Diabetes is a serious, chronic disease that impairs the body’s ability to use food properly due to the inability of the pancreas to make insulin (the hormone which helps the body convert food into energy) or to use insulin properly. Without insulin, glucose (sugar), the body’s main energy source, builds up in the blood. Diabetic students may manage their illness by using injectable or infused insulin, oral hypoglycemic agents, and/or dietary modifications. In the school setting blood glucose levels can become too high (hyperglycemia) or too low (hypoglycemia) and require monitoring through blood glucose testing.
This policy shall apply to all students in all programs who are diagnosed with diabetes. The following protocols will allow children who are diagnosed with diabetes to self-manage their disease whenever possible in order to ensure their optimum health and safety while at school or at school-sponsored activities.
It is important that diabetic care be managed and accommodated in the school setting through collaboration with the student, parent/family, licensed care providers, school administrator, school nurse teacher, classroom teacher, specialists, and any other staff who may have contact with the student.
Both an Individualized Health Care Plan and Emergency Care Plan will be developed by the certified school nurse-teacher for each diabetic student in the school setting. These plans will be shared with cafeteria and recess staff and staff involved in school sponsored activities to facilitate appropriate care.
Students with diabetes should be taught and encouraged to independently care for their disease to the best of their ability, based on age, developmental stage, skills performance and input from the diabetic care team. Students who are able to self test, self administer insulin, and to manage their diabetic care must be allowed to do so in the classroom or other appropriate place(s) if the student and diabetic care team deem that this is appropriate. A physician’s order will be on file to address accommodations including, but not limited to, diabetic self care in the school setting.
All diabetic students will be allowed to consume snacks in the classroom or other appropriate location, such as the bus. Students will also be able to use the bathroom and water fountain as needed.
All symptomatic diabetic students will have access to the school clinic and shall be accompanied to a health area clinic by an adult.
All school personnel (inclusive of staff involved with any school sponsored activity and with transportation) who may be involved in the care of a student who has been diagnosed with diabetes shall be informed of the individualized health care plan (IHCP) and the emergency care plan (ECP) as appropriate. In addition, they should be made aware of this policy and related regulations through training or education.
Diabetic care performed in the health room/clinic will be documented using the district diabetic care log and data will be communicated to the parent/family/health care provider as per the individualized care plan.
This policy is subject to all of the requirements and restrictions as provided in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act requires that we use reasonable safeguards to insure that employees and students protected health information is not transmitted or disclosed to anyone who does not have a right to know and to insure the information remains confidential.
Accordingly, pursuant to the (HIPAA) requirements, consent forms must be signed by the parents/or guardians of any minor student authorizing health information concerning their son/daughter be allowed to be communicated pursuant to this policy.
The consent of the parent or guardian is necessary prior to the dissemination of confidential health information in order to facilitate this Policy for Diabetes Care Management. In order to share the information with the various staff in the West Warwick Public Schools, it is necessary that consent be obtained from the parents in order to facilitate the sharing of this information and be in compliance with the (HIPAA) policies and procedures.
In the event a parent/legal guardian refuses to sign the consent, a copy of the Policy for Diabetes Care Management shall be sent to those parents and advising them that the need for consent is imperative in order to manage and accommodate the services that may be necessary to render to their son/daughter both in the classroom and in the school setting and that this information is necessary for the health and safety of the student.
References:
R.I. Department of Health Policy on Diabetes Care Management
Date Adopted:
1/10/06
Date Revised:
5/9/06
Initials of Chairperson: ________