Back to School season is here! There’s a lot to do to prepare in the next few weeks and if life includes T1D, your To-Do list is longer and you need more than crayons, pencils and protractors. Here are some great resources that can help you get prepared, along with a few tips that parents have shared with us over the years.

Now is the time to plan out how to talk about T1D with fellow students and teachers. JDRF’s Type 1 Diabetes: What You Need to Know video can help start the conversation! Share this video with everyone at your child’s school so they have a better understanding of what T1D is and how they can support your child during the school day.

• Parent tip: during elementary years, ask to come in a read a story about T1D and answer kid’s questions. A little education can go a long way to helping classmates understand T1D. Here’s a list of books for school-age kids.
  

Request a Diabetes Medical Management Plan (DMMP) from your endocrinologist. This plan contains the medical orders that are the basis for your child’s care. Helping the Student with Diabetes Succeed: A Guide for School Personnel has a great sample DMMP along with many other resources such as Action Plans for each member of your child’s School Health Team.

Meet with the school nurse who will develop and distribute:

• An Individualized Healthcare Plan (IHP) based on the DMMP. The IHP can include instructions like when and how often to check a child’s blood sugar, how to treat their highs and lows and how to administer insulin.
• An Emergency Care Plan for Hypoglycemia and Hyperglycemia that explains how to recognize and treat a student with T1D, and whom to contact for help.
• Parent tip: T1D is not “one size fits all”, so share with the school nurse your child’s typical hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic symptoms, preferred low bg treatment and their level of self-care.

Talk with teachers and administration about the basics: What diabetes-related technology will be used, what they need to know about snack and lunchtime nutrition and how you as a caregiver will be available for any questions. Offer the How to Support Your Student with Type 1 Diabetes flier to each of your child’s teachers.

• Parent tip: share the JDRF School Advisory Toolkit with your school administrative staff. This guide offers collaborative methods for educators and parents to ensure every child with T1D enjoys the best possible school experience.

Gather your T1D-specific school supplies in one kit—and make sure school staff know to give you a heads up when supplies are getting low! You’ll find great advice at T1 Everyday Magic on what you need to include.

• Parent tip: for the nurse’s office, use a shoebox-sized clear plastic box so it’s easy to see if supplies are going low. For each classroom, use a small Ziploc bag to hold emergency low bg supplies.

Use these resources and tips to ensure your family is safe and ready to learn from day one! And if you ever get overwhelmed, remember, JDRF can connect you with people who have been through it all.