Every student with diabetes should have an individualized Diabetes Medical Management Plan that sets out the specifics of that student’s needs throughout the school day, including information on when and how to monitor blood glucose levels and insulin dosages and instructions on meals and snacks, according to new guidelines from the American Diabetes Association.
The position statement, published in the October issue of Diabetes Care, calls on schools to better accommodate students with diabetes (Diabetes Care. 2015;38[10]:1958-63). The guidelines suggest that school nurses and other staff members undergo training to deal with hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. The statement also points out the need for reasonable modifications for students with diabetes during special events such as standardized testing, field trips, and school lockdowns.
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Also included in the October issue of Diabetes Care is a joint scientific statement from the American Diabetes Association, JDRF, and the Endocrine Society, which proposes a new classification system that outlines three progressive stages of type 1 diabetes, beginning with an asymptomatic stage of beta-cell autoimmunity, leading to a gradual progression to glucose intolerance, and ultimately, symptomatic disease (Diabetes Care. 2015;38[10]1964-74).
A consensus report in the October issue makes the case for designing studies that account for age-related differences in type 1 diabetes (Diabetes Care. 2015;38[10]:1975-85). A perspective focuses on potential solutions to the challenges of developing and gaining marketing approval for new drugs for pediatric type 1 diabetes (Diabetes Care. 2015;38[10]1986-91).
“Given the progress to date and knowledge gained in understanding the pathophysiology of type 1 diabetes, the unique needs of children with diabetes, and the evolving therapeutic landscape, updates to guide our thinking on management and approach to this patient cohort are continually needed,” Dr. William T. Cefalu and Dr. Jane L. Chiang wrote in the issue’s editorial (Diabetes Care. 2015;38[10]1955-7).