Parents (or at least this parent) of a child with Type 1 Diabetes fear school for many reasons. Sure homework, tests, and attendance give all parents the jitters. Add in the concern about high sugars, low sugars, and mistreatment of your child’s health and it’s a wonder how any parent of a child with T1 makes it past the first week.
We are new to full day school. In our school district there is 1/2 day Kindergarten, so as we embark on 1st grade, we are also getting ready for our first full day of school. That means there are bus rides to and from school that I need to worry about my son’s blood sugar levels. That also means lunch, snack, recess and gym are more specific times that I need to worry about my son’s blood sugar levels.
More importantly I need to be concerned if my son is being treated as if he were at home. No I don’t mean treating him like he is the king of the household, what I mean by this is I have to wonder if there is any way his diabetes management can come close to his diabetes management when he is with me, his mom.
While I understand that this is public school and there are literally hundreds (over 800) of other children in the school, there are some things that need to be done to keep my son safe at school that go above and beyond how the other children are kept safe.
Since some awful school shooting tragedies in recent history many public schools have instituted ‘lockdown’ procedures that would protect the students if there were to be a shooter in the building or on campus. During these ‘lockdown’ drills I also have to be concerned that someone that is locked down with my son also knows how to work his blood glucose meter, identify and treat a low blood sugar, identify and treat a high blood glucose, administer glucagon in case of severe low blood glucose.
May not seem like a big deal, as lockdown drills are not often, but what if it’s the real thing? Yes, protect the children from the shooter, but please don’t forget my son in the meantime. I know as his mom, I would protect him from the shooter and manage his diabetes. It’s what I do.
That may be too extreme for some people. Let’s bring it down a little closer to home. Every child has to use the bathroom in school. In our home we have an open door policy. I have two little children at home, all doors have an open door policy. But really because of diabetes, I will always have to have this policy. I cannot let my son shower, even when he is 16, with the door locked because if his sugar goes dangerously low while showering I will have to get in there somehow. Sure I can break the door down, but just seems easier to keep the door unlocked.
Schools don’t have an open door policy for their bathrooms, and believe me as a former teacher I am grateful for that. But what about the one time my son goes into the stall and his teacher forgets that she excused him to go to the bathroom? What if that is the one time that he goes dangerously low while in the bathroom stall?
It’s the ‘what ifs’ that worry me about the upcoming school year. There is no way any staff member can run through these ‘what ifs’ unless they live it like me. They will snicker behind my back (probably like you are) when I bring these ‘what ifs’ to their attention.
But I am a mom of a child with T1, bringing up the ‘what ifs’ and trying to catch them before they become a teachable moment is my job.
Yes, your daughter is covered under the American Disabilities Act. She has every right as every student to be safe doing regular things in school. Our school nurse does not go outside with my son, but the staff is trained to contact her via walkie talkie the second my son needs something. It has worked so far. Diabetes.org has some great links for kids in school. I hope you get this settled it would be one less worry.
Leslie
I am a mom of a T1 6 yr old child in first grade. Im having a difficult time with our school nurse. She is nervous about allowing my daughter to go out for recess before her lunch time because she is afraid her BS will drop too low and she will not be able to help her if she goes down across the track area. I feel that my child should not be excluded from recess because of the school nurses fears, and that someone should be aware and able to handle the situation if that would occur. I dont have a 504 because I was not really aware of what it is. Is it out of the ordinary for a school nurse to be present during recess for my child? I dont knw what rights my daughter has when it comes to school but I knw that there are laws to protect her..having a deaf sister growing up..my mother always fought for her rights! I need to understand what they are..any suggestions?
That is wonderful Toni. I am not sure what our school nurse has planned as I haven’t spoken to her since April. They don’t know my son at all as we are new to this school, so I am hoping I can meet with them to introduce them to him and how we care for his diabetes.
I wish you all the best this school year. It sounds like you are off to a great great start!!
Leslie
Leslie,
Our excellent school nurses at Saraland Middle School held a meeting with ALL my child’s teachers. They explained in detail what signs to look for in my child if she were to experience lows or highs and gave written instructions on how to handle the situation should it occur. They covered all areas of her care.
I don’t understand why these “rules” don’t apply across the board from state to state.
Leslie, your blogs are wonderful…keep up the good work!
Thanks so much for reading and commenting Linda. It is a learning process for all of us. I know my son’s Nannie has come a long way since diagnosis day. We all work so hard.
Keep reading and good luck to your grandson in school. I’m sure it will be great!
Leslie
Hi Leslie, I am the grandmother of a T1 boy and the mother of his mother who has to be the best caregiver, ever. (I might be prejudiced, though). I apologized to her after our boy was diagnosed at age 18 months because all I could think of was, Thank you, God, it’s not cancer. However, I’ve come to learn it’s a horrible, horrible disease and I hate it. I, too, will be nervous when he enters school but will rely on faith and prayers and the never-ending education and perseverance my daughter will supply to his school. You are all special mothers and I know I would not have done half as well as you all are doing.
gratefulness you for your report and it helped me in preparing my college assignment.
Hi, it’s me, Aine Maire again in Ireland. I have read the comments from other Mums who are also fearful about the school scenario. I am very impressed by Tricia who is exactly the kind of teacher that all kids should have…one who is open to learning new things herself. Well done to you Tricia!
Having been in Leslie’s situation, I totally understand the fear. Having said that, I’d like to let you know that (and I know that my experience is in Ireland) my child has never had anyone sniggering at him (yet) about his diabetes even though he was diagnosed 3 years ago so has been through 3 years of testing etc etc in class, at sports etc. In fact, I find that other kids, once they know the score, are very supportive. They just accept that he has to do these things and don’t comment, unless to ask him/us something about it. And when they do, he/we are very matter-of-fact about it. This was not always what we thought of as “normal” but it is our “normal” now and it is “normal” life for many others too. You are not alone. Chin up, Aine Maire
Hi Meghan,
We do not have a 504 yet. I am actually sending an email to the school vice principal to see when we can have our meeting. I just want one for the legal stuff. We also get a MMP from our endo, and we are working on that too. The biggest sticking point is how to bolus for lunch. And I agree I just want my son safe, happy and TREATED like everyone else!
Leslie
Hi Leslie-
We are going through the same fears as Logan enters Kindergarten this September. Our Kindergarten is a full day program and I am overwhelmed with all the different scenarios and “what ifs”. It is a constant fear. I am requesting a 504 Plan for Logan…so far I have not heard back from the school. Does your son have one? I’m sure people will be snickering behind my back, especially since I work in the same district. All I care about is protecting my son, if people want to talk then let them. We are doing what is best for our children.
Tricia,
I just love you.
Leslie
Aine Maire,
Thank you so much for reading and responding. I guess the idea of all day school is making me nervous. I know when my son was in Kindergarten he was very safe, the school did a wonderful job caring for him. The unknown of the new school is what is scary. I know once September hits and all my mini-lessons about Type 1 are completed with all the staff, I will feel much more at ease.
Again, thanks for reading all the way across the world!!
Leslie
Hi there, As the Mum of a type 1 child in Ireland, I have gone through some of what you are talking about (though thankfully we don’t need the lockdown drills TG). My child was the first diabetic child in our primary school and the teachers did not know anything about it at first. It took a while…but during that time, I made it my job to be at the school regularly through the day and I promoted the teachers’ learning processes by getting a video about type 1 for them all to watch as well as getting them information about “your student with diabetes”. The thing that we Moms know when we have a diabetic child is that there is no margin for error in the care of a diabetic child so once your teachers “get” that, they will have to take care. And most of the time, my child is fine so it is just a question of being careful around exercise/dance times and if he should happen to go a bit low, he knows he can just take whatever carbs he needs at that time, without having to ask the teacher. By the way, I also have a standard letter in his bag, so that should a substitute teacher happen to be in his class on any day, he can just hand it up and he won’t have to try to explain anything himself to the teacher about his condition.
Good luck with everything. It sounds to me that as you are a person who covers all the “what ifs”, you are just the kind of Mom who will ensure your child will be just fine.
Hi Leslie,
If people are snickering behind your back when you bring up the “what if’s”, they’re clueless. You mention some very valid points that most people would never think of. It’s much needed information like this that you provide for people like me that helps us to become aware of what types of behaviors we need to adopt in order to keep your son and other Type 1 children safe at school and in other environments as well.
Bravo!