Diabetes
Diabetes is a long-lasting condition that affects how our bodies turn the foods we eat into energy for use.
Most of the foods we eat are broken down into sugar which signals the pancreas to release a hormone called insulin. Insulin is like a key that opens our cells to let the sugar into be used for energy. When a student has diabetes the body does not make enough insulin or it cannot use the insulin that it makes so the sugar stays in the bloodstream and never gets inside the cells for use. This leads to high sugar levels that can lead to many health problems.
There are two types of diabetes:
Type 1 diabetes – In Type 1 diabetes the body does not make enough insulin. Type 1 diabetes happens quickly and no one knows how to prevent it. Students with Type 1 diabetes will need to take insulin medication every day.
Type 2 diabetes – In Type 2 diabetes the body does not use insulin well. Type 2 diabetes develops over many years and can be prevented.
This page will focus on Type 1 diabetes because it can lead to emergency situations.
With type 1 diabetes food and exercise must be balanced with insulin to keep the blood sugar levels normal. If the blood sugar levels in the body get too low this is known as hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. If the blood sugar levels in the body get too high this is known as Hyperglycemia or high blood sugar.
What Causes Hyperglycemia?
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Hyperglycemia– high blood sugar level
- Usually caused by eating more food then needed for the body
- Not getting enough insulin
- Stress
- Illness
Hyperglycemia takes hours to a few days before there is a problem so this is not an emergency.
What Causes Hypoglycemia?
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Hypoglycemia– low blood sugar level
- Usually caused by not eating as much food as usual
- Taking too much insulin
- Exercising more than usual with hat without having eaten an extra snack
Hypoglycemia can happen fast and needs to be treated immediately as blood sugar levels can continue to drop and student may lose consciousness.
What can I do to prepare for my student with Diabetes?
- Review your classroom roster to be aware of any students with a diagnosis of diabetes that is in your class.
- Prepare a list for any substitute teachers so that they can be aware of any student with a diagnosis of diabetes in the class
- Know how to recognize the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia and know how to respond
- Encourage your students with Diabetes Type 1 to bring in a written diabetes action plan that tells exactly what to do for them daily. Review the action plan and become familiar with it.
- Know your students blood sugar monitoring needs and support this.
- Ensure that student can eat snacks at a scheduled time and have snacks available to treat low blood sugar
- Prepare in advance for field trips or special events involving food.
- Collaborate with your school nurse
Printable emergency sheets
References:
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, June 11). Type 1 Diabetes? Diabetes. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/type1.html
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, June 6). Managing Diabetes at School. Diabetes. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/library/features/managing-diabetes-at-school.html