School Study Guide: Managing Diabetes at School

Birmingham, Ala. (Nov. 11, 2026) — Thousands of children and teenagers in the United States live with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, and that number continues to rise each year.  Diabetes mellitus is a chronic medical condition that impairs the body’s ability to convert food, especially sugar, into fuel. The two most common forms of diabetes are called Type 1 and Type 2; both forms can occur at any age.  However, children are more likely to be diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

“Diabetes happens at home; it also happens at school,” said Kelsey Bynon, a diabetes educator at Children’s of Alabama.

Helping a child navigate a diabetes diagnosis can be challenging for a family, especially when it comes to school and school-related activities. Bynon says although it can be challenging, it is not impossible; it requires a team effort among the child, the school’s nurse, and the parents.
 

"We know it affects everything in their day-to-day life, every decision they make now,” said Bynon. “We have to think about the foods they are eating.”
 

Bynon says some things can help calm a parent’s nerves, such as continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), which track a child’s blood sugar. She also recommends that parents meet with the school nurse to develop a plan for helping the child navigate diabetes.
 

“You can also establish how you want to communicate, by email or weekly or daily notes,” said Bynon. “This meeting is going to be very formative of that relationship that the parent and the school nurse have when it comes to taking care of the student.”
 

She also says this is a good time for parents to drop off items their child will need. This is also a good time to bring your child’s insulin and diabetes medication, along with supplies for monitoring blood sugar, treating low blood sugar, and emergency medication. Bynon says the conversation with the parent and the school nurse will differ because diabetes is diagnosed at different times and ages.
 

“Diabetes can be managed in multiple different ways for each individual, and so we really want to work with the school nurse and with the family to come up with a game plan that’s best fitting the needs of that student,” said Bynon.
 

Another thing that parents and the school nurse should discuss during their meeting is a diabetes management plan. A diabetes management plan is a personalized plan created with a healthcare team to control blood sugar levels, prevent complications, and discuss how the patient will handle sports or activities. 

"A diabetes management plan gives them tons of scenarios, and a lot of good information,” said Bynon. “It really helps the school nurse have some groundwork to know where to go from. You can find more information on creating a diabetes management plan at myschoolnurse.net.”
 

When a child is diagnosed, parents tend to spend a lot of time focusing on the disease’s physical effects, but some emotional issues also come with a diabetes diagnosis. Children often feel isolated, depressed, angry, or frustrated and, in some cases, have anxiety. Once a parent recognizes their child’s feelings, they should check in regularly and listen to what their child has to say before sharing their own feelings. Parents should also reinforce that when children take good care of themselves and manage their diabetes, they can avoid extra shots and miss fewer activities. Parents should also talk to their child’s diabetes health care team if they see any emotional issues. They should talk to their child’s doctor or a mental health professional if their child is showing any signs of depression (such as lasting sadness or irritability, tiredness, appetite changes, or changes in sleep habits). 
 

For more information on diabetes and managing diabetes throughout your child’s life, click here.