Diabetes Care Tasks at School:: What Key Personnel Need To Know
Diabetes Care Tasks at School:: What Key Personnel Need To Know
NUTRITION AND
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
1-800-DIABETES www.diabetes.org
Goal: Optimal Student Health
and Learning
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Learning Objectives
Participants will be able to understand:
• Basic meal plans for students with diabetes
• Nutrition calculation methods
• Physical activity benefits for students with diabetes
• Physical activity guidelines for students with diabetes
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Nutrition: Why be concerned?
• Good nutrition is important for everyone for
optimal health
• Nutrition planning is essential for good diabetes
control:
– maintain blood glucose within target range
– to prevent or delay complications
– to help children and teens grow and develop properly
– to achieve healthy weight
– promote optimal learning
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School Nutrition Management
• Student’s parent/guardian and health care team
determine an individualized meal plan
• A diagnosis of diabetes does NOT always limit
which foods a student can eat
• Meals & snacks need to be carefully timed to
balance physical activity and insulin/medications
• Encourage healthy eating for all students
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School Nutrition Management
Students with type 2 diabetes may need
additional accommodations to help manage
lipids, blood pressure and weight:
• May need support at meals and snacks to achieve
calorie level targets and consistent carb amounts
• Assure that healthy foods such as whole grains,
low-fat protein and dairy, fruits, and vegetables
are available
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Basic Meal Plans
Key: Balance insulin/medications with carb intake
• Most students have flexibility in WHAT to eat
– Basic Carbohydrate Counting
– Advanced Carbohydrate Counting
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Advanced Carbohydrate Counting
USING THE INSULIN-TO-CARB RATIO
The insulin-to-carb ratio:
– Varies from student to student
– Is determined by the student’s health care team
– Should be included in the DMMP
– Usually stated as a ratio of 1 unit of insulin to x grams
carbohydrate
– May vary from meal to meal for a student
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Using Insulin-to-Carb Ratio
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School Meals & Snacks
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Beyond the Routine: School Parties
• Provide parent/guardian with advance
notice of parties/special events
• Follow the student’s DMMP, 504 Plan
or IEP
• Some may prefer to bring their own
foods, but may eat what is available.
• Provide nutritious party snacks or non-
food treats for all
• Limit use of food as reward
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Beyond the Routine: Field Trips
• Notify school nurse as soon as trip is scheduled to
allow for consultation with parent/guardian about
food and/or insulin adjustments
• Bring plenty of quick-acting sugar sources to treat
hypoglycemia
• Bring lunch as appropriate
• Bring diabetes equipment and supplies, including
glucagon, if specified in DMMP
• Bring list of emergency contacts, copy of emergency
care plan
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Activity & Diabetes
Everyone benefits from physical activity.
Students with diabetes should fully participate.
In general, activity lowers blood glucose levels.
If there is insufficient insulin, physical activity can raise blood
glucose.
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