A new school year begins: helping your child manage their diabetes at school

Preparing an individual care plan

Depending on their age and level of independence, your child will have their own particular treatment and care needs for their diabetes. Diabetes management and treatment are different for everyone and for this reason, guidelines recommend that you put together an individual care plan.

The individual care plan is a document detailing your child's specific needs for diabetes management at school. You can write it with the help of the healthcare professionals who support your child. It will most likely include:

• Your name, your child's name and date of birth, the age at which your child was diagnosed with diabetes and the type of diabetes;
• Your telephone number, as well as the numbers of your child's GP and any emergency contact numbers;
• How your child's blood glucose is monitored;
• Administration methods for insulin;
• Information on how to use the blood glucose monitoring and insulin administration devices;
• Symptoms and treatment of hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia;
• Dietary recommendations or hypo treat suggestions;
• Precautions to take during physical exercise;
• What your child is able to do on their own and what they need help with;
• Your statement of consent allowing designated school staff to provide emergency care for your child.

Communicating with school staff

It is especially helpful to talk to school staff where possible, giving them all the information they need to help your child manage their diabetes and help them understand the condition.

It might therefore be a good idea to arrange meetings with the headteacher, teachers, school nurse and, perhaps, any other people who will be interacting with your child during the school year.

It may be useful to use this meeting to explain to all staff involved what diabetes is, what its management involves and what can be done to help.

You should consider making them aware of these things:-

• Allowing your child to monitor their blood glucose and administer insulin at any time, with adult supervision if needed; 
• Allowing your child to always have to hand (on their desk or in their school bag) their blood glucose monitor and a fast-acting source of sugar to treat hypoglycaemia. Glucagon injection kits should also be made available for treating severe hypoglycaemia and should be stored in a refrigerator;
• Informing you about the food served in the school canteen if necessary and about school activities;
• Allowing your child to eat and go to the toilet whenever necessary;
• Providing access to a clean, private area with a water source for self-care;
• Provide a container for sharps and used medical equipment, and a refrigerator or other cool place to store insulin;
• Allowing your child to see the nurse or other supporting staff at any time;
• Arranging extra care for exams and tests if necessary.

This meeting will give you the opportunity to review the individual care plan that is unique to your child and create a space to help you and your child feel more prepared.

What to put in a school bag

Another recommendation is that your child always has the following items at school, to help with diabetes management:

• Medical devices and any instruction manuals if necessary;
• Travel pouch of diabetes supplies; such as infusion sets and BG testing kit
• Hypo snacks; like fruit juice and jelly babies;
• Their individual care plan;
• A notebook to record anything regarding their condition, such as blood glucose measurements and medical events (hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia).

Lastly, it is a good idea to talk to school staff regularly. The school should inform you of any changes in your child's schedule (e.g. specific sports activities, school trips or special meals) and it's important to keep them updated with any new changes to their treatment plan or medical condition.