Helping Your Child With Type 1 Diabetes at School

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Has your child missed school because of Type 1 diabetes? If so, you know that getting back into a regular routine can be difficult. However, re-establishing a routine is the best way to reduce stress and pave the way for positive interactions with all those engaged in your child's care. Remember that in order to stick to routines, children need positive reinforcement, a healthy amount of encouragement, loving-kindness, and celebration.

Helping Your Child Make Healthy Food Choices at School

What your child with Type 1 diabetes eats is only one of several factors that influence their blood sugar levels. Food is an important part of school culture, and it can be a pleasant, social, and joyful aspect of your child's school day. Whether you and your child with Type 1 diabetes decide to make lunch, buy lunch, or do both, getting into the habit of selecting foods together will help your child enjoy school while also giving them a sense of control over their Type 1 diabetes symptoms.

Snack and Lunch Time

The ideal snacks and lunches for a child with Type 1 diabetes are those that complement their insulin schedule. Whether a kid with Type 1 diabetes brings their own snacks and lunch to school or purchases lunch at school, it is critical to encourage your child to select the foods they will actually eat.

Assist your child in selecting meal combinations that include nutritious carbohydrates, fiber, fat, and protein. Planning snack and lunch meals with your child can give them a sense of freedom. They will be more likely to eat items that keep their blood sugar stable. preparing snacks and lunches for a child with Type 1 diabetes is similar to preparing for a child without diabetes because the most essential thing is to have a balanced diet.

If you decide to buy a school lunch for your child with Type 1 diabetes, it may make him feel more included. One method to ensure success is to establish a weekly habit of reviewing the school menu with your child and then estimating the carbohydrate amount of the meal to receive an accurate insulin dose.

Japanese bento boxes are one method for planning balanced snacks and meals. The compartmentalized boxes are useful for preparing lunch for a child with type 1 diabetes since they provide numerous options for a well-balanced meal while appealing to your child's eating preferences.

Bento boxes can also transform your child's favorite treats into a nutritious meal. For example, your child's Bento boxes could include slices of cheese, whole-grain crackers, grape leaves, crisp carrots with yogurt dip, sliced berries, and sliced apple. One technique to encourage your child with type 1 diabetes to check their carbohydrate levels is to write the number of carbohydrates on the bento box's lid along with an encouraging remark or picture for them.

Coordinating Care at School in 4 Steps

1. Start the Conversation

In an ideal world, a parent of a kid with type 1 diabetes would notify the school once their child has been diagnosed and then consult with the principal, their child's teachers, and the school nurse. However, due to teacher schedules, it may be difficult to organize a single appointment when you can express your concerns and hopes for your child while they are in school. You may need to book multiple appointments and then send a summary of your conversations to everyone involved.

2. Build Your Team

Assume your school team is unfamiliar with type 1 diabetes. In that scenario, you may need to arrange a meeting with a pediatrician to provide a brief presentation on T1D in school-aged children. Use this opportunity to ask your child's school to become a partner in their care. Discuss how to best communicate with your child about their type 1 diabetes, as well as their safety and health at school.

3. Assemble a School Diabetes Emergency Kit

If an emergency happens while your child is at school, a diabetes emergency kit for your child can give you peace of mind. When it is time to replenish the diabetes emergency kit, it will allow you to revisit your child's school plan and check in with your child's school team. According to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, your child's school diabetes emergency kit should include the following:

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• Extra insulin, about a 2–3 day supply for emergencies like hurricanes, earthquakes, lockdowns, etc...
• Extra insulin pen needles, syringes, or pump infusion sets.
• Low blood-sugar treatments.
• If your child's management plan calls for them, snacks like crackers, energy bars, etc.
• A glucagon kit, the use of which should be reviewed with school personnel.
• A brief outline of your child's insulin regimen and meal plan.
• And anything else that you can think of that would be necessary for the caring of your child by someone else.

4. Learn About 504 Plans In building a partnership with your child's school, it is essential to understand 504 Plans. They help hold your child's school accountable for your child's healthcare needs while in school. Every child with Type 1 diabetes should have a 504 plan for the teachers and the school nurse. This type of plan falls under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This is part of the federal civil rights law prohibiting discrimination against public school students with disabilities. A 504 plan outlines how a child's specific needs are met with accommodations, modifications, and other services. These measures "remove barriers" to learning. Scheduling time with your child's teacher and the school nurse to review the 504 plan can prevent mishaps. The 504 Plan should address the specific needs of the child and provide detailed instructions related to the following:

• Times/places for blood-glucose monitoring, including accommodations for testing and treating
• Ensuring that staff members are trained in checking blood-glucose levels, recognizing and treating high and low blood-glucose symptoms, and administering both insulin and glucagon
• Allowing the student to eat whenever and wherever necessary, including eating lunch at an appropriate time and allowing enough time to finish eating
• Allowing extra trips to the bathroom or water fountain
• Ensuring the student's full participation in all sports, extracurricular activities, and field trips, with the necessary care and/or supervision
• Permitting extra absences for medical appointments and sick days when necessary, without penalty
• Parent's role in the 504 process

You and your child deserve a plan that works for you. Try to approach the situation as an ally while looking out for your child's needs.

Type 1 Diabetes Symptoms Vs. Behavioral Issues

Help your child, their teachers, and school personnel understand that low blood sugar in a child with type 1 diabetes can occur suddenly and must be handled immediately. Ask your child's teacher and school nurse to help them remember to check their insulin levels before lunch and recess to ensure they are eating enough and not overdoing it during recess and gym classes. Children with type 1 diabetes exhibit various low blood sugar symptoms, therefore school personnel should be aware of your child's individual symptoms. Type 1 diabetes symptoms can be mistaken as behavioral difficulties. Low blood sugar symptoms could include:

Shakiness

Nervousness or anxiety

Sweating, chills, or clamminess

Irritability or impatience

Dizziness and difficulty concentrating

Hunger or nausea

Blurred vision

Weakness or fatigue

Anger, stubbornness, or sadness

Before the school year begins, is the best time to discuss your child's type 1 diabetes with their teacher and school nurse. Ask your child's teacher and school nurse for scheduled calls or emails about your child's school routine. This will help ensure your child's type 1 diabetes symptoms are being managed well in school and offer more support at home to your child if needed.

Helping your child with type 1 diabetes navigate the changing school environment is not for the faint of heart. It's challenging, demanding, and downright tricky at times, but creating a routine will help you manage different tasks. Most importantly, routines will help your child with type 1 diabetes be more thoughtful, confident, and responsible while at school. Remember, take it one day at a time, be flexible, be kind to yourself, and encourage your child to ask for help when needed.