Insulin Administration in Catholic Schools
Huggins, M. (2015). Insulin Administration in Catholic Schools: A New Look at Legal and Medical Issues. Journal Of Catholic Education, 18(2)
This article takes a look at how Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 or juvenile diabetes can possibly be a legal matter that educators need to be aware of. Questions that were raised while I read this article were can I administer insulin to a student and what are the legal issues of it in North Carolina? The author, Mike Huggins, discusses what are the challenges with Type 1 diabetes, what is the state law, insulin administration, and glucagon administration as it relates to the classroom. This critique is a brief examination of his claims and will summarize evidence, purpose, support, or lack of support in their argument.
First of all, it is important to identify the challenge of a student with diabetes. The steps necessary for a student with diabetes to safely attend school vary among students. Teachers and school administrators may be concerned about children who require the administration of insulin to manage their blood sugar. These students may require additional monitoring and medication at specific intervals. Most children with type 1 diabetes will require regular assessments of their blood sugar. Depending on the reading obtained, the child may need an injection of insulin or may need to adjust the settings on an insulin pump (a medical device worn by the student that delivers a continuous infusion of insulin) (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation [JDRF], 2015a). As an individual who has dealt with Type 1 diabetes, I understand just how hard it can be to keep diabetic students safe. Parents, teachers, and administration want to do the right thing to accomplish diabetic safety and well-being…but what does that entail? Many educators would be more than happy to follow parental guidance when it comes to glucose monitoring and insulin administration to control blood sugars. But they have to be careful in this as it could become a serious legal matter if things are done wrong. A school nurse (RN) is someone that can assist in managing diabetic students but nurses cannot always be present when emergencies present themselves. Legally, who provides supervision, assistance, or intervention for a student with diabetes? Who is responsible for the blood sugar reading and injecting the insulin? Who decides how much extra insulin to administer? Who is responsible for intervening when a student has a hypoglycemic emergency? The student? The parent? The school faculty, staff, and administrators? The answers to these questions are not straightforward and that is why we must follow the law according to Huggins. In North Carolina the following provide guidance and are shared by the author: North Carolina Statute 115C-375.1, Statute 115C-12(31), Statute115C-375.2, Statute 115C-12(31), and Statute115C-375.2. In a …show more content…
It is not some crazy disease that causes disruptions in the classroom or that should single out children. I agree with Mr. Huggins that when parents, students, teachers, and administration work hand in hand, most peers of the affected student will not even realize that he or she has diabetes. The article did not mention a lot about glucagon administration which is a shot administered when a child has a severe diabetic reaction to too much insulin in the body. I know how effective this emergency kit is and I hope that Cumberland County Schools educates us all on how that is administered and
Huggins, M. (2015). Insulin Administration in Catholic Schools: A New Look at Legal and Medical Issues. Journal Of Catholic Education, 18(2)
This article takes a look at how Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 or juvenile diabetes can possibly be a legal matter that educators need to be aware of. Questions that were raised while I read this article were can I administer insulin to a student and what are the legal issues of it in North Carolina? The author, Mike Huggins, discusses what are the challenges with Type 1 diabetes, what is the state law, insulin administration, and glucagon administration as it relates to the classroom. This critique is a brief examination of his claims and will summarize evidence, purpose, support, or lack of support in their argument.
First of all, it is important to identify the challenge of a student with diabetes. The steps necessary for a student with diabetes to safely attend school vary among students. Teachers and school administrators may be concerned about children who require the administration of insulin to manage their blood sugar. These students may require additional monitoring and medication at specific intervals. Most children with type 1 diabetes will require regular assessments of their blood sugar. Depending on the reading obtained, the child may need an injection of insulin or may need to adjust the settings on an insulin pump (a medical device worn by the student that delivers a continuous infusion of insulin) (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation [JDRF], 2015a). As an individual who has dealt with Type 1 diabetes, I understand just how hard it can be to keep diabetic students safe. Parents, teachers, and administration want to do the right thing to accomplish diabetic safety and well-being…but what does that entail? Many educators would be more than happy to follow parental guidance when it comes to glucose monitoring and insulin administration to control blood sugars. But they have to be careful in this as it could become a serious legal matter if things are done wrong. A school nurse (RN) is someone that can assist in managing diabetic students but nurses cannot always be present when emergencies present themselves. Legally, who provides supervision, assistance, or intervention for a student with diabetes? Who is responsible for the blood sugar reading and injecting the insulin? Who decides how much extra insulin to administer? Who is responsible for intervening when a student has a hypoglycemic emergency? The student? The parent? The school faculty, staff, and administrators? The answers to these questions are not straightforward and that is why we must follow the law according to Huggins. In North Carolina the following provide guidance and are shared by the author: North Carolina Statute 115C-375.1, Statute 115C-12(31), Statute115C-375.2, Statute 115C-12(31), and Statute115C-375.2. In a …show more content…
It is not some crazy disease that causes disruptions in the classroom or that should single out children. I agree with Mr. Huggins that when parents, students, teachers, and administration work hand in hand, most peers of the affected student will not even realize that he or she has diabetes. The article did not mention a lot about glucagon administration which is a shot administered when a child has a severe diabetic reaction to too much insulin in the body. I know how effective this emergency kit is and I hope that Cumberland County Schools educates us all on how that is administered and