We took an unofficial, non-scientific poll of our Youth Ambassadors (“YAs”) to see how they felt about going back to school. Of the YAs who responded, a staggering 83% said they wish summer could go on forever and only 17% said they are excited and can hardly wait.

Regardless of whether they are excited or not, the school year is upon us – so we asked the YAs to share some information about how they get ready to go back to school.

Back to School

“Every time I meet with my Endocrinologist my mom asks the doctor to update my school health plan with anything that changed. This way my school nurse always has the latest information and ratios. One year I was having trouble at school because I didn’t have enough time to finish my lunch and I was throwing it out and frequently having low blood sugar in the afternoon. So my doctor helped by putting in my medical plan that I should go to the nurse to finish my food when needed. It really helped having my doctor’s support! My parents also meet with my 504 team at school to talk about accommodations I need to ensure my education is not affected by my health needs. As I’m getting older and more independent, this year my 504 plan says that I can self manage by following my health plan from my doctor. I’m allowed to have my phone at all times to check my Dexcom. I can also drink water any time throughout the day. Most importantly, my blood sugar can’t be too high or too low when taking important tests. My 504 team is truly a team working together with my parents to help me be successful in school.”   Jack S. (7th grade)

“My Mom makes me participate in my 504 meeting with the school because there are some things that are my responsibility – like speaking up if I need to take a test at a different time or scheduling a meeting with a teacher if I’ve missed class time because I was in the nurse’s office. I’ve been part of my 504 meetings since middle school.”  Virginia VM (HS Sophomore)

Read more about 504 Plans and understand the roles of the school and parents

“It’s always a good idea to bring a low kit to school on the first day and leave it in the nurse’s office or your teacher’s classroom. My favorite things to put in my low kit are Haribo gummy bears, high carb juice boxes and Chewy granola bars since I usually get hungry when I am low too! It’s also important to always have extra diabetes supplies at school. If you have a pump or a continuous glucose monitor, you should have extra CGMs, pumps, and additional insulin in case there is a malfunction and you need to change your site. If you don’t have a CGM, be sure to have an extra portable glucose meter set stored away in the nurse’s office. It’s very important to have a glucagon in your extra supply kit as well. All of these items may not seem necessary now, but you will be so thankful to have them right at your finger tips if needed.” Eden K. (HS Junior)

Download What You Need to Know About Hypoglycemia to share with your school!

“My mom and dad keep a little bin with my picture and emergency information in the nurses office with extra diabetes supplies for me. In this bin I have boosts such as: skittles, juice, pretzels, jellybeans. We like to have two different juices a Capri Sun that is 14g of carbs for when I’m really low and a Kool Aid juice that has 8g of carbs for when I’m a little low. I also have batteries, a blood ketone meter with strips, alcohol wipes, syringes, needle caps, glucagon, a testing kit just for school, tegaderm and overlays in case one of my devices lift in school. And a replacement pump and and extra dexcom sensor in case my mom has to come in to school and change my devices. Mom and dad also like to keep a case of water that is just for me in case I go really high and there is ketones or I am really thirsty.“  Xavier C. (3rd grade)

Download COVID 19 + Back to School to share with your school nurse.

“This year for the first time I will be wearing an Apple Watch that I got for my Diaversary in June.  Now I will be able to see my numbers quickly without pulling out my phone in class. I also never go anywhere without my Medic Alert bracelet.  It tells people that I have Type 1 Diabetes if I’m not able to. I always have water with me in class.  It helps me stay hydrated which keeps me healthy and helps my Dexcom work better.  It also helps when I am high.” Russell B. (5th grade)

Download What You Need to Know About Hyperglycemia to share with your school.

“I want my coaches and teammates to know that having type one diabetes doesn’t keep me from being part of the game.  If i ever go low I have glucagon in my belt along with some boosts.” Xavier C. (3rd grade)

“I’d like my coaches to know that sometimes when my blood sugar is high it affects my vision and eye-hand coordination.  Let’s make a plan for someone to cover me at bat or in goal if my blood sugar is high. I’d like my teammates to know that sometimes I might have to leave the field to treat a low.  I might also have to have a snack on the bench every now and then.  Please cover for me on the field if you can!” Russell B. (5th grade)

“Something I wish my teachers knew about type 1 diabetes is, that for the most part, I have everything under control. I appreciate that they want to help, but I hate attention being drawn to my diabetes, like when my alarms go off. I know what to do in situations, but when teachers make a big deal about it, I tend to feel very flustered and overwhelmed. For me, it’s best when they mention something to me quietly, after class, making sure I’m ok. This way, I am keeping them in the loop, but not getting unwanted attention.”  Abby T. (8th grade)

Share this download with your teacher  (How to Support Your Student with T1D) and let them know how they can best support you!

“I always carry carbs with me, but I also have a ‘locker box’ of snacks and fast acting carbs that I can replenish my bag with if I use something during the day. I usually have Gatorade, too, so I can take small sips during the day if I just need to bump my blood sugar up a little bit.” Virginia (HS Sophomore)

“I want my teacher to know that I’m no different than any other kid in my class. I can participate in everything, even celebrations with treats! I want my teacher to understand what Type 1 is and that sometimes I might be a little tired from getting up in the middle of the night to treat a stubborn low. I want my teacher to know that I really enjoy talking about type 1 and I’m happy to educate my whole class. I also want my teacher to know that it may be harder to see symptoms of low blood sugar with my mask on so please check on me periodically.” Jack S. (7th grade)

Download What I want My Teachers to Know about T1D to share with your teacher!

“I’m starting a new school this year and I want my new classmates to know that I have to wear a pump and a continuous glucose monitor and sometimes they beep. The beeps can be annoying but they tell me if I need more insulin or if I need to have a snack. Sometimes I have to go to the nurse a lot and sometimes I have to eat even if I don’t want to. These are my diabetes bags. My meter goes in the little egg bag, and the egg bag and my low supplies all go in the Spongebob bag.”  Dann M. (4th grade)

“I have had diabetes for five years! I wear a Dexcom which is a blood sugar monitor and an Omnipod which is a pump that consistently gives me insulin during the day. Sometimes my blood sugar will go low, it requires me to leave the classroom and treat myself accordingly!” Avery G. (HS Junior)

“I have a backpack that I bring to school and carry around with me full of all of my supplies. In my back pack I always make sure I have a juice box (for lows) a finger pricker, and a snack (for lows). I think it’s important I carry this bag around with me because I can quickly take care of my blood sugar, and I never have to worry about forgetting something because its always in there.”  Lilly S. (6th grade)

 

“My favorite back to school prep is definitely going school supply shopping and then organizing/labeling everything I got. It makes me so excited to get everything and lay it all out. It makes me feel very in control of the new school year and it feels like a head start. Making sure everything is ready also lifts a huge weight off of my shoulders and the first day of school becomes a lot less stressful.”  Abby T. (8th grade)

You’ve probably already downloaded your school list, but make sure you also download your Checklist for Going Back to School with T1D.

We hope that you’ve found the Back to School tidbits from the Youth Ambassadors to be helpful! The YAs know how valuable it is to learn from one another. For example, YA Connor heard about a great mini backpack from YA Cooper. Cooper didn’t like the sling bags that he had tried in the past and finally found a mini backpack that worked well for him. His dia-buddy (and fellow YA) Connor saw it and wanted one for himself!

We wish all of the kids and teachers from our community the best as they enter the new school year! We hope it is great and that you make some incredible memories!