As children transition into middle school, they must learn to take some responsibility for testing and dosing, and writing down glucose levels or insulin doses when away from home. Often, the cognitive ability to take on increased responsibility for performance of basic diabetes care like glucose testing, carb counting, and insulin dosing may conflict with the desire not to appear different from their peers. Special challenges include variable lunch times, limited time or privacy to perform testing and dosing, and conflicts with meals or dosing and their ability to perform or participate in after school sports or activities.
Resources below help to address these issues and make your child’s transition to middle school smoother.
- JDRF Teen Toolkit
- Diabetes Medical Management Plan
- 504 Plan: http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/parents-and-kids/diabetes-c...
- Sample 504 Plans and IEPs: http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/504/
- How Child Care Providers Can Help Care for Children with Type 1 Diabetes: Part 1
- Diabetes Support at School (Starting a Support Group)
- People in the Know: Transitioning to Middle School
- Ready for a Field Trip?