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 that is uniquely tailored for each diabetic student and by procuring glucagon to be available for diabetic emergencies. With policies and procedures in place, schools can increase students’ well-being, attendance and academic success. This webpage provides schools and districts with information on sample management plans, 504 plans, diabetes medical management plans and glucagon procurement and reporting.

DIABETES

Students are being diagnosed with diabetes at an increased rate according to the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth study funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health.
Diabetes is a chronic health condition involving how the body turns food into energy.  With this metabolic disease the body cannot produce enough insulin to keep the blood sugar in normal levels. People with diabetes often need to take insulin throughout the day to keep the body’s blood sugar from going too high. Whether it be type 1 diabetes (typically diagnosed in children or young adults) or type 2, it is important to remember that every student is unique and may handle their diabetes in a different way. When a student with diabetes has a blood sugar that is either too high or too low it can affect the student’s ability to focus and learn, inevitably impacting their educational achievements. Both issues can also impair a child’s ability to take care of themselves and may cause serious illness. Schools can help students reach their educational goals by establishing positive communications with the family and healthcare provider, assuring their staff is trained to assist students with their diabetes management, encouraging medical management plans for diabetics and procuring stock glucagon for diabetic emergencies.

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 a sample Diabetes Medical Management Plan that can be used however, a student’s physician may provide one that is more specific to their healthcare facility or electronic medical record system.

SAMPLE MANAGEMENT PLANS, 504 PLANS AND HEALTH CARE PLANS.

DIABETES TRAINING MATERIALS

  • Staff training materials for the management of diabetes in the school setting is available here.

IMPORTANCE OF GLUCAGON

Glucagon is a protein hormone that is produced naturally in the body to promote an increase in blood glucose levels.  For diabetics, a hypoglycemic event (when the blood sugar drops too low) can occur at any time, at home, school, work or play. Blood glucose levels that drop too low can be life threatening. Students who are experiencing a severe low blood sugar event can exhibit symptoms such as: feeling weak, having difficulty walking or seeing clearly, unconsciousness or seizures and are often unable to treat themselves. There is a medication form of glucagon that can be used to treat very low blood sugar. In the event of a severe hypoglycemic event this medication can save a student’s life. Schools have the ability under Ohio Law for public schools, nonpublic schools and community schools to purchase or procure stock glucagon to be used in the event of a diabetic emergency. If a school or district chooses to procure stock glucagon, they must develop a written glucagon policy. The information below is provided as a guide for schools and districts in the development of their policy.

GLUCAGON POLICY

Ohio law for public schools, nonpublic schools and community schools requires that if a school chooses to procure injectable or nasally administered glucagon, the district's superintendent or governing authority for chartered and non-chartered nonpublic schools must adopt a policy governing maintenance and use of the drug. The policy is not required if the district board does not choose to procure glucagon. The policy must be developed in consultation with a licensed health professional authorized to prescribe drugs. The policy must do the following:   
  • Identify the one or more locations in each school operated by the district in which injectable or nasally administered glucagon must be stored.  
  • Specify the conditions under which injectable or nasally administered glucagon must be stored, replaced and disposed.  
  • Specify the individuals employed by or under contract with the district board, in addition to a licensed school nurse or licensed athletic trainer, who may access and use injectable or nasally administered glucagon in an emergency. 
  • Specify that assistance from an emergency medical service provider must be requested immediately after a dose of glucagon is administered.   
  • Identify the emergency situations in which a school nurse, athletic trainer or other employees or contractors may access and use injectable or nasally administered glucagon.
  • Specify any training that employees or contractors, other than a school nurse or athletic trainer, must complete before being authorized to access and use injectable or nasally administered glucagon.  
  • Specify the individuals, if any, in addition to students, to whom a dose of glucagon may be administered in an emergency.  

A school district board of education chartered, or non-chartered nonpublic school may accept donations of injectable or nasally administered glucagon from a wholesale distributor or manufacturer, such as a pharmacy, and may accept donations of money from any person to purchase the drug.  

GLUCAGON PROCUREMENT

To support students with diabetes, guidelines are available for schools on the procurement, distribution and training for the administration of glucagon to support students with diabetes in Ohio law.

Ohio Revised Codes Public Schools Chartered or nonchartered nonpublic school  Community School
Glucagon Procurement 3313.7115 3313.7116 3314.147


A board of education of each city, local, exempted village or joint vocation school district, chartered or non-chartered nonpublic school or community school choosing to procure injectable or nasally administered glucagon must do one of the following:  

  1. Having a licensed health professional authorized to prescribe drugs personally furnish the injectable or nasally administered glucagon to the school or school district or issue a prescription for the drug in the name of the school or district.  
  2. Having the district's superintendent or governing authority obtain a prescriber-issued protocol that includes definitive orders for injectable or nasally administered glucagon and the dosages to be administered. 
A district board of education, chartered or non-chartered nonpublic school or community school that elects to procure injectable or nasally administered glucagon under this section is encouraged to maintain, at all times, at least two doses of the drug at each school operated by the district.  

REPORTING GLUCAGON PROCUREMENT AND USAGE 

Ohio law also requires a district board that elects to procure injectable or nasally administered glucagon under this section to report to the Ohio Department of Education each procurement and each occurrence in which a dose of the drug is used from a school's supply.
  • 2022/2023 school year- Reporting of procurement of Glucagon will be included in the year end reporting in EMIS.

FREE OR REDUCED-COST GLUCAGON

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Last Modified: 9/18/2023 8:09:54 AM