"Back to school" time is always hectic for families, and for those with children with type 1 diabetes, there's even more planning and preparation involved. Particularly for families with newly diagnosed children, back to school can be very stressful, and even downright frightening. Will your child be properly cared for? Who is prepared to respond in emergencies? How will students and teachers view your child? The list of questions goes on and on...

Advice from The Experts

Bernadette Entwisle coordinates visits by a group of Melbourne Chapter volunteers to speak with school staff about 'Teaching a Child with Diabetes'. Information presented has been developed and is regularly reviewed by the JDRF Melbourne Chapter in conjunction with Diabetes Nurse Educators at Melbourne's major pediatric diabetes centres.

The 'School Visiting Program' aims to present staff with information about type 1 diabetes as well as give school staff confidence in their ability to cope with all situations. The Program recently won an Award of Excellence at JDRF International's Annual Conference in Washington DC.

Bernadette shares with us her advice for parents needing to educate their school about diabetes.

We have found that it is important that all school staff be educated about diabetes. Both teaching and office staff, not only the classroom teacher, will have contact with the child at some time, be it playground duty, sports days, excursions or replacement classes. They need to know not only what to do but also what the child with diabetes looks like! We suggest that a photo of your child be placed in a prominent position in the staff rooms so all staff will recognise the child with diabetes and s/he can easily be drawn to the attention of emergency or relieving staff.

In briefing a teacher on your child's diabetes, you may wish to cover some or all of the following topics:

• What is type 1 Diabetes?
• Hyperglycemia - With high blood sugars, teachers need to be able to accommodate the symptoms, i.e. going to the toilet and extra water and to relay the occurrence back to the parents.
• Hypoglycemia - symptoms, causes, treatment. Emphasis should be placed on:
  • Recognise the symptoms
  • Have both fast and slow acting food available - no matter where you are
  • Treat immediately
  • And everything will be OK!
• Severe Hypoglycemia - don't hesitate to call an ambulance
• Activity/Sport - give extra food as required
• Excursions - must take into account normal lunch times, extra activity etc. - have food inside the bus not under the bus!
• Communication with parents - how and when teachers need to contact parents about highs and lows
• Confidentiality - it is up to the child who they tell about their diabetes (but this does not include staff as all staff must know to be able to properly care for the child)
• Camps - need to be planned well in advance in conjunction with the child's diabetes educator

Remember that while you as a parent have an intimate knowledge of diabetes, the teaching staff may know very little or, sometimes worse, think that they know a great deal and be overly complacent.

It is a good idea to leave the school with printed materials to read at a later date and to have on display. An excellent colourful flip chart entitled "Diabetes Information" is available, and was designed specifically for schools. It covers a lot of the information needed in a school and can be put up on the notice board with the child's photo. JDRF also have a number of very good pamphlets available with clear concise information and diagrams - all of which have been recently revised. Also available from JDRF is an activity book called "Darcy has Diabetes …so what!" which has been designed for use by class groups in middle primary school years.

I hope that this information has been of some assistance. All the best with managing this challenging time in your child's life.

More information is available on JDRF International's website: Diabetes in School. Please note that the advice on the JDRFI website is intended for a US audience, but much of it may still be useful for Australian families.

JDRF's brochure A Child with Diabetes is in Your Care may be a useful tool for teachers and other part-time carers.