Older diabetic students

[Needsmorechocolate, ASN]

Hi all:

I just started today in a new school and I have my first diabetic student that is in 7th grade. He does carb counting and correction factors.

He came in before lunch chatted and then tested his blood sugar and went to lunch. He came back after lunch and told me what he ate and then proceeded to quickly calculate the carbs and total insulin dose. He then gave himself an injection, chatted some more and went to class.

Also to add, I will communicate with his father everyday to update him on the finger stick results.

Do you allow the student this amount of control or do you supervise their calculations? I just want to make sure that I am allowing him the independence but also want to understand the whole process.

Thanks in advance.

[luvschoolnursing, LPN]

I'm in a high school-grades 9-12. I meet with the parents and discuss the amount of independence the student has. I have had kids who need all their calculations checked and I have kids who only come to see me if they have a problem-they don't routinely even come to the health office. It's very individualized and hopefully the student will get more independent each year.

[Needsmorechocolate, ASN]

Hi Luvschoolnursing:

Your advice was perfect. I called the student's father today and he told me that at times student is off on his calculations and requested that I supervise him. I spoke with the student after lunch and we agreed to work on calculations together. Thanks so much for your advice.

On the vent side, I had a teacher this afternoon that made this student wait to have a pass written out and then sent him to my office without antother student for feeling "weird."

I hope you have a good year!