My son is going into the 7th grade this year. He was diagnosed in first grade, and from then through the 5th grade he had the same wonderful school nurse. We had a very good school routine and I never had to worry too much because she was very much on top of things. Until my husband was offered a new job in NC. Last year, for 6th grade, my son started middle school here in NC. They do not have a school nurse. Well they do, but she covers about 8 schools all over town. I was a nervous wreck all year because they were pretty much leaving everything up to him to do, and we were not used to that We always check before lunch, treat after lunch, and check again before he gets on the bus to go home. There were days he wouldn’t check before the bus because he forgot, and days his meter would show a low and when I asked him what he did, he did nothing because he didn’t have any sugar tabs on him. After a couple of incidents, I met with school, set up a 504 plan, and shared my many concerns. I realized that we were pretty much on our own, so I really started stressing to my son what to do in certain circumstances. This year, they have contacted me about him being solely responsible for himself. Since they really weren’t much help anyway, I have agreed. I am trying to think of all the things that I can to help make this wotk. I am going to request that his locker be close to his homeroom class so that his supplies can be nearby. I may request additional lockers if his classes are too spread out. I have all pants with large pockets so that he will always have glucose tabs and his cell phone on him. I am going to request that he be able to carry and use his cell phone for anything diabetes related. I will set the vibrate alarm to remind him when to check. I send a notebook with everything in his lunch listed with carbs so that he can add them up and dose himself. The notebook has a calculator. I am a nervous wreck again, so I would appreciate any feedback on anything I have forgotten, or any ideas that I haven’t thought of. Being the new kid last year, he was pretty shy and embarrased of his diabetes, but I think he is more comfortable with it this year.
Can’t you have a teacher from the times of the day you want him to test…help to remind him. it benefits them because the don’t want anything happening during their class. Maybe since there is now nurse help…ask the teachers.
OH…and…maybe make that be part of the 504 that the teachers must help him??
Having been a teacher, and knowing what an enormous amount of work they have to do at that level, I would put a call out to a teacher who is diabetic. There must certainly be one in the school your son is going to. Ask to meet with that one teacher and/or principal to help explain your fears and concerns. The teacher could help to remind him, the principal should be aware of the situation anyway and be able to offer some sort of assistance. IF this gets you no where, or still feeling concerned, please go to your school board and make a plea…you have a “special needs” student here, and he needs their help. You are right, they don’t want anything to happen to him at school either.
I don’t know if this would work. I have diabetes and always took care of it myself, but I’m not a d-mom, so I don’t know that aspect of things… I was just wondering if he does his own diabetes care at home. Only because if he doesn’t, maybe in the home would be a good place to start getting him in the habit of some of the things he needs to do at school. But, like I said, I’m not a d-mom and I don’t really know your family routine, so maybe you already do that or it’s not feasible for some other reason. Transitions can be painful, but it sounds like you’re doing a lot of things to help… Hope everything works out well 
I’m a 7th grade teacher in OH. I don’t get why everything hinges on a school nurse honey. Guess what – its the teachers in the classrooms you should talk to. If I have a diabetic, an asthma, allergy kits, whatever its in my classroom that most of the 504 applies to. By 7th grade all my kids go down to the office to dose and treat and take their meds – they are doing it themselves. but the teachers are the ones who remind them, send them and watch them. I figure the nurse is with them a few minutes a day but they are with me and my peers the rest. I always know all my kids med schedules. I check in with them. In our building several of us have fridges and keep supplies from water and juice to applesause and peanut butter crackers. All my D kids can keep whatever they want with me. I invite them to lunch once in awhile, they bring some friends and we talk - best way to spot problems. As soon as you implemented that 504 you involved the teachers. We have orientation on every single one of our kids - what to look for, what to do, who to call. We now have a latex free building and at one time we had so many severe allergies to peanut butter we had a peanut free section of our dining room. Because I’m D I train all my classes what to look for, what to do and who to call in case I go low - they know all the teachers are trained how to use my glucagon. We are all trained how to use an allergy kit. Cathy is right, we don’t want anything to happen to him.
In the Fall go to school and introduce yourself to all his teachers and get them on board. Don’t be afraid to offer them supplies to keep in their room or a demonstration in seeing what his meter looks like or anything you think will help them feel comfortable and understand. If he’s not good at carrying tabs, let them know they are always in the office. Look at his schedule and talk to the teacher who has him after lunch and right before the bus - in our building most of our 7th graders have study hall so how easy to send him to get his testing or meds done. Check with them where he can go to be private. I always let my kids know when my planning period is if they need me. Also, we keep a walkie talkie on each floor of the building for emergencies, if they have any emergency plans in place, ask which teachers have walkie talkies, ask what emergency plans are in place. Our building is ancient so we don’t have phones in every room so all the teachers carry cells and we have a walkie talkie system with the office. I let kids phone out if there is permission but I don’t let them receive calls – that’s disruptive. So consider what you will do if you set up for him to call everyday and he doesn’t? Will you call the office to check on him? I like the vibrator phone idea, kinda like an alarm clock reminder. Think through all the what ifs. Our school health aide is only in the building a few hours a day so we all as teachers know we are the adult responsible. I tell my classes, educate me what you need and I will take good care of you and keep your safe. i always have a designated runner so if we need something fast they go. Most people don’t think about it but every teacher has an emergency plan so the kids know what to do just in case. I’m not just prepared for a fire drill.
I hope some of this helped. I know you want him to follow his schedule and take care of himself but I’m sure you’ll find the teachers want to be and will be a great support for him. Good Luck!
I have to agree with some of the comments about depending too much on the school nurse.I have had diabetes since I was 2, and found most school nurses don’t even know how to treat a diabetic and can sometimes make the situation worse.I also don’t mean to sound rude, but if your son has had it since first grade, he should be able to take on some of the responsibility by now.Not all of it, but some.For example he should generally be able to calculate how many carbs are in food.His teachers also shouldn’t have to remind him.Simply setting the alarm on his phone should be enough.I still use my phone for alarms through out the day because sometimes you get into something and lose track of time. He shouldn’t have to keep his supply in a locker either.He should be allowed to carry it on him. I always carried my supply with me because sometimes you don’t have the ability to walk to your locker to check, and it interrupts his learning by having to leave the classroom.He should be able to check in class so this way he can still be listening to whats being taught. I agree with Marcia Skidmore about letting the teachers know. They are usually understanding about letting students test and treat while in class because they realize missing parts of classes can effect grades. You also have to realize that becoming a teenager he’s going to forget at times to do things diabetes related, or like teenagers who are too lazy to clean their rooms, sometimes you know you should do something ,but just don’t feel like it so you think to your self “eh it won’t hurt if i miss this one check”. If you breath down his neck too closely as he gets older and starts wanting to hang out with friends more,especially as he approaches high school then he won’t be able to care for it on his own.Also if you follow him too closely he may act like any other teenager and get annoyed that his parents are always holding his hand and refuse to do things he needs to when it comes to the diabetes. Again, don’t leave everything up to him, but he should be able to start slowly taking some of the responsibility on himself. My parents made the mistake when I was 13 of going o.k. we’re done it’s up to you now, and then when I would have bad numbers my step father decided it was ok to ground me.This is why i say to slowly let him gain the responsibility, because it is alot to take on, but he needs to because one day he will graduate,hopefully go to college, and move away,and he’ll have to be able to do it on his own. Again sorry if I sound harsh I don’t mean to.I hope you get the answers you’re looking for.Also if the school gives you hell about letting him carry his phone,or any testing supplies,or meds just mention the Americans with Disabilities act and watch them jump and let you do what ever he needs.It always worked for me because the last thing a school wants is a law suit on their hands.Good luck.