For Teachers and Caregivers

Hi, I’m Boop, from Fuzzle Friends! I live in a magical fairytale cloud land where I’m always popping up with a helpful surprise just when someone needs it. This article is for the teachers, the aides, the lunch monitors, and the substitute teachers who want to be ready. Knowing what to look for and what to do makes all the difference. You don’t have to be a diabetes expert. You just have to care — and now you’ll know what to do.

Are you a teacher who has a student with type 1 diabetes in your classroom? Or are you a parent sending your child off to school? We have you covered; the resources on this page will help explain what type 1 diabetes is, what issues may come up in the classroom setting, and how to deal with diabetes-related concerns in the classroom.

VERY IMPORTANT: Kids with diabetes are still kids! Working together with caregivers, teachers, and medical care providers, we can create a team approach to making school safe.

What is Type 1 Diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes, previously called juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is an autoimmune disease in which the body destroys insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Insulin is required by the body to use glucose, the simple sugar into which foods are broken down by our digestive system. Without insulin, the body starves to death.

It's important to note that everyone is insulin-dependent. People without diabetes make insulin in their pancreas. People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin daily either by injection, via insulin pen, or using an insulin pump. They will also need to check their blood sugar at various points during the day, using a glucose meter, a continuous glucose monitor, or both.

During the school day, students with diabetes might be dealing with low or high blood sugars — or a combination of both.

What is Low Blood Sugar and How Is It Treated?

Hypoglycemia, aka low blood sugar, occurs when the blood sugar level is too low, due to too much insulin, too little food, or too much exercise. Children with low blood sugar sometimes behave erratically or act sleepy, and are often very hungry and shaky. Low blood sugar must be treated immediately by giving the child foods with simple sugars, such as glucose tablets, fruit juice or regular (NOT diet) soda. If you suspect that a child has low blood sugar, do not leave the child unattended because the child can lose consciousness. Never send a child who you suspect has a low blood sugar to the nurse or clinic alone.

Options for treating severe low blood sugars now include nasal glucagon and shelf-stable glucagon, in addition to the older injectable rescue glucagon. Review these options with your diabetes care team to see what works best for your family.

Symptoms of Low Blood Sugar

Symptoms of low blood sugar vary from person to person, but the most common symptoms are:

Feeling shaky
Being nervous or anxious
Sweating, chills and clamminess
Irritability or impatience
Confusion
Fast heartbeat
Feeling lightheaded or dizzy
Hunger
Nausea
Color draining from the skin (pallor)
Feeling sleepy
Feeling weak or having no energy
Blurred/impaired vision
Tingling or numbness in the lips, tongue, or cheeks
Headaches
Coordination problems, clumsiness
Nightmares or crying out during sleep
Seizures

(source: American Diabetes Association)

What is High Blood Sugar and How Is It Treated?

Hyperglycemia, aka high blood sugar, occurs when the blood sugar level is too high, due to too little insulin or too much food. Children with high blood sugar sometimes act lethargic and sleepy, and are often very thirsty and need to go to the bathroom a lot. High blood sugar is treated by giving additional insulin and sugar-free drinks, such as water or diet (NOT regular) soda. Students with diabetes must be given free access to water and the bathroom whenever they feel the need. Prolonged hyperglycemia due to insufficient insulin can lead to a very serious condition called diabetic ketoacidosis, which can lead to coma and death.