November - 2 - 2009
An increasing number of young people are being diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, and many schools are struggling to provide proper care for these children. About one in every 440 children and adolescents has diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), but statistics from the National Center for Education show that 30 percent of schools have only a part-time nurse and 25 percent have none at all. Some schools employ trained, non-medical staffers to help young children monitor their blood sugar, while other schools have nurse practitioners who help provide this care. Endocrinologist Dr. Frederick Schwenk, a professor of pediatrics at Mayo College of Medicine in Rochester, Minn., recommends that students with diabetes have a team approach to their care, with multiple staff members--ranging from cafeteria workers to gym teachers and the principal--aware of their condition and of what they should do in the event of an emergency. To help families and schools develop support programs, the ADA offers the Safe at School Campaign. In addition, some states have legislation that offers further safeguards to a student's well-being. Nurse Jean Litton of Duke Medical Center's Pediatric Diabetes Program notes that "in North Carolina, two people in each school must be trained to serve a child with diabetes, in case one is absent."