Diabetes Care

Diabetes Care In Schools And Day Care Centers

Diabetes care can be provided effectively through a proper coordination between school and day care staff, parents and the health care team. Children with diabetes need to have a knowledgeable staff at school and day care centers for providing them a safer environment.

Diabetes Care At School

Proper diabetes care of children at school and day care centers is important for their safety, well being and academic performance. Improved blood sugar level control may help reduce the possibility of further complications among these children. This can be achieved by frequent blood glucose monitoring, proper diet and medication. The staff at schools and day care centers needs to be made aware about the effects of physical activity, diet and insulin on blood glucose levels. School staff such as school administrators, coaches, bus drivers and secretaries should be educated about the effects of diabetes and its management. To facilitate proper care of diabetic children, these personnel need to have an understanding of diabetes and should be trained in the areas of diabetes management and handling diabetic emergencies. The availability of such trained personnel is necessary for the prevention of health risks in children with diabetes and also help in reducing and monitoring their blood glucose levels.

How Can Schools And Day Care Centers Provide Diabetes Care?

It is very important for parents to provide the school or day care centers with all the material and equipment such as blood glucose meter, insulin injections and urine or blood ketone testing kit required for a child's diabetes care. With this information, the day care centers should provide training to staff members about the symptoms and treatment of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. They should be trained to perform finger-stick blood glucose monitoring, recording the results and dealing with situations where the blood sugar level is outside the target range. Care takers may also train their personnel in the treatment of hypoglycemia, insulin and glucagon administration in accordance with the child's diabetes health care plan. Schools and care centers need to provide a suitable location where testing and glucose administration can be done by the student along with other school activities. The child should be permitted to meet school medical personnel whenever he or she requests so and eat a snack, whether in classroom or bus, to prevent the possibility of hypoglycemia. Appropriate facilities and permission for students with diabetes to use restroom and store insulin and glucagon should be provided.

Children with diabetes should be allowed to miss school to attend medical appointments for the management of their illness. Similar diabetes care facilities as mentioned above should also be provided on field trips, excursions and other events organized by the school and day care centers.