Information for Schools
We believe that parents and educators are partners--partners that work together to educate children and keep them safe while at school. Diabetes is a complex disease to manage and as parents of children with diabetes we are not looking for schools to make management decisions, rather work with the parents and child to administer assistance. Very young children can't test their own blood or administer their own insulin and this is where we need assistance from schools. As the child grows older, they become self-sufficient with management tasks. However, they may need other accommodations such as being allowed to test their blood sugar in class or keeping juice boxes in the class to treat low blood sugar. All required accommodations would be detailed in a health plan that the parents and educators would agree to at the beginning of each school year.
In addition to day-to-day assistance, we are looking for emergency assistance for our children. Low blood sugar can be fatal if a child with diabetes does not get immediate assistance. For that reason we want school staff to be trained to use Glucagon. Similar to an Epi-pen, Glucagon is a shot used to treat children with diabetes who are seizing or unconscious because of low blood sugar.
New Brunswick has enacted legislation to keep its children with type 1 diabetes safe at school. Its solution is cost-effective, uses existing resources, and limits liability for the school system. CLICK HERE to see a copy of the New Brunswick handbook that is paired with Policy 704.