Diabetes Care in the School Setting: A Statement of the American Diabetes Association

Abstract

Diabetes is a prevalent chronic disease in school-age children. To keep students with diabetes safe at school, support their long-term health, prevent complications, and ensure full participation in all school activities, proper monitoring of and response to glucose levels must be attended to throughout the school day and during all school-sponsored activities. Care coordination among the family, school, and diabetes health care professionals is critical. With proper planning, including the education and training of school staff, children and youth with diabetes can fully and safely participate in school. In this statement, we review the legal framework for diabetes care in schools, the core components of school-based diabetes care, the responsibilities of various stakeholders, and special circumstances.