Advice needed regarding diabetic student

lifelearningrn, BSN, RN · Apr 22

Is this T1D or T2D? Ideally, any teacher that has contact with student should know if the student is being treated for diabetes and know what to look for (highs/lows).

seedanurse · Apr 22

Are the teachers aware of the student's medical diagnosis? Is this student on a 504?

I notify teachers if one of their students has diabetes (in fact, that is an accommodation listed on their 504s). Teachers should be aware of high/low symptoms, where the student stores their glucagon, what their emergency response plan is, etc.

If the parents have requested that the diagnosis be kept secret, I would ask them to meet with you, and admin, so you can explain the rational for informing teachers. If they still decline, I would put that in their 504, and get signatures. Huge liability risk.

I would feel very out-of-line telling teachers not to hand out candy. That doesn't seem to be the best solution.

Tali56 · Apr 22

lifelearningrn said:

Is this T1D or T2D? Ideally, any teacher that has contact with student should know if the student is being treated for diabetes and know what to look for (highs/lows).

T1D. I have informed her teachers, but one teacher said she forgot she about her diagnosis when giving her the candy, so I wasn't sure what to do.

Tali56 · Apr 22

seedanurse said:

Are the teachers aware of the student's medical diagnosis? Is this student on a 504?

I notify teachers if one of their students has diabetes (in fact, that is an accommodation listed on their 504s). Teachers should be aware of high/low symptoms, where the student stores their glucagon, what their emergency response plan is, etc.

If the parents have requested that the diagnosis be kept secret, I would ask them to meet with you, and admin, so you can explain the rational for informing teachers. If they still decline, I would put that in their 504, and get signatures. Huge liability risk.

I would feel very out-of-line telling teachers not to hand out candy. That doesn't seem to be the best solution.

Yes she has a 504 and yes her teachers are aware. It's just that one teacher said she forgot and gave her candy and I feel like that was irresponsible. And then the principal shared her medical diagnosis with all the staff in the school, so I wanted to know my responsibility in this situation.

Editorial Team / Admin · Apr 22

I am sorry you have to go through such a stressful situation. I feel like there should be some proper education for these teachers on what diabetes is, and the significance of why we should be mindful of handing out candy to these children. I know when I was preceptoring in public health, the public health nurses would do education sessions on the teaching staff that were involved with a kid that had diabetes, I wonder if you could get some policies in place to enforce this in the school?

It is a difficult situation too, because the teacher probably doesn't want to leave the kid out, I wonder if they could implement handing out something less sugar heavy to kids?

In terms of confidentiality, I don't think you're liable for the principle disclosing personal medical information to the whole staff. However, there should be some policies in place in the future to determine how you guys should handle these situations. Just like how many schools have a peanut free zone, maybe the school should be more mindful and develop a candy free zone? I know that is hard, but instead of giving kids candy, they can always provide other items, like stationary or stickers as a way of positive reinforcement. Best of lucky!

arlingtonnurse · Apr 23

It is terrible the teacher 'forgot' about this important diagnosis as well as that she hands out candy so freely either way. How old is this student? They are going to face a lifetime of opportunities and decisions about their food choices, and this is one of them. It sounds like they are old enough to know they should tell you about the candy however, and then you can correct for it, if appropriate.

beachynurse, ASN, BSN · Apr 23

The teachers should know if they have a diabetic in their class! We make sure that our teachers know about Diabetics, kids with epi-pens, seizures, and any other medical diagnosis that can be emergent, or effect them in class. It's important for the teachers to know how to handle an emergency if it happens in their class. We provide emergency plans, or Medical plans to the teachers that need them. We are covered by FERPA, so we are able to share that information with the staff..

Cattz, ADN · Apr 23

Hang in there. It sounds like you did all the right things.

Did you document who you informed, s/s highs/lows and the plan of what to do and when? This is a chance to re-educate the teacher(s).

As far as the Principal- That's not on you. But, with the seriousness of lows and highs- the teachers/staff that are in the building- need to know in case the student experiences them.

Good luck-

🙂

offlabel · Apr 23

Why the angst about staff being aware of a life threatening medical diagnosis? That's a form of body shaming and has no place in schools. There is no shame in having diabetes or any medical condition and keeping that a secret results in the very problem you're having.

beachynurse, ASN, BSN · Apr 23

offlabel said:

Why the angst about staff being aware of a life threatening medical diagnosis? That's a form of body shaming and has no place in schools. There is no shame in having diabetes or any medical condition and keeping that a secret results in the very problem you're having.

I'm confused. Why is it that the teachers being aware of a medical concern considered body shaming? This is need to know information that can potentially save a student's life if an emergency happens in the classroom.

Tali56 · Apr 23

offlabel said:

Why the angst about staff being aware of a life threatening medical diagnosis? That's a form of body shaming and has no place in schools. There is no shame in having diabetes or any medical condition and keeping that a secret results in the very problem you're having.

I wasn't referring to her classroom teachers, as I have already informed and educated them including the teacher that forgot, but every staff member in the building including the ones that don't interact with the student, as the principal shared that medical information with everybody, and I wasn't sure if I should be concerned about that or not.

Julia Liou said:

I am sorry you have to go through such a stressful situation. I feel like there should be some proper education for these teachers on what diabetes is, and the significance of why we should be mindful of handing out candy to these children. I know when I was preceptoring in public health, the public health nurses would do education sessions on the teaching staff that were involved with a kid that had diabetes, I wonder if you could get some policies in place to enforce this in the school?

It is a difficult situation too, because the teacher probably doesn't want to leave the kid out, I wonder if they could implement handing out something less sugar heavy to kids?

In terms of confidentiality, I don't think you're liable for the principle disclosing personal medical information to the whole staff. However, there should be some policies in place in the future to determine how you guys should handle these situations. Just like how many schools have a peanut free zone, maybe the school should be more mindful and develop a candy free zone? I know that is hard, but instead of giving kids candy, they can always provide other items, like stationary or stickers as a way of positive reinforcement. Best of lucky!

Thank you for the advice.