Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disease most commonly found in children where the pancreas does not produce any insulin to the body, so insulin must be given to the person manually. Type 1 Diabetes is legally a disability, and should be treated with the same caution as such. More likely than not, there will be at least one student with Type 1 Diabetes in any classroom - 300,000+ Canadians have the disease, and the diagnosis rate increases by 5.1% every year. As a person who has experienced being a student with Type 1 Diabetes, I noticed that it was far too often that my teachers had no idea how to help me in emergency situations. This blog post is meant to act as a guide to prevent that from happening in classrooms. It is important to recognize the severity of Type 1 Diabetes.
People with Type 1 Diabetes have to control and monitor their glucose levels. They have to ensure that their glucose level isn't too high (Hyperglycemia) or too low (Hypoglycemia). The risk of their glucose levels reaching either of those extremes can be extremely fatal. Some people are able to identify symptoms immediately and fix the issue, others cannot at all. It is important as a teacher to recognize the signs and symptoms of Hyperglycemia and Hypoglycemia, as well as how to treat them, in order to save your student from a potentially fatal outcome:
High Blood Sugar (Hyperglycemia)
Symptoms:
Drinking lots of water/Dehydration
Frequent urination
Mood swings (i.e., irritable, exhausted, tense, potential for outbursts etc.)
Discomfort
Loss of focus
Loss of appetite
Headaches
Smell of ammonia on breath
Tiredness
Dry skin/mouth
Rapid breathing
Stiffness/aches
Nausea/vomiting
Hyperglycemia is treated with the administration of insulin. Insulin will come in the form of a pen needle, a syringe, or an insulin pump. For Type 1 Diabetics, insulin is always given after eating food and when glucose levels are high. There is a carb count that must be considered when giving insulin for food, which is dependent on each individual person. There is a correction factor that is also given for when glucose levels are too high - these factors would be something to discuss with the parent/guardian of your student. The ultimate goal when treating a high glucose level is to prevent Diabetic KetoAcidosis. DKA is a life-threatening problem that affects people with diabetes. It occurs when the body starts breaking down fat at a rate that is much too fast. The liver processes the fat into a fuel called ketones, which causes the blood to become acidic. Ketone levels are checked with a separate monitor - not many students will carry this around, so you MUST know the symptoms. If your student goes into DKA, call an ambulance immediately. If left untreated, it can lead to serious organ failures, or possibly death.
Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia)
Symptoms:
Dizziness
Shaking
Inability to move/function
Weakness
Slurring words
Headache
Nausea
Loss of appetite
Gain in appetite
Mood swings (i.e., irritability, exhaustion, laziness, panic etc)
Extreme tiredness/Desire to sleep
Slowed breathing
Fainting/seizures
Hypoglycemia is treated with carbohydrates or sugars. This can be anything from glucose tablets, to juice boxes, to cookies, to candy, to sugary soda (nothing diet!). In my experience, the quickest and easiest way to bring up a blood sugar is with a juice box or two - this is helpful too if a person feels too weak to eat anything, which can happen. It would be wise to keep a set of juice boxes in your classroom in case the student doesn't bring them themselves. After administering the juice/sugary food, the students blood sugar levels must be tested every 15 minutes after consumption until their level is at a normal rate. In extreme cases where the glucose level does not rise, or the student is experiencing fainting, do NOT feed them! There should be a medicine in the form of a needle called glucagon on hand, which when administered will raise the glucose level. Extremely low blood sugars can result in fainting, and possibly seizures. If this happens, and there is no glucagon on hand, call an ambulance immediately. If left untreated, the student will have a lack of oxygen flow to the brain, and can potentially become comatose or die.
Overall, students with Type 1 Diabetes have the full potential to succeed in every aspect of school just as well as regular students, however, it is so important that teachers are aware of Type 1 Diabetes and its symptoms, as well as know what to do in emergency situations. It is important to keep frequent contact with the parents as well as maintain regular check-ins with the student so that they know that they can feel safe in your care.
Watch this short video about Cleo, a 10-year student with diabetes:
Watch this short video about Jasper, a 17-year old student with diabetes:
For more information about Type 1 Diabetes:
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000320.htm#:~:text=Diabetic%20ketoacidosis%20(DKA)%20is%20a,the%20blood%20to%20become%20acidic
Caitlin@NU
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