We all know that heading back to school for a new year of fun, friends, and new adventures can be a blast! But, adding T1D can make things complicated sometimes,  so check out these great resources and tips to help your school year be the best ever!

Resources to check out

General Information about back to school with T1D

JDRF School Advisory Toolkit

504 Accommodation Plans

Exercise and T1D – How to manage sports

 

Things to do before school

1. Meet with your Endocrinologist and complete orders need for school to treat T1D
   • Orders include sliding scale, Dexcom information, pump information, hypo & Hyper symptoms and treat plans – Example forms
2. Meeting with School Care Team – Nurse, teachers, and other designated personal
   • Be prepared to discuss – what the child can do on their own, what they need help with, how blood sugars will be communicated, who best to communicate with throughout the day, and schedule for checking and treating based on student’s schedule.
3. Talk with your child about how manage will be at school
   • Practice with your child, ask them how they are feeling, what they would say to their teacher, what they need, what they don’t need, and get them involved in making treatment decision (even Kindergarten age children can be part of this process)
4. Communication is the key to a successful year
   • As a family identify the things that are most important for you when you child is at school
     • They don’t all have to be T1D related
   • Discuss your fears about this transition in care with the team be open about what will be hard and how you can work together in the first few days to make those fear less overwhelming
   • Be positive- school staff is there to help you child and they want what is best remember they are on your child’s team!

 

Things to prep for school

Lows

• Provide the classroom teacher a ‘Low Box”
• Put several small juices, cheese crackers etc., whatever your child likes to use for a low, in the box, refill as needed.
• A plastic shoe box is great for this- Put your child’s name on it.
• Either label each item of food or include a note

Food

• If you are sending in lunch or snack
• Identify each item of food with how much is included and the carbohydrate value. (i.e., 10 crackers/ total 15 grams, 15 grapes, etc.).
• Either label each item of food or include a note.
• Let teachers know if student can have ‘surprise’ treat (cupcake, ice cream).
• If student is eating school lunch- see if your school cafeteria offers a carb count.. Remember, cafeterias can change menu items or run out of a particular food during the day

 Bring into office/Health Room- for Emergencies and/or backup supplies

• Glucagon (with Prescription label, not expired)
• Extra insulin/ insulin pens (with Prescription label, not expired)
• Ketone strips (not expired, once opened they expire in 6 months).
• Extra glucometer strips.
• Injection supplies.
• Any wipes, alcohol pads etc. that your child uses. Most schools do not have these supplies.
• Extra glucometer – if you have an extra
• Don’t forget to bring in any required MD orders/ school forms for medication administered at school.

Get your child used to:

• Carrying their own testing kit.
• Doing the finger stick and applying blood to glucometer strip by themselves.
• Knowing to let adults at school know if they feel funny.
• Letting adults at school know what/if they eat.
• Peeing on a ketone stick, without help, in the bathroom.
• Carrying low supplies with them.

 Insulin

• Insulin is only good for 30 days once opened. School staff will not be able to use it once expired
• Date insulin if it is opened at home.
• Insulin should be kept in the refrigerator before it is opened at school. Once opened it can be kept at room temperature.

 Should I leave it at school or have my child bring it back and forth?

• Glucometer- If they bring the glucometer back home every day you have an up-to-date record of your child’s blood glucose record.
• Insulin pens- Consider if you wish to leave a pen at school or to have it travel back and forth- your insurance and your child’s maturity may be a factor in this decision.
• A dedicated diabetes bag is handy for all your child’s diabetic needs

Tips created in partnership with Heidi Baird – retired school nurse and T1D Mom