An E-book and
online resource for
parents of children with
Juvenile Diabetes
My Child Has Diabetes
Live a Normal Life
So Your Child Has Diabetes:
A Step By Step Plan For You and Your Child
(by Russell Turner)
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So Your Child Has Diabetes
Table of Contents
Chapters:
- The Dreaded Diagnosis
- The Day They Turn You Loose
- Regiment, We're In The Army Now!
- "Daddy, Can I Sleep Over Grandma's?"
- School
- "Daddy, I Don't Want To Take Any More Shots"
- Real Low Blood Sugar Levels
- When Do I Take My Child to the Emergency Room?
- "I Feel Different from Everyone Else"
- Be Prepared for Emotional Times
- "An Apple or a Coma Those Are Your Choices"
- Your Other Children
- And Now A Word from Kari
- Let's Take A Vacation
- The Wrap Up
We are offering this ebook in two different formats for your convenience.
You may read it online here, or download it to your computer in a PDF format.
If you find this book helpful, please consider a donation. Fifty percent (50%) of your donation will go toward Diabetes Research and finding a cure. The rest will be used to help pay the costs associated with running this site and to continue to reach out to other parents who are just starting down this difficult path.
God bless you and your families.
Sincerely,
Russell Turner
Chapter Five: School
Remember that extra meter I suggested you request? This is where it comes in real handy. First, make an appointment with the school nurse, the teacher, the gym teacher, and if your school has one the school psychologist. Before you go in get a big Tupperware box. Put the extra meter, test strips all of the stuff that you already have in your travel kit in it. Make sure you get a signed statement from your doctor that gives the nurse permission to administer medication. Don't forget the one for aspirins. Your child will need them for the headaches she may get when she goes high. In my state the schools are very sticky that the milligrams per dose on the aspirin or Tylenol, or whatever you choose, match exactly what the doctor has given permission for. Don't have the doctor give permission for 200mg per dose and walk in with a bottle that's 250mg per dose. Now, take a magic marker and write your child's name on the box. The nurse will kiss you if you show up prepared.
Your child may not be the only child in the school with diabetes, but if they are the nurse will be really appreciate these preparations. The timing worked out so Kari only had to have a finger stick during school hours. Your situation may be different but the procedure will be the same. After you make arrangements with the nurse and have given her the box go see the teacher. Explain the situation. Give the teacher a copy of the same instructions you left with grandma. Make sure she understands how important your child's snack time is! If it doesn't coincide with her schedule she must make an allowance! Make sure the teacher understands that there will be times when your child will feel lousy and need an unscheduled blood test. Make sure they will allow your child to go to the nurse when this happens no matter what the class is doing.
It is also a good idea for the teacher to assign another student to accompany your child to the nurse just in case. I doubt you will get any argument. If you do check with you're state's laws concerning people with disabilities.
There are three federal laws that cover your child. These are:
- The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504 , See our info
- The Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1991 , and the Americans
with Disabilities Act of 1992 .
See our info
You may have to call for a formal "504" meeting (they used to call these PPT meetings). Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Info
Call the principal to schedule this if necessary. After the teacher go see the gym teacher. Give him or her a copy of the list. Have a similar conversation as you had with the teacher. You will be pretty good at it by now. Finally, introduce yourself and your child to the school psychologist. The time will come when she can probably help. Kari had a couple of occasions and the psychologist is just down the hall. A lot closer than you can be during the school day.
One thing to watch out for. After a little while Kari found that if she had to do something in class she didn't like, all of a sudden she didn't feel good and had to go to the nurse. Nice try. Any work she missed in class due to a sudden onset of convenient symptoms had to be made up at home in addition to regular homework. It didn't take long for her to become miraculously cured!
Remember that your child may have diabetes but they are still a kid.
Next
Chapter Six: "Daddy, I Don't Want to Take Any More Shots"
Legal StatementThe Book "So Your Child Has Diabetes" A Step by Step Plan for You and Your Child , is Copyright © 2004 by Russell A. Turner. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any other means: electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of the copyright holders. This book is supplied for information purposes only and, as experienced in this subject matter as the contributors are, the material herein does not constitute professional medical advice. This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher and contributors are not engaged in rendering medical, psychological, or other professional advice. If medical or other professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. The reader is advised to consult with an appropriately qualified medical professional before making any medical decision. The publisher and contributors do not accept any responsibility for any liabilities resulting from decisions made by the purchasers of this book.
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