Diabetes & School

[Charmed7]

I just thought I would open up discussion about Diabetes and School.

My son is 8, diagnosed with Type I diabetes at 4 and in third grade. He has a 504 Plan in place that needs updating for the new school year.

What do you do to prepare for the school year? What are your experiences with teachers and school nurses?

Can't wait to hear from everyone.

Charmed.

[Penny]

My granddaughter eats lunch with an 11 year old girl who has Diabetes. She said she saw the girl testing and stopped to say "my grandmother does that". The girl said she has been doing it "all her life" and wears a pump. She told Emily "only once in awhile", the alarm goes off and she has to go see the nurse. She told her that was the "only problem about having Diabetes". I intend to make a point of getting to know this girl, it sounds like she has good control for one so young.

[iDream]

I'm 16...decided not to get the 504, it really doesn't effect me enough and I don't forsee it doing so, since I have a pump/sensor....

I never eat school lunches, they're terrible. I figure they have about 150-200 carbs a piece, its nuts. I either have a water bottle or a bar for lunch, and sparingly a snapple and an ice cream :-)

I used to eat a snack in class, the teach didn't mind....when I'm bored I check my number on the sensor, look at graphs, look at daily totals.....haha. A teacher actually thought it was a cell phone once....tried to take it.

[Charmed7]

A teacher actually thought it was a cell phone once....tried to take it.

iDream,

I actually heard a horror story about a girl in Highschool with a pump. The assistant principal actually removed the pump and took it away for the day. I guess the girl was very timid and did not speak up until her levels got high enough to make her sick. Iggnorance is scary.

I always looked at the 504 plan as protection against illness that may have him out of school for a long time. That way he wouldn't lose credit due to the absences. I also read about a teenager that was having large difficulties managing her sugars and was home sick or in the hospital a lot. Her honors teacher wasn't going to offer her any other options and was going to fail her because of the absences. The 504 plan can prevent that from happening.

I think the pump lessens those horror stories, but I try not to take anything for granted. I read a lot of school catastrophies and am paranoid about the whole thing. If it were up to me, I would be his teacher every year. lol. So this is my protective way of trying not to be over protective. It puts my mind at ease if I know that plan is active and the teachers/nurses etc have to follow it.

Charmed.

[iDream]

yeah, you have to speak up about something like that.....I don't know how you can't.....at my school each teacher gets a letter in their mailbox telling them which students have what conditions, therefore they have an idea if something was to happen. as your son gets older, you will see that the 504 will act as a valid excuse to be late to classes, to get extended time for state tests, etc, its nice to have. The only reason I don't have it is because I'm almost done, so I figure another year without it won't make a difference. My experience with nurses is that they pretty much know nothing....Me "My number is 80" Them: "oh, your going low, treat that with some juice. I haven't had juice since being diagnosed nor do I ever plan to....sometimes you have to use your brain before listening to them....

[kel4han]

My daughter is 7 and diagnosed at age 6 in 1st grade. I have every detail in her 504 plan. School is very accomadating. She has a pump this year, and gets half her carb count up front, then brings back lunch, or what was un-eaten for the remaining carb count and bolus. Treat days are detailed that she must have a prebolus for sweet treat days such as birthday parties etc. She will soon have an IEP as well, she has struggled with concentration and learning in the AM after breakfast time. Working on those morning high spikes. :eek: