It’s that point of yr again, back-to-school season. For fogeys of youngsters with diabetes, which means ensuring (again) that the college knows exactly what your child does and doesn’t need assistance with. With luck, you and the college nurse will see eye-to-eye about your kiddo’s diabetes, which might considerably alleviate the stress involved with packing them off to class every morning.

Possibly it’s the primary time you’ve done this, or possibly you’re an old pro. Either way, we’ve give you a checklist of topics you might wish to cover.

Your Checklist for Meeting With the School Nurse

• Bring a replica of your Diabetes Medical Management Plan (DMMP) from last yr and be able to make changes. When you don’t have one, it’s time to make a brand new personalized plan in your child from scratch. This plan will help define how the college treats your child, and will probably be necessary not only for medical staff but for teachers, coaches, and administration.
• Do you will have a 504 form yet? In america, these documents guarantee that the college will make whatever accommodations your child needs in order that they get the identical opportunities as other students. That is where you get to document that your child can at all times have candy readily available, for instance, or that they’ll test their blood sugar at their desk without asking.
• Explain to the nurse exactly how much independence your child has in the case of managing their diabetes, in order that there isn’t any confusion about who’s answerable for what. Can they administer their very own insulin before meals? Can they offer themselves correction boluses?
• Discuss what the protocol will probably be when your child’s blood sugar is low or high while in school.
• Provide diabetes supplies, extra test strips, snacks, glucose tablets, etc., that you just want the college to maintain available in your child.
• Ask the nurse to notify you when any of your child’s diabetes supplies run low so you’ll be able to refill in time.
• Make sure you let the nurse know the way in which your child describes highs and lows, especially in the event that they’re very young.
• Explain that your child’s diabetes is exclusive when put next to diabetes in others.
• Make certain the nurse understands the seriousness of high and low blood sugar and that very low blood sugar is an emergency that can’t be delay a single minute.
• Ask the nurse to please stay in communication with the teachers and other administrators involved within the care of your child. Teamwork amongst staff is essential.
• The varsity nurse isn’t at all times present or available. Who’s the backup that’s empowered to act in case of emergency? Must you bring them into this conversation?
• Let the nurse know, if needed, that the college is answerable for training the college staff, so in the event that they feel they need additional training, they’ll request it from the college.
• Ask the nurse to please inform all school staff and even bus drivers that your child has diabetes and be sure that they know who to contact and what to do in an emergency.
• Make certain the nurse knows administer glucagon rescue medication within the case of an emergency.
• If needed, train the nurse on use your child’s insulin pump, blood sugar meter, and/or continuous glucose monitor (CGM).
• In case your child uses a CGM, ask the nurse in the event that they have the flexibility to receive distant blood sugar alarms.
• Does your kiddo play a sport? Athletics create a special challenge for blood sugar management, and will occur after school, after the nurse has left the constructing. Make certain that the PE teachers and coaches will understand exactly what your child must thrive.
• Let’s discuss nutrition — will your child be eating lunch on the cafeteria? Are you able to request any special attention around meals? Do the teachers know that your kid shouldn’t just chow down on a surprise birthday cookie or cupcake all at once?
• Don’t forget to involve your child! Ask them if there may be anything they’d such as you to convey to the nurse.
• Make certain you give the nurse all relevant contact information comparable to phone numbers, names, and extensions.
• Let the nurse know that in the event that they have any questions or doubts or concerns, to please don’t hesitate to contact you.
• Don’t forget to point out appreciation for what the nurse is taking over — the special job of helping to care in your child!