Diabetes
Diabetes at School
Does your child have diabetes that may affect their school day? If your child has diabetes that requires medication, blood glucose monitoring, or other health supports during school hours, please talk to your healthcare provider and contact your child’s school and the District School Nurse.
Early communication helps the school team plan for your child’s health and safety during the school day, including classroom time, recess, lunch, field trips, and other school activities.
What families should do
- Notify your child’s school and the District School Nurse about your child’s diabetes diagnosis. (You can find contact information on the Health Office page.)
- Submit required medical orders and parent/guardian authorization forms before medication or diabetes care can be provided at school. See the Forms page for medication administration and health plan forms.
- Provide all needed supplies as directed by your healthcare provider (for example: glucose meter/CGM supplies, insulin supplies, snacks, and emergency supplies, if applicable).
- Work with the school nurse to create or update your child’s diabetes health plan so staff understand the signs of low or high blood sugar and how to respond.
- If your child is authorized to self-monitor or self-carry/self-administer diabetes supplies or medication, make sure the required physician and parent/guardian authorization is completed and on file.
Important: For student safety, students are not permitted to carry or self-administer medication(s), and staff cannot administer medication, without the appropriate authorizations on file. (California Education Code 33308.5, 49400, 49423)