Awareness of Students with Diverse Learning Needs,
What the Teacher Needs to Know, Volume 1

Diabetes in School

With appropriate planning, an individual with diabetes can participate in all school activities.  Individuals with diabetes may, at times, require assistance and support from teachers and school staff.  Individuals should be encouraged to manage their diabetes care in the school setting, to the extent that is appropriate for their maturity and experience with diabetes.  The extent of an individual’s ability to participate in self-care tasks should be agreed upon by the parent/guardian, school personnel, health care team and student if appropriate.  When all team members work together, concerns relating to diabetes management of the individual, family and school staff can be effectively addressed. It should be noted that there is no expectation that school staff administer insulin.

Potential Impact of Diabetes on Education
Well managed diabetes will likely have minimal impact on an individual’s education.  However, all individuals with diabetes will have occasional high or low blood sugar.  Individuals whose diabetes is more challenging to manage may experience some disruption of their education.  Teachers and school staff should discuss concerns regarding diabetes and its impact on an individual’s education with parents/guardians.

Some common impacts may include:

• Inability to concentrate  or manage behaviour during incidents of high or low blood sugar
• Missed class time related to the need to test for and treat high or low blood sugar
• Frequent trips to the washroom/water fountain related to high blood sugar
• Absence from school related to medical appointments
• Because exercise increases the rate of use of sugar by the body, more active individuals are prone to low blood sugar. Most individuals with diabetes require nourishment before physical activity. Parents can provide information about the appropriate degree of activity for  the individuals and the specific need for more or fewer snacks

Recognizing Symptoms

Roles and Responsibilities

Parent/Student Responsibilities

• Inform the school that the individual has diabetes
• Inform the school of the individual's unique care needs, including usual symptoms of low blood glucose and the presence of any additional health concerns that may impact diabetes management
• Make provisions for the administration of insulin while the student is at school
• Ensure the individual is wearing a diabetes  identification tag
• Keep all emergency contact information, medical information and details of the individual’s care and treatment at the school up to date
• Provide and maintain all supplies required by the individual at the school, including, if necessary, a supply of glucagon and the safe disposal of sharps
• Inform the school of any relevant changes to lifestyle, health or diabetes management
• Participate in development of the child’s school medical/care plan including planning for natural disasters

School Responsibilities
Individual school districts will have policies in place that outline responsibilities of school boards, administrators and staff which will apply to students with diabetes.  Individual board policies can be viewed at the British Columbia School Trustees Association (BCSTA) site or you may contact your local school board office. Further guidelines about roles and responsibilities can be found under Planning and Coordinating of Community Services in Section C of Special Education Services: A Manual of Policies, Procedures and Guidelines. 

The following school practices are suggested;

• Be familiar with district policies and procedures
• Communicate with caregivers and keep up to date  information about the individual’s condition to maintain level of support needed
• Report any changes to an individual's usual behaviour, health, eating habits, etc to parents/guardians
• Participate in development of the individual’s school medical/care plan including planning for natural disasters
• Where applicable, engage Nursing Support Services or Public Health to assist in developing a medical/care plan, staff training and instructions in case of emergency. For more information about NSS care see the resource section of this document.  Public health nurses may assist with children who are not eligible for Nursing Support Services delegated care. For information about Public Health Nurse supports, contact your local district.
• Familiarize staff of details, symptoms of low blood sugar, and how to respond appropriately
• Familiarize staff with the names and faces of individuals with diabetes
• Provide, where appropriate, a detailed emergency response for each individual
• Inform all school personnel of the individual's condition, medical/care plan and location of  each individual’s personal supplies
• Post emergency care instructions in strategic areas of the school where they will be  accessible by all staff and respect the individual’s right to privacy
• Have emergency kits available in strategic areas of the school such as the individual’s homeroom or classroom, sick room, office, earthquake supplies, gymnasium and for use on fieldtrips
• Establish with parents a system to monitor stored supplies for quantity and potential spoilage
• Make use of the BC Children’s Hospital informational pamphlets on  diabetes

Emergency Care

Emergency care for a student with diabetes should be outlined in the medical care plan.  For general information on emergency care, please see the BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH) web site.