Management of diabetes in schools
Policy: April 2007
The AEU is aware that more teachers are being asked to supervise children who need to test their blood glucose levels whilst at school. The following advice is offered to members who are asked to deal with these children. The AEU advice to members is that they should undertake the steps below as a precursor to supervising children with diabetes.
1. Familiarise yourself
Information on diabetes is available on the diabetes website of the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne . Another source is Diabetes Information for Schools also on the Royal Children's Hospital site.
2. Meeting with parent/s
The aim of this meeting is to find out about the child in your care and what expectations the parents have in terms of the blood glucose level testing. At this meeting the teacher should get permission to speak to the Diabetes Nurse Educator who would normally be working with the child who has diabetes. Parents should be asked to provide to the school the management plan for their child.
The teacher should ask parents to show them the equipment used and any insulin delivery device used by the child. Please note that teachers are not expected to take responsibility for insulin and/or glucadon administration.
3. School primary care team
Members should request that the school set up a Primary Care Team which would consist of the Classroom Teacher, School Nurse, First Aid Personnel, Principal.
Primary Care Team Responsibility:
- To ensure that relevant staff have appropriate training. This would include regular training and updates for all staff
- To clearly define the role and responsibility of the School Principals. To clearly define the role and responsibility of the staff responsible for the student with diabetes
- To clearly define the role and responsibility of the first aid coordinators /school nurse
- To clearly define the role and responsibility of parents
- To publish and manage the Diabetes Management Plan for the child (this will require discussions with the Diabetes Nurse Educator).
There will be a need to include procedures for camps excursions, special events (school parties) and sporting activities. There will need to be a communication plan to raise staff, student and school community awareness about diabetes and the school policies.
4. General Advice
Members should make sure that they have undertaken the above steps before they take on the supervision of students with diabetes in their classrooms. Above all they should ensure that they have received adequate training.
