Staff may have questions about diabetes supplies and testing procedures, and symptoms of emergency lows. They may not understand the differences between Type Two diabetes in adults and Type One diabetes in children. Some may worry about liability issues if they attempt to help a child with diabetes and make a mistake; nurses may worry they will be held accountable if a non-medical staff person they have helped train makes a mistake.
Many teachers, support staff and administrators may mistakenly believe that a low blood sugar reading is good and that mildly high blood sugar is dangerous, when most emergency situations arise when a child has hypoglycemia (blood sugar under 70 and dropping) when they have had too much exercise or insulin, or too little food to balance them. Adults may also be unaware that most low blood sugar situations can be remedied by a small can of apple juice given immediately, followed by a snack.
It is very rare that a child needs an emergency glucagon injection at school, although every adult in a child's life should know where to find the kit and how simple it is to mix and administer if a child is unconscious or near to it. In most situations, squeezing a tube of gel or cake frosting into the child's mouth would be sufficient in an emergency.
The best emergency treatment for type one diabetes in childhood is prevention. Frequent blood testing and observation of symptoms of low or falling blood sugar can help avoid situations that adults dread treating; these can be dangerous, unhealthy and upsetting to a child.
Whether a child uses an insulin pump or relies on injections of insulin before or after meals, it is helpful if several adults learn about the schedule and understand the dosage in relation to the meal consumed, or at least have the information available so they can be helpful in case of emergency. We do not know when a school lockdown, natural disaster, or other unplanned event will affect children while they are at school.
Classmates may be the strongest support system a child can have in school, but even children who have had diabetes for years may wish to preserve their privacy and refuse permission to share information about diabetes in general and their diagnosis in particular. Friends usually notice the subtle differences between symptoms and age appropriate misbehavior or mood changes.
Adults in charge of after school activities and programs, coaches, bus drivers, and parents of study buddies who welcome their child's classmates with diabetes should also have information available in case of dinner invitations or when unexpected situations arise. Information and supplies that are kept at school are often helpful to keep at afterschool programs and at the homes of extended family.
There are support groups and information resources available online at sites like Childrenwithdiabetes.com that can assist children and families in planning for the first weeks of each school year, moving to a new district, or dealing with common issues when a child is newly diagnosed. Thousands of children with diabetes are sharing similar experiences at school, living as close to ordinary lives as possible, and they each do it with style and grace. It's up to us to help support them and keep them healthy as they deal with everything else.
Browse at your local bookstore, public library, or online retailers for books like My Child Has Diabetes - A Parent's Guide
CWD - Children with Diabetes Information and Support
Children with Diabetes at www.childrenwithdiabetes.com
US Dept of Justice: Protecting the Rights of Students with Diabetes
http://blogs.usdoj.gov/blog/archives/1418
Diabetes Warning Signsfrom Children with Diabetes Website
http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/clinic/signs.htm
Jonas Brothers Update - Diabetes Has Not Slowed Down 15-Year-Old Nick Jonas
http://www.diabeteshealth.com/read/2008/04/02/5707.html
For type 1 diabetics, ignorance is deadly
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com
"I'm surprised that this is not part of required training for every educator."
