Supporting Students with Diabetes

Schools and districts can support students with diabetes by implementing policies and procedures that encourage the implementation of a diabetes medical management plan for each diabetic student and by procuring glucagon for diabetic emergencies. With policies and procedures in place, schools can increase students’ well-being, attendance, and academic success. This webpage provides information on diabetes, plans, training, glucagon, and reporting that supports schools, students, and families.

Schools can engage with families of students with diabetes to discuss their individual needs, symptoms, and diabetic plan of care. Schools, families, and medical providers can maintain consistent and clear communication loops that support effective blood glucose management with minimal disruption to the learning environment.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic health condition involving how the body turns food into energy. When the body produces too little insulin, blood sugar levels become abnormal, and people with diabetes may need to take insulin regularly. When their blood sugar fluctuates, students with diabetes may have difficulty concentrating and learning. Schools can actively support students with diabetes by:

  • Creating communication loops with families and healthcare providers;
  • Training staff in diabetes care;
  • Implementing medical management plans; and
  • Procuring stock glucagon for diabetic emergencies.

A board of education or governing authority may reference the U.S. Department of Education’s Section 504 Protections for Students with Diabetes when informing a student's parent, guardian, or other person having care or charge of the student that the student may be entitled to a 504 plan regarding the student's diabetes.

Diabetes Informational Materials

Ohio law requires each public, chartered nonpublic, community, or STEM school that serves elementary school students to provide an electronic or paper copy of informational materials on Type 1 diabetes to each student’s parent or guardian on the student’s enrollment in elementary school. Informational materials were created by Ohio Department of Health following the guidelines included in Ohio law. The informational flyer is available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Haitian Creole, Nepali, Somali, and Swahili.

Diabetes Medical Management Plan

Management of a child’s diabetes while at school will be most successful when done as a partnership between the child, their parents, school nurse, medical provider, teachers, principals and coaches. Having a personalized diabetes medical management plan in place for each student with type 1 diabetes is essential to successful management of a student’s diabetes during the school day. The American Diabetes Association offers sample diabetes management plans, 504 plans, and emergency plans.

Diabetes Training Materials

Ohio law requires the Department to adopt nationally recognized guidelines, as determined by the Department, for the training of school employees in diabetes care for students. The Department recognizes the trainings and guidelines on Diabetes for schools available on the American Diabetes Association’s Safe at School webpage.

Glucagon Policy and Procurement

In the event of a severe hypoglycemic event, the medication glucagon can save the life of a student with diabetes. Ohio Law allows for public, chartered and nonchartered nonpublic, community, and STEM schools to purchase or procure stock glucagon to be used in the event of a diabetic emergency. Ohio law requires that if a school or district chooses to procure injectable or nasally administered glucagon, they must adopt a policy governing maintenance and use of the drug. Ohio law for public, chartered or nonchartered nonpublic, and STEM schools includes required components of the policy. 
 
Schools and districts may accept donations of injectable or nasal glucagon from pharmacies or manufacturers, and monetary donations from anyone to buy the drug. Those choosing to stock glucagon must follow Ohio laws and are encouraged to keep at least two doses at each school in the district.

Reporting 

Ohio law requires city, local, exempted village, joint vocational, chartered nonpublic, community, and STEM schools to report to the Department yearly the number of students enrolled with a medical diagnosis of diabetes and the number of diabetic medication administration errors. Ohio law also requires city, local, exempted village, joint vocational, chartered nonpublic, community, and STEM schools that elect to procure injectable or nasally administered glucagon to report to the Department each procurement and each occurrence in which a dose of the drug is used from a school's supply.

  • Public and Community schools should report in their data collection system which uploads into the Department’s Education Management Information System (EMIS). For more information on how to report in the system, contact the district's EMIS Coordinator or see section 5.3 of EMIS manual.
  • Nonpublic schools should report in the Nonpublic Schools Data System (NPDS). See Instructions for Reporting in NPDS for further information.

Ohio law requires the Department to issue a report summarizing the information received for the previous school year and make it available on the Department’s web site. The 2024-2025 Diabetes Annual Report  is now available.

Free or Reduced-Cost Glucagon for Families

Additional Resources

Last Modified: 8/12/2026 1:43:57 PM