Diabetes Care Tasks at
School:
What Key Personnel
Need to Know
DIABETES
BASICS
Overall Goal:
Optimal Student Health and
Learning
Monitorin
g
Blood
Glucose
Glucagon
Administrati
on
Insulin
Regimen
Ketone
s
Health
&
Learning
Nutritio
n
Hypoglycem
ia &
Hyperglyce
mia
Legal
Rights
Exercise
Learning Objectives
Participants will learn:
What is diabetes?
Why care at school is required
Basic components of diabetes care at school
Short and long term consequences of diabetes
What is Diabetes?
Body does not make or properly use insulin:
no
insulin production
insufficient insulin production
resistance to insulins effects
No insulin to move glucose from blood into cells:
high
blood glucose means:
fuel loss. cells starve
short and long-term complications
Type 1 Diabetes
auto immune disorder
insulin-producing cells destroyed
daily insulin replacement necessary
age of onset: usually childhood, young adulthood
most prevalent type of diabetes in children
and adolescents
Type 1 Diabetes
ONSET:
SYMPTOMS:
CAUSE:
relatively quick
increased thirst
increased
hunger
urination
blurred vision
tiredness
weight loss
uncertain, likely both
genetic and environmental
factors
Type 2 Diabetes
Insulin resistance first step
Age at onset:
Most common in adults
Increasingly common in children
overweight
inactivity
Type 2 Diabetes
ONSET:
SYMPTOMS:
in children
variable timeframe
tired, thirsty,
hunger,
increased
urination
some
children show no
symptoms at diagnosis
Diabetes is Managed,
But it Does Not Go Away.
GOAL:
To maintain
target blood
glucose
Diabetes Management 24/7
Constant Juggling:
Insulin/medication
with:
Exercise
BG
&
Food intake
BG
BG
Diabetes Management
Proactive
Reactive
keep juggling the balls
a response is indicated
corrective actions for
highs or low
emergency intervention
Assistance in
Diabetes Management
Routine Care:
Many students will be able to handle all or almost all
routine diabetes care by themselves
Some students, because of age, developmental level,
or inexperience, will need help from school staff.
Urgent Care:
Any student with diabetes may need help with
emergency medical care.
Care in the Schools:
School Nurses and Others
Nurse most appropriate to:
Supervise diabetes care
Provide direct care (when available)
However, a nurse is not always available.
Non-medical school staff can be trained to assist students
For both routine and emergency care
Including insulin and glucagon injections
Diabetes Medical
Management Plan
A Diabetes
Medical Management Plan (DMMP) should be
implemented for every student with diabetes.
DMMP is
developed by the students personal health care team and family and
signed by a member of students personal health care team
implemented collaboratively by the school diabetes team, including:
school nurse
the student
parents/guardians
other school personnel
Elements of a DMMP
Date of diagnosis
Emergency contact information
Students ability to perform self-management tasks at school
List of diabetes equipment and supplies
Specific medical orders for blood glucose monitoring, insulin,
glucagon, and other medications to be given at school
Meal and snack plan
Exercise requirements
Actions to be taken in response to hypoglycemia and
hyperglycemia
Quick Reference Plan
Development based on information from
students DMMP
Summarizes how to recognize and treat
hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia
Distribute to all personnel who have
responsibility for students with diabetes
Where to Get More
Information
American Diabetes Association
1-800- DIABETES
[Link]
National Diabetes Education Program/NIH
[Link]