Type 1 Diabetes in the School Setting

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School Nurse Tip: This post gives school nurses a few suggestions on how to be prepared to deal with Type 1 Diabetes in the school setting.

Are you high?

This was found floating around on Pinterest.

Have you seen it?

I'm sure we've all said that at one time or another to a student with diabetes! Then, as soon as the words leave your mouth, there is a student or staff member who looks at the both of you with the above expression! Makes me giggle :)

This year only three of my students are diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. They are all able to independently care for their needs. However, they know (and their parents know) that the nurses are always available to them as needed and especially in an emergency situation.

School Nurse Office Organization Stations

I have found having a well organized office makes life in the nurse's office easier!

One of the ways I organize the health center is by grouping like items together. Here are a few ways we've organized our diabetes supplies in order to make our office space work better for us:

T1D Suggestions from The School Nurse

Keep Hypo Supplies Handy: Display the standing orders for hypoglycemia and the treatment supplies together in an easy-to-reach spot.
Use Updated Forms: Make sure you're using the latest district DDMP (Diabetes Medical Management Plan) and 504 Plan documents.
Organize Care Plans: Group the completed forms in a folder labeled "Diabetes Care Plans." Stamp with COPY and file / scan original.
Daily Access: Store the "Diabetes Care Plans" in a 3 ring binder or folder, or in our daily med binder or scan and save. Attach a copy of each student's plan to their chart. (We use old-school 5x8 index cards for charting daily visits—works for us!)
Personal Supply Baskets: Give each student a basket for their diabetes supplies, which they can keep on a designated shelf or refrigerator in the office.
Convenient Testing Area: Have an clean, separate place in an area for supervision designated as the blood sugar testing area. Make sure the sharps container is here too.
Sharps Disposal Plan: Arrange with the local fire department to dispose of full sharps containers as needed throughout the school year.
Communicate: Follow your district guidelines as far as communicated your student's health needs with their teachers. Consider attaching a diabetes digital information card to an email or within your student electronic management system.