Going Back to School with Diabetes

When your child has been newly diagnosed with diabetes it is challenging and scary to contemplate sending them back to school. When you are just learning about all the intricacies of your child's condition how do you even begin to talk to the teachers and other staff at school about what to look for and how to manage a crisis.

Going back to school with diabetes should flow smoothly for the sake of your sanity and your child's comfort. Here are some suggestions to help make it easier for you and your child.

The first thing on your back to school list should be to get the list of back to school supplies the school requests, do your shopping for clothes and shoes, and be completely prepared for the first day of school well in advance. When all your regular back to school preparations are done you can focus completely on the new challenges that diabetes presents without loosing track of where you are in the process.

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation has a support team that hosts a forum with questions and answers from parents about diabetes. Find the information on how to talk to your child's school by searching on Google for "Ask a Parent, Talking to your Child's School". (http://www.jdrf.org/index.cfm?page_id=106138)

Remember that with diabetes as a special need there is a law that requires the school to generate an appropriate care plan. Going back to school with diabetes should not mean the child is being abandoned by knowledgeable care givers. But as the parent you have the responsibility to get all the information you can that is specific to your child's care. Gather information from your Pediatrician and your diabetic nutritionist. This information will be placed in packets with your child's picture on them. (Note the information in the referenced article). Be sure your child carries an identical packet of information in his or her backpack. The packet and diabetic supplies and snacks must accompany your child on all field trips, and to sports events.

Learn how other people deal with life issues at www.jdrf.org and at www.diabeticlivingonline.com, and then adapt these ideas to your specific back to school experience.

Going back to school with diabetes affects every aspect of the child's day but should not be incapacitating. Get some diet information and the school menus's and go over the choices with your child. On days when the menu does not have healthy choices that will provide adequate nutrition for your child, you need to be prepared to send a healthy lunch. Teach your child how to "count carbs". Work at making the food tasty and appealing without going over the limit. Teach your child how to read nutrition labels and that adding sodium to enhance flavor will cause more problems later. Some prepared "diabetic" foods are higher in sodium than their non-diet counterparts.

Sandwiches can easily break the carbohydrate limit because of the carbs in the bread, not to mention the filling. Try pita bread or tortillas but, again, you need to read the nutrition labels because not all pitas or tortillas are created equal. Fill the pita or tortilla with low carbohydrate filling and seal in a sandwich bag, or send the filling separate for the child to stuff his own pita or tortilla so it does not get soggy.

Recipes can be found at www.diabeticlivingonline.com and in the "Beating Diabetes" series of magazines found at many grocery checkout aisles.

Here is a good pita filling for that first day back at school:

Spinach and Chicken Breast

Make one cup of fresh spinach salad with thinly sliced bell peppers and onions if your child likes them, add a tablespoon of French cut string beans and one thinly sliced grilled skinless chicken breast. Add one table spoon of low calorie dressing if desired (about 6 carbs in the dressing). Stuff the pita or send the stuffing separate for the child to stuff. Makes two "sandwiches", ½ pita each. Be sure you know how many carbs your pita bread is, add the 6 carbs from the filling and there you have the entrée for lunch. You can add carrot and celery sticks, a handful of fresh sugar snap peas or some other "side" accompaniment. Dessert can be a seasonal fruit measured and calculated to fit your child's diet. Be sure to send skim milk or "milk money" with your child.

If your child does not like spinach, substitute mixed baby greens, or Italian salad greens mix.

Going back to school with diabetes should not be an overwhelming event. Do your homework, get your packets together, get your diet information and supplies together, and talk to every person who will interact with your child during the school day, (perhaps you can arrange a "seminar" where you can talk to them all at the same time) . Be sure to read the information at www.jdrf.org and make sure your child is informed and prepared to manage their choices.