Islets of Hope

ADA's Getting the Most out of Diabetes Camp:  Stories from campers,, covers why attend diabetes camp, is your child ready, which camp, what to expect, what not to expect, more.

   Renea Jo Zosel
Diabetes:  This book truly is written by an expert... a mom! Mothers of small kids with diabetes pay a big price and I think they are the unsung heroes of our society. Imagine, never being able to take a break for years on end. Never being able to really let go for fear your child might experience a blood sugar too high or too low sending her to the hospital... or worse. My son has diabetes and has told me several times that it's not fair and that "he'll never have a carefree childhood." This book says the same thing for the mothers and the kids they care for who live with this crappy disease.

Information on Your Child's Educational Rights

Download the American Federation of Teachers Declaration

Download Safe at School Principals

Sign the Safe at School Statement of Principals

Share School Success Stories with ADA

More Resource Links

NOTE:  The ADA’s Safe at School Campaign does not  deny the importance of a qualified nurse but seeks to pass legislation:

..."teachers, school admini-
strators, school secretaries, and other personnel may be trained to provide diabetes care in the absence of a school nurse and so that students who are able to do so can effectively  self-manage their disease."

Do you have a school-aged 
child with diabetes?  We want to hear your story!  Tell us your child's school plan, if you are comfortable with it, and what steps you took to get your plan in place.  Send your inquiries or submission to the IOH Editor.

Islets of News Diabetes Editorial
October 2005

Page Two:  The Three R’s:  Ridiculous, Restrictive Resolutions:

Proposed Changes in Your Child’s Education Plan That Do Not Make The Grade

     Beginning with first grade, the school advised me to have Elizabeth bring a cell phone with picture-taking features to school.  The school’s plan for her meals and snack was simple:  Elizabeth was to photograph the food in front of her and email the picture to me.  She would then eat (without aid of a bolus) and take a second picture, email it to me so that I could compare the two photos and determine her food bolus.  (First-grader Elizabeth is attending a private school this year where there are no medical personnel onsite, but the staff has shown a willingness to learn to help her manage her diabetes on reasonable terms – without having to take photos of her food!)

Why Can't More Teacher's Help?

     Part of the problem is bad law.  Still, a lot can be attributed to ignorance of good laws (nice way of saying “refusing to comply"), and an unnecessary fear of diabetes being instilled in our teachers.  The fact that some health professionals, who maintain only a medically licensed practitioner could possibly handle diabetes, intimidates many teachers and other school staff into thinking diabetes is a monster impossible.  The school that failed Elizabeth prohibited the one health tech onsite (a licensed vocational nurse), from administering insulin, taking blood glucose checks, giving glucagon, or handling emergencies.  She was required to contact the district registered nurse prior to taking any action (and that was simply to obtain permission to call 911).  If a vocational nurse was not permitted to handle even basic diabetes care without permission from a “real” nurse, what message was sent to her principal and teachers?

    Teachers may purposely be kept unaware of their vital role and responsibility in keeping children safe.  They may be misled into believing that they cannot understand or help with diabetes care (my 10-year-old can calculate a bolus and give insulin to her younger sister -- even Elizabeth mastered her pump by age 5).  Scant resources and overcrowded classrooms (my child’s class had 31 students) also contribute to the problem; teachers already have a lot on their plate.  But excuses are not solutions, and the problem is too often a simple willful and flagrant disregard for student rights for the convenience of the schools.

     Like many parents, I found out the hard way that existing laws can be ignored by schools, are tough to enforce, and are often inadequate. We are now are faced with an even more precarious situation for our school-aged children with diabetes.  Last year, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) proposed: 

      “RESOLVED, that the AFT lobby against school nurses training non-healthcare school personnel as diabetes personnel; and

      “RESOLVED, that the AFT lobby against the use of non-healthcare personnel trained to administer routine and emergency care to students with diabetes.”

     In other words, nonmedical personnel already trained to care for our children would be prohibited from doing so in the future if the AFT objectives are met.  The American Diabetic Association (ADA), a nonprofit diabetes resource and advocate group,  believes that for students to be safe in schools, three essential core policies must be in place:  (see sidebar note)

     "1.  All school staff members who have responsibility for a student with diabetes should receive training that provides a basic understanding of the disease.

     "2.  A small group of school staff members should receive training from a qualified health care professional such as a physician or a nurse in student-specific routine and emergency care so that a staff member is always available for younger or less-experienced students who require assistance with their diabetes management (e.g., administering insulin, checking their blood glucose, or choosing an appropriate snack) and for all students with diabetes in case of an emergency (including administration of glucagon).

     "3.  Those who are capable of doing so should be permitted to self-manage their diabetes."

     For parents, this sounds like the start of a reasonable plan.  In fact, it emulates the very practices set in the home environment that families use -- we train our nondiabetic children or other family members to participate successfully in diabetes management.  If siblings can learn to help why can’t teachers and bus drivers also learn? Not everyone agrees. 

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Page Updated 12/09/2005