Children affected by diabetes can get help in Utah
Parents of children who experience diabetes can get help working with schools from the American Diabetes Association of Utah. A child that is diagnosed with diabetes undergoes “a serious life-changing event” according to Beverly Bartel, program manager for the American Diabetes Association in Utah. The children and their families are facing four to six finger sticks and injections a day.
“We make sure that children with diabetes have the same access [to learning] as children without diabetes,” says Marshall Emsley, event manager, Tour de Cure.
Children and parents need an advocate with the school to ensure that the child is treated according to the Americans with Disabilities Act. It is important for children who experience diabetes to have the tools to manage their disease nearby. This may mean being able to snack throughout the day to regulate blood sugar. It may also mean being able to do their own injections or having access to someone who can help them.
Because school nurses are shared amongst schools, they are not always an option. Requiring a parent to come in from work is inconvenient and may cause the family even greater hardship. The American Diabetes Association can provide training for those who are chosen to take care of the child.
“It’s really a scary thing when a child is diagnosed,” says Beverly. Having someone trained in the school who can help relieves some of that fear both for the parent and the child.
This article was originally published on examiner.com. Links updated September 2016.
“We make sure that children with diabetes have the same access [to learning] as children without diabetes,” says Marshall Emsley, event manager, Tour de Cure.
Children and parents need an advocate with the school to ensure that the child is treated according to the Americans with Disabilities Act. It is important for children who experience diabetes to have the tools to manage their disease nearby. This may mean being able to snack throughout the day to regulate blood sugar. It may also mean being able to do their own injections or having access to someone who can help them.
Because school nurses are shared amongst schools, they are not always an option. Requiring a parent to come in from work is inconvenient and may cause the family even greater hardship. The American Diabetes Association can provide training for those who are chosen to take care of the child.
“It’s really a scary thing when a child is diagnosed,” says Beverly. Having someone trained in the school who can help relieves some of that fear both for the parent and the child.
This article was originally published on examiner.com. Links updated September 2016.