Should I tell the school my child has diabetes?

Yes. Tell your child's school right away if they have diabetes.

Who will manage my child's diabetes in school?

Most likely, 1 main person will help manage your child's diabetes in school. If your school has a nurse, they will be the main person. If not, another staff member can be the main person. If they do not know how to take care of diabetes, they need to learn how.

Your child can also help manage their diabetes in school. As your child gets older, they can do more to manage it. But even if your child manages their diabetes on their own, a staff member at school should know about it and be ready to help in case of an emergency.

How should the school manage my child's diabetes?

The school should work with you and your child's diabetes team to make a written plan. This plan includes all the ways the school will manage your child's diabetes. The school should tell you if they have questions about your child's diabetes or if any new problems come up.

To help set up a plan, you can look at diabetes websites, such as the American Diabetes Association (www.diabetes.org). These websites can help you and the school make a plan. They also have information the school can use to train teachers and staff.

In the US, the law says 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.

What information should be in my child's school plan?

The school plan should have information about how to take care of your child's diabetes day to day. It should also have information about what to do if there are problems or in case of an emergency.

The plan should include information from both you and your child's diabetes medical team about:

• Your child's medicines – This should include all their medicines, 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 – For example, the plan might list foods they should or shouldn't eat. If they need to eat on a schedule, it can list the times and amounts they should eat.

• Checking your child's blood sugar level – The plan should discuss who will check their blood sugar, when, and how.

• Symptoms that could mean your child's blood sugar level is too low or too high – Tell the school 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 – For example, they might need to leave class at certain times 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 your child's teachers and other school staff. They should tell the staff how your child's diabetes will be managed, which symptoms to watch for, and what to do in an emergency.

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.

How can I help the school manage my child's diabetes?

You can:

• Bring the diabetes supplies your child needs to school – This can include daily medicines, blood testing supplies, and emergency medicines.

• Leave food or snacks for your child at school – You might want to make snack bags the school can give your child if their blood sugar gets too low.

• Connect the school nurse or staff with your child's diabetes medical team – You can also talk to them about teaching other staff and students about diabetes.

• Share information about your child's health with the school, and tell them if anything changes with your child's diabetes.