School time for parents, children and teachers can be a fantastic experience, but it has its challenges if a pupil has or has only recently been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. If you have a child with diabetes (or if there is a pupil with diabetes in your school or class) returning to school or joining a new class or school, in the beginning, it can be a bit stressful and busy.
Preparing for back to school means organising books, uniforms, school lunches and much more. For children living with diabetes, it also means managing or changing insulin regimes and thinking about blood glucose monitoring in school. There can be an added concern for parents, as well as for the teachers if a child with diabetes is starting school for the first time or changing to a new class with a teacher who may not be yet familiar with diabetes or even moving on to post-primary school.
Knowing that it can be an anxious time for parents and children, as well as for the school staff, we have prepared some tips and tools to help you with this challenge. It is important that parents/carers engage positively with the school, and ensure the teachers understand the condition and how they need to act, bearing in mind that they have other pupils to care for as well. Good written and verbal communication between parents and the school is key.
Click here for more information for parents and carers about raising a child with diabetes.
For all concerned: parents, diabetes teams and school staff, the document Meeting the Care Needs of Primary School Children with Type 1 Diabetes during School Hours might be of great help! Click on the other links below to find some useful tips that will help you get started.
