years old, but they’re starting a new year with a new teacher and new classmates. Maybe they’re in a new building with a new nurse. They are learning new things every day. All while trying to deal with living with diabetes. It’s a lot to carry.
So the best thing we can do as parents is to be prepared and talk with them about what to expect. Walk through situations and circumstances in advance (as is appropriate for their age):
- What should you do if you feel your blood sugar levels go low while you are at recess?
- What would you say if someone asked you what your insulin pump is?
- Don’t worry if you need to leave the room during a test — you will have time to make it up afterward.
- Where do you go right before lunchtime? And who helps you with your insulin doses before you eat?
- How would you respond if someone asks you why you are eating an “extra snack” at school before physical activity or on the bus on the way home?
Talking through what could potentially be uncertain or embarrassing circumstances in advance can diffuse the situation when it actually happens. Anything we can do to alleviate stress or anxiety up front is helpful. This is especially true of younger students. The goal is to set up a supportive environment for your child and for effective diabetes management.
FOR A CHILD’S POINT OF VIEW ON DIABETES AT SCHOOL, READ THIS POST.
Practical Ways to Prepare for Diabetes at School
So let’s talk about some practical steps we can take now. What are the logistical things to go through, work out, gather together, and have ready?
1. Have a Plan to Manage Diabetes at School
First of all, we need a plan. The American Diabetes Association offers a Diabetes Medical Management Plan form on their website if you’d like to go through it. Your other option is to work with the nurse at your child’s school to create a plan and how you will communicate. Consider your child’s lunch, recess, PE, bus time, etc. as you create the plan.
2. COnnect with your child’s teacher and nurse Before School
Your child’s teacher school nurse are your lifelines during the day. You should develop and maintain open communication on a daily basis in one way or another in order to ensure your child’s care at school.
Share your diabetes plan with them. Ask about any experience with any other children with diabetes. Ask about monitoring your child’s CGM throughout the day (if applicable). Make sure they have your phone number and email to get ahold of you at any time. And allow them to ask you whatever questions she needs to have clarified.
3. Prepare Your Diabetes Supplies
It may be wise to create a checklist of all the diabetes supplies your child may need to take along to school each day. Post is somewhere that is easy to check frequently to make sure you restock as needed.
You may want to create a small bag of supplies that can be kept in the nurse’s office for lows. That bag could include things like glucagon (or whatever emergency supplies you use), additional test strips, fast acting sugar, and some crackers, for example.
FOR A LIST OF 7 ITEMS TO REMEMBER TO PACK FOR SCHOOL, READ THIS POST.
4. Prepare OTHERS FOR DIABETES AT SCHOOL
Who else needs to be aware of your child’s diabetes? Potentially the school administration or other school personnel? How about your child’s bus drivers? What about a coach or physical education teacher? Don’t forget the leader of extracurricular activities or other school-sponsored activities. In a smaller school, it might even be the school principal.
Think through each school employee your child interacts with throughout the day and what they may need to know about your child’s medical condition. You may need to circle around to additional people in the case of field trips.
FOR THE COMPLETE LIST OF 7 THINGS TO PREPARE FOR DIABETES AT SCHOOL, CLICK HERE.
Services for Diabetics at School
There are several valuable services for kids with diabetes at school. The main two include a 504 plan and an IEP. Let’s take a look at both of those.
504 Plans to help manage diabetes at school
According to the ADA, a 504 Plan “sets out the actions the school will take to make sure the student with diabetes is medically safe, has the same access to education as other children, and is treated fairly.” It also provides special considerations for your child in case their chronic disease (that sometimes requires immediate attention) interrupts school work.
The ADA also offers a model 504 Plan document in case you’d like to review it. And they list the provisions that are typically included. It’s worth a review in case you have a child with diabetes going to school.
AN IEP for Managing Diabetes at school
An IEP (Individualized Education Program) is more specific than a 504 Plan in that it there are goals and measurements while the plan is in place to ensure progress. It is typically created by the parent, at least one teacher, and someone from the special education department. For more information: Diabetes.org.
Diabetic Bus
One of the coolest things I’ve seen in a long while is something that has been nicknamed the “diabetic bus.” Some generous donors have made it possible for St. Louis Children’s Hospital to have a mobile pediatric diabetic unit that travels to schools and provides diabetes care by a health care provider to local children.
This first mobile pediatric diabetic unit was started in St. Louis in 2023, but will hopefully spread to more cities soon!
In April 2024, the St. Louis Post Dispatch interviewed my co-blogger Brandy and her son about their experience with the diabetic bus. To read more, visit the hospital’s article about it.
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