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You have just found out that your child has been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. You and your family spend the next two days getting a crash course in how to take care of your child so you can prepare him or her for living with type 1 diabetes the rest of their life. Then it dawns on you. Who is going to take care of my child while they are at school? You think surely the school nurse is well trained and able to handle anything that comes his/her way. Right? That is what I thought until we found out our public school does not hire nurses. They hire employees who are basically trained in first aid and not qualified to administer daily insulin shots or glucagon in emergency situations. They claim that nurses are glorified "bandaide putter oners" and make too much money.
Andrew was diagnosed when he was in pre-school and luckily we had a great teacher and school who understood our situation. This was a private school and did not have to accomodate our requests for care. When Andrew entered the public school system we immediately became defensive when we found out that the health room aide would not be able to give Andrew his inusulin shot at lunch.
In the end we worked out a plan with our school district that worked for our family. Being an advocate for your child is the key.
DIABETES BILL OF RIGHTS
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT DIABETES CARE AT SCHOOL. WHAT ARE YOUR RIGHTS?
Discrimination Based on Diabetes
Traveling with Diabetes Supplies
Your School and Your Rights
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