Protocol to allow children who are diagnosed with diabetes to self-manage their disease whenever possible to ensure optimum health and safety for the child while at school or at school-sponsored activities.
Diabetes is a serious, chronic disease that impairs the body’s ability to use food properly due to the inability of the pancreas to make insulin (the hormone which helps the body convert food into energy) or to use insulin properly. Without insulin, glucose (sugar), the body’s main energy source, builds up in the blood. Diabetic students may manage their illness by using injectable or infused insulin, oral hypoglycemic agents, and/or dietary modifications. In the school setting blood glucose levels can become too high (hyperglycemia) or too low (hypoglycemia) and require monitoring through blood glucose testing.
- It is important that diabetic care be managed and accommodated in the school setting through collaboration with the student, parent/family, licensed health care providers, school administrator, school nurse teacher, classroom teacher, specialists, and any other staff who may have contact with the student. To achieve this cooperation, parents or adult students shall be required to sign a release to discuss and implement this comprehensive diabetic plan.
- Both an Individualized Health Care Plan and an Emergency Care Plan will be developed by the certified school nurse-teacher for each diabetic student in the school setting. These plans will be shared with cafeteria and recess staff and staff involved in school sponsored activities to facilitate appropriate care.
- Students with diabetes should be taught and encouraged to independently care for their disease to the best of their ability, based on age, developmental stage, skills performance and input from the diabetic care team. Students who are able to self test, self administer insulin, and to manage their diabetic care must be allowed to do so in the classroom or other appropriate place(s) if the student and diabetic care team deem that this is appropriate. A physician’s order will be on file to address accommodations including, but not limited to, diabetic self care in the school setting.
- Whenever a student’s health care condition may require the student to self-administer any medication to treat a diabetic condition it should be specified in the ECP and IHCP. In cases where an emergency may arise the school nurse/teacher and the parent/guardian shall be notified.
- All diabetic students will be allowed to consume snacks in the classroom or other appropriate location, such as the bus. Students will also be able to use the bathroom and water fountain as needed.
- All symptomatic diabetic students will have access to the school clinic and shall be accompanied to a health area clinic by an adult.
All school personnel, including bus drivers and aides, who may be involved in the care of a student who has been diagnosed with diabetes shall be informed of the individualized health care plan (IHCP) and the emergency care plan (ECP) as appropriate.
Diabetic care performed in health room/clinic will be documented using the district diabetic care log and data will be communicated to the parent/family/health care provider as per the individualized care plan.
ADOPTED: November 21, 2005