Diabetes in School-Age Children

Diabetes is a disease affecting both adults and children. While adults can take the necessary precautions in a disease that has to be managed rather than cured, children have a hard time when exposed to so many different threats to their blood sugar level. Parents, caretakers and school teachers all have to work together to ensure that a school-age child with diabetes is taken care of in a safe manner.

Federal Law

• Federal laws were created specifically for children with diseases and disabilities that help to ensure they get the correct treatment in the school environment. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is one such law that works to ensure children with diabetes are not discriminated against and that the school and child care providers ensure that they work with parents and physicians to help the child enjoy a normal school life.

Medical Care in the School and Day Care Setting

• As a large part of the child's day is spent in school or day care it is necessary that the glucose level be managed for optimal performance. Caretakers must help children monitor their glucose level and follow a meal plan while taking medications on time.

Physical Activity

• Working in coordination with parents and physicians the school must determine the effect of physical activity on the child and then create an individual schedule for physical activity for the diabetic child that helps maintain the blood glucose levels. Physical activity lowers blood glucose and blood pressure levels. Too little activity and the blood glucose level may increase, causing complications like weight gain and high cholesterol levels, which also impair liver function. That is why children have to be monitored to ensure that the activity level is optimal for their body so as to control the blood sugar level rather than decreasing or increasing it.

Training

• For appropriate care of diabetic students, staff must be trained and knowledgeable in the treatment of diabetes in case of emergencies. If a child's blood sugar level decreases to a level lower than normal the child can suffer from hypoglycemia causing confusion and even fainting. Severe hypoglycemia can cause seizures and coma leading to death. Trained personnel are an essential element of the student's life to avoid such health risks and to ensure there are no complications.

Diabetes Health Care Plan

• Statistics show that 13,000 new cases of diabetes in children are diagnosed annually. That is why schools and child care centers must ensure they have a health care plan in place. This must include the necessary equipment and staff for blood glucose monitoring, administration of insulin, management of meal plans, recognizing symptoms, and knowing treatment for hyper and hypoglycemia.

Supervision

• While younger children are unable to perform glucose monitoring tests, children age 8 and up are capable of doing so. However, adults must be available to supervise the performance of the test and by age 10 the child should be able to administer insulin. At all times some form of adult supervision is essential. Adult supervision is needed even when children are capable of administering their own insulin because of their immaturity. They may get caught up in their activities and not take the medication on time. This also helps prevent problems if the child is suffering from a hypoglycemic reaction. Doctors suggest children over the age of 15 are capable of independently managing their diabetes.

Privacy and Leniency

• Diabetes is a serious and life threatening condition. The American Diabetes Association states that all diabetic students should have the right to privacy when administering the blood tests or getting insulin shots. They cannot be subjected to the same conditions of leave as other students and may require medical leave for longer durations of time and should not be subjected to any penalties.