By Dedra Cordle
Staff Writer
Caring for students with diabetes could become easier in the South-Western City Schools District.
At its March 9 meeting, the board of education accepted a new policy that would allow students to manage their own care with parents and physician authorization.
According to Sandy Nekoloff, the district’s executive director of communications, the new policy is beneficial because it will provide “autonomy for students whose parents and physicians grant permission for self-care and strengthen the communication between parents and those involved in the student’s care.”
Under the new policy, students who have authorization will be permitted to perform diabetes care tasks anywhere on school grounds (a private area will also be available per parental request) and they will also be permitted to possess all necessary supplies and equipment to perform diabetes care tasks.
The new policy will also allow the district to play a larger role in a student’s management of diabetes. Under the guidelines, authorized staff will be able to check and record – or assist the student in checking and recording – blood glucose levels and ketone levels, respond to blood glucose levels that are outside of the student’s target range, administer glucagons or other emergency treatments in the case of severe hypoglycemia, and administer insulin – or assist in the student’s self-administering insulin through the insulin delivery system.
Authorized staff will also be able to provide oral diabetes medication and they will follow the physician’s instruction regarding meals, snacks and physical activity.
The policy was mandated through the state with the passage of House Bill 264, which was signed into law last year by Governor John Kasich. Representatives with the American Diabetes Association applauded the bill, calling it vital legislation.
“With Governor John Kasich’s signature, this vital legislation provides students living with diabetes across Ohio access to the support and care they need to manage their diabetes and stay medically safe at school,” said Gina Gavlack, chair of the National Advocacy Committee of the American Diabetes Association, in a press release.
