| As the school year winds down, parents of | | | | help him or her become adept at recognizing |
| children with diabetes may want to take a few | | | | signs of trouble and asking for help if and |
| minutes to evaluate their child's | | | | when it's needed. You also have to give |
| relationship with the school. Was the school | | | | school personnel enough information so that |
| staff able to handle any problems that arose | | | | you can trust they will look out for your |
| this year? "There needs to be really good | | | | child's welfare. |
| communication between the parent and the | | | | |
| school," says Virginia Zamudio, R.N., M.S.N., | | | | Provide the school with an individual action |
| C.D.E. and past president of the American | | | | plan from your child's doctor that gives |
| Association of Diabetes Educators. | | | | instructions on: testing, shots, oral |
| | | | medications for low blood sugar problems, |
| Assessing how things are going and | | | | dietary requirements (e.g., need for snacks), |
| establishing effective diabetes management at | | | | and explicit plans for handling low and high |
| school can yield a variety of positive | | | | blood sugar. |
| results, including: | | | | |
| | | | "If the nurse isn't available, even the bus |
| * Promoting a healthy, productive learning | | | | driver and other school personnel need to be |
| environment (when your child is experiencing | | | | able to recognize if your child is having |
| lows, it is very difficult for him or her to | | | | symptoms of hypoglycemia and offer a form of |
| learn) | | | | quick-acting sugar," Zamudio says. Work to |
| | | | establish an overall diabetes-friendly |
| * Reducing school absences and classroom | | | | environment. The American Diabetes |
| disruptions | | | | Association's Safe at School campaign |
| | | | recommends that capable students should be |
| * Creating an effective response in a | | | | allowed to self-manage their diabetes in the |
| diabetes-related emergency | | | | classroom and during school activities. To |
| | | | learn more about diabetes management at |
| The younger the child, the more important it | | | | school, go to diabetes.org |
| is to check in with the school on a | | | | advocacy-and-legalresources/discrimination |
| week-to-week basis. Age matters: A recently | | | | school/safeschool.jsp |
| diagnosed kindergartner will need a much | | | | |
| different approach than the one you'd take | | | | Open communication between you, your child |
| with a high school senior who has been | | | | and the school staff is the key. With a |
| managing diabetes since childhood. | | | | diabetes management plan in place at school, |
| | | | you and your child can rest easier knowing |
| At every age, however, you should talk with | | | | the right care will be given when it's |
| your child regularly about how things are | | | | needed. |
| going. In a little heart-to-heart, you might | | | | |