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