10 tips for teachers of students with diabetes

10 tips for teachers of students with diabetes

The upcoming school year is approaching and it’s time to start preparing your children for a successful year. If one (or more) of them live with diabetes, you have a little more planning than most to think about. Elementary school Principal with type 1 diabetes and MiniMed Ambassador, Vince Myers, who you may remember from Life is a Journey, Not a Race, provides his 10 tips for you to share with your children’s teachers in preparation of the new school year. A printed copy of these tips can also come in handy when a teacher is absent and a substitute teacher is filling in. We hope this will be of value to all educators, particularly those who have never had a student with diabetes in their classroom.

1. Each Child is Different

Every child with diabetes may experience different symptoms of low blood sugar. Some of these symptoms could include weakness and/or fatigue, headaches, sweating, irritability, shaking, excessive hunger and rapid heart rate. Situations that may affect blood sugar include insulin intake, food consumption, exercise, illness, stress, and changes in routine.

2. Permit Periodic Snacks

Your student will likely need to eat snacks during class when they feel low. This is imperative and essential in helping make sure their blood sugar doesn’t drop too low. You can help your student by allowing them to keep an emergency stash of snacks (including fast-acting carbohydrates) in your classroom in case they forget.

3. Don’t Draw Unnecessary Attention

Most kids with diabetes don’t want to and shouldn’t be treated differently. Do not limit their activities, draw attention, or deny their request if they have or ask for water, a snack, blood sugar test, or bathroom break. If the student is acting odd in class, privately ask them to check their blood sugar, they may need medical attention. Pay close attention to your student's regular snack time, and provide a unique signal between the two of you to remind him or her when it’s time.

4. Be Prepared

A low blood sugar could occur at any time. Always be prepared and carry a snack that has 15 grams fast-acting carbs, such as a 4 ounce can of juice, a fruit roll-up that has 15 grams of carbs, jelly beans, or 3-4 glucose tabs treat a low, especially during crisis drills, field trips, and school assemblies. You can find additional information for treating hypoglycemia here.

5. Never Leave a Child with Low Blood Sugar Alone

If the student is experiencing a low blood sugar, provide them with a snack and have them test their blood sugar. Should they need to go to the nurse’s office, have another teacher or responsible student accompany them. Ensure your student always uses the buddy system.

6. Allow Unrestricted Water

A high blood sugar may cause extreme thirst. Allow them to have a water bottle at their desk to provide limited disruption to the class instruction. This leads us to #7.

7. Allow Unlimited Bathroom Breaks

Let your student know it’s okay to take a bathroom break whenever necessary. If his or her blood sugar is high, the body's natural response is to eliminate the extra glucose by using the bathroom.

8. Be Understanding

High and low blood sugars may make it difficult for the student to concentrate at times, causing minor disorganization. Keep in mind that you may have to repeat some things, especially if they were in the nurse’s office during class time. They may need to reschedule taking a test if they have just had a low glucose episode.

9. Communicate

Work as a team with the student, parents/guardians, school nurse, and administration in the building by keeping all lines of communication open. Meet with the family at the start of the school year to go over the student’s diabetes plan. This will provide you with a peace of mind that all factors are considered.

10. Learn About Diabetes in Children

Make an effort to understand your student’s life with diabetes by educating yourself. Consider completing a training program to enable you to perform essential key diabetes care tasks such as blood glucose monitoring. Your willingness to do so will help ensure your student receives proper care and attains optimal academic performance. You can find additional tips and educational information in the Back to School Reference Guide for Nurses and American Diabetes Association. 

Do you have any tips for teachers or experiences that might be helpful to share? Let us know in the comments below! 

 

 

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Submitted by Kathie (not verified) on

In reply to by Commenter (not verified)

This is a wonderful idea. pass it on.

Submitted by Mary K Smiley (not verified) on

In reply to by Commenter (not verified)

These are great rules to follow for children with diabetes. I hope for the sake of my grandson as well as the others who have to contend with this disease that their teachers/caretakers will consider and adhere to these guidelines.
Thanks for posting...

Submitted by LOOP Blog Editorial on

In reply to by Mary K Smiley (not verified)

Mary and Kathie, glad you found these tips helpful! Please feel free to share these tips with your grandson’s teachers and caretakers!

Submitted by Dianna K. Gone… (not verified) on

In reply to by Commenter (not verified)

For reasons that are inexplicable to me, my husband never feels his lows and never has. He also never feels his highs. He also never feels thirsty when he is high. I have to urge him to drink water, tea, coke or whatever you want, darling, when his blood glucose has been high for hours. I don't know how many child diabetics don't feel like drinking an ocean when they are high. If there are many, perhaps, the teacher should be urging the pupil/patient to drink water to get rid of the excessively high blood glucose and help the kidneys work. Fluids also help the digestive system absorb food so a high may come more quickly. Even if my husband uses glucose tablets I get him to drink water with them. As an afterthought, how many lows would a student have if he is using a CGMS & pump correctly?

Submitted by LOOP Blog Editorial on

In reply to by Dianna K. Gone… (not verified)

Dianna, I encourage you and your husband to continue to work with his healthcare team for his diabetes management, but am sorry to hear that you’ve had a difficult time. For children in school, each individual with diabetes is unique and has their own personal experiences, but we feel it’s important to educate and make sure that teachers are informed about diabetes. We wish you and your husband the best of luck… it sounds like you’re a wonderful wife!


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