Diabetes Management 9474 Managing A Child s Diabetes At School

Title: 
Diabetes Management│ Managing A Child�s Diabetes At School

Word Count:
423

Summary:
As the school year winds down, parents of children with diabetes may want to take a few minutes to evaluate their child�s relationship with the school. Was the school staff able to handle any problems that arose this year? �There needs to be really good communication between the parent and the school,� says Virginia Zamudio, R.N., M.S.N., C.D.E. and past president of the American Association of Diabetes Educators.

Assessing how things are going and establishing effective d...


Keywords:
student with diabetes,school,type 1,diabetes management,children,juvenile diabetes,teacher


Article Body:
As the school year winds down, parents of children with diabetes may want to take a few minutes to evaluate their child�s relationship with the school. Was the school staff able to handle any problems that arose this year? �There needs to be really good communication between the parent and the school,� says Virginia Zamudio, R.N., M.S.N., C.D.E. and past president of the American Association of Diabetes Educators.

Assessing how things are going and establishing effective diabetes management at school can yield a variety of positive results, including:

* Promoting a healthy, productive learning environment (when your child is experiencing lows, it is very difficult for him or her to learn)

* Reducing school absences and classroom disruptions

* Creating an effective response in a diabetes-related emergency

The younger the child, the more important it is to check in with the school on a week-to-week basis. Age matters: A recently diagnosed kindergartner will need a much different approach than the one you�d take with a high school senior who has been managing diabetes since childhood.

At every age, however, you should talk with your child regularly about how things are going. In a little heart-to-heart, you might help him or her become adept at recognizing signs of trouble and asking for help if and when it�s needed. You also have to give school personnel enough information so that you can trust they will look out for your child�s welfare.

Provide the school with an individual action plan from your child�s doctor that gives instructions on: testing, shots, oral medications for low blood sugar problems, dietary requirements (e.g., need for snacks), and explicit plans for handling low and high blood sugar.

�If the nurse isn�t available, even the bus driver and other school personnel need to be able to recognize if your child is having symptoms of hypoglycemia and offer a form of quick-acting sugar,� Zamudio says. Work to establish an overall diabetes-friendly environment. The American Diabetes Association�s Safe at School campaign recommends that capable students should be allowed to self-manage their diabetes in the classroom and during school activities. To learn more about diabetes management at school, go to diabetes.org/advocacy-and-legalresources/discrimination/school/safeschool.jsp

Open communication between you, your child and the school staff is the key. With a diabetes management plan in place at school, you and your child can rest easier knowing the right care will be given when it�s needed.

Writer: Kalia Doner
�Diabetes Focus, Second Quarter 2007