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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | August 17, 2015 01:49 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Matthew E. Baker |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Diabetes in School Legislation |
| In the near future, I will be reintroducing legislation (former HB 2221) that provides for the management of diabetes while students are in school or at school-related activities. The care of a student with diabetes requires management 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For students with Type I diabetes, and for some with Type 2 diabetes, that means monitoring blood glucose (sugar) levels through the day and the administration of insulin. Blood glucose levels that are well-managed help students avoid short-term complications of diabetes, and feel better and be more productive at school and at play. Most states allow for trained staff, in addition to a school nurse, to help with diabetes medications. My legislation will amend the Public School Code to allow students who are capable of self-managing their diabetes to be permitted to do so. In addition, staff could be trained in the routine and emergency care needs of students who need assistance with their diabetes management, such as checking blood glucose, administering insulin or administering glucagon, when a school nurse is not available. Furthermore, the Department of Health would be required to issue diabetes management guidelines and training modules for schools. The American Diabetes Association and health care professionals specializing in diabetes endorse training school personnel to provide this care (when a school nurse is not available) as the best--and safest—solution. The legislation makes it explicit that this is not a school nurse delegation and that permission for the use of a trained staff person would be provided by the parent and child's clinician. I hope you will join in co-sponsoring this important legislation to ensure the safety of diabetic students in the absence of a school nurse |
Introduced as HB1625