[Diabetes-talk] Fw: new law affects NJ students with diabetes

Mon Jan 11 05:54:11 UTC 2010

This law walks a fine line as all laws do, but a diabetic of any age should be responsible for their management and care.

I have had Type 1 diabetes for 24 years and by the age of 6 I was testing my own blood and administering my own insulin.  My parents helped and often supervised, but I was being taught to care for my own health.

I understood what I needed to do such as calculating carbs, drawing insulin and testing my sugars on a regular basis.  To take this out of my hands would have left me in more trouble especially as an adult.

I remember times where I knew I had a low sugar, but I had to wait for a pass to the nurse to be written and then I had to travel to the nurses office, which could be a ways off depending on where I was in the building.  A diabetic should be allowed to test and treat sugars whenever and where ever.  As we all know, diabetes can be managed, but only when we are allowed to follow what we know is the best method.  Sounds like a similar arguement NFB!  *smile*

Bridgit

> From: k7uij at panix.com
> To: diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
> Date: Sun, 10 Jan 2010 20:47:43 -0800
> Subject: [Diabetes-talk] Fw: new law affects NJ students with diabetes
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Carol Castellano" <carol_castellano at verizon.net>
> To: <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 2:22 PM
> Subject: [blindkid] new law affects NJ students with diabetes
> 
> 
> Hello Everyone,
> Lister Eric Calhoun suggested I send this info
> to the list, in case it would help some of our families.
> Carol
> 
> Carol Castellano, President
> National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
> 973-377-0976
> carol_castellano at verizon.net
> www.nfb.org/nopbc
> 
> New NJ LAW
> 
> A new law designed to help diabetic students will take effect Feb. 1.
> 
> The law creates individualized health care plans
> for students with diabetes and training in diabetes care for school 
> employees.
> 
> Under the new law, students capable of
> self-managing their diabetes will now be
> permitted to do so, provided a parent or guardian gives the school 
> permission.
> 
> Parents wishing to allow their children to
> self-regulate their diabetes must notify the
> school nurse of their child's condition and
> intent and provide written proof from the child's
> physician that he or she is capable of caring for his or her diabetes.
> 
> Following the notification, the nurse will
> develop an individualized health care plan and an
> individualized emergency health care plan for
> each student, which would be authorized by the
> student's parents. These plans will be updated at
> the start of each school year and whenever a
> student's medical condition dictates. The child's
> physician, the school nurse, school employees and
> school district won't be held liable for civil
> damages resulting from the actions authorized by the plans.
> 
> Students on an individualized health care plan
> will be able to self-manage their diabetes at any
> time and anywhere on school grounds, so long as
> it is provided for in their plan.
> 
> The law also provides for a uniform set of
> guidelines for the training of public, charter
> and nonpublic school employees in the care needed
> for students with diabetes, to be developed by
> the state Department of Health and Senior
> Services. Each school must provide the training
> to at least three school employees at each school
> attended by a student with diabetes.
> 
> Additionally, school nurses will be responsible
> for the emergency administration of glucagon - an
> amino-acid peptide hormone necessary for
> maintaining proper glucose levels in the body
> -and may designate additional employees who may
> administer the hormone when the school nurse is not available.
> 
> "Diabetes is a disease that requires constant
> personal management," said Assemblyman Jack
> Conners (D-Burlington), a co-sponsor of the law.
> "But state law had required students with
> diabetes to visit the school nurse for any and
> all medication. That was at best unfair to their
> education and at worst dangerous to their health."
> 
> "Many diabetics have special dietary needs that
> include things normally frowned upon in the
> classroom, like snacking," said Assemblywoman
> Joan M. Voss (D-Bergen), a co-sponsor and a
> retired teacher. "Allowing students to manage
> themselves will help ensure their special medical
> needs are met with a minimum of interference."
> 
> "Requiring uniform training guidelines for
> teachers and administrators helps ensure that
> students with diabetes have access to proper
> emergency care should, God forbid, they need it,"
> said Assemblywoman Cleopatra G. Tucker (D-Essex), a co-sponsor.
> 
> "Together with the self-regulation option, this
> new law will help students with diabetes continue
> to live healthy, active lives."
> 
> - TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
> 
> 
> 
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