Diabetes guidelines now in P.E.I. schools

P.E.I. has new guidelines to help students withdiabetes.

Education and Health officials said families had raised concerns thatguidelines were needed to help ensure teachershad proper training and schools had protocols to helpstudents with diabetes.

Changes includemore staff trained to deal with students with diabetes and mean educators will offer consistent care to students no matter what school they attend.Government says extra training is already happening.

"It's about providing that safe environment for our students," saidMinister of Health and Wellness Robert Mitchell.

"This will give them an opportunity to understand what to do and how to react."

Family perspective

Eight year-old Sophie Young says it was scary when she was first diagnosed last year. She has her kit with her that contains blood testing equipment, insulin andskittles to help when her blood sugar is low.

"If I'm low I have skittles, and I get insulin before I eat and stuff," she said.

Her mom, Evelyn Young, says she was concerned the school would miss something, given how busy school days can be.

"We had to send her back to school and it was terrifying," Young said.

"We were lucky because this school is set up."

Young said she's heard of other parents struggling to get support from school.

"I think it's very important that everyone has the same care," she said.

Years of lobbying

Angela Rogerson is one of the parents who pushedfor changes for years. Her son isin Grade 11but was diagnosed in Grade 3.

"This announcement is huge," she said.

Rogersonsaid students move around to so many areas of a school it'simportant everyone can recognize an emergency diabetic situation and be able to help.

"We've navigated the school system kind of on our own up to this point, advocating for him making sure he was safe," Rogerson said.

"This is going to really help support families and give them peace of mind."

Liz MacArthuralso has a son who was diagnosed in Grade 3, butis now older and out of school.

MacAurthurrecalled a field trip when her son was left alone while monitoring his blood sugars.

"Obviously we addressed the issue with the school after he got back," she said.

She's been advocating for guidelines since 2004. She said it's disappointing it took so long but is hopeful changes will make a difference.

"Even though I don't have a child in the school system anymore, I'm still advocating til the end."

Last Atlantic province to set guidelines

Diabetes Canada says guidelines in schools area "huge issue."

"Diabetes Canada and parent volunteers have been working on this for some time, so this is a good day," said Jake Reid, senior leader of government relations for Diabetes Canada.

Reid said it's about safety for children and security for families knowing their diabetes will be managed while at school.

He also said P.E.I. isthe last Atlantic province to setguidelines but there are still other Canadian provinces without them.

"We want to ensure the kids are safe and that we don't have any episodes while someone is at school," Reid said.

"I think the guidelines spell out what needs to be done."

Reid described the system in the past as being "hit and miss" saying the help students got varied from school to school.

"Diabetes is a disease that requires daily management," Reid said.

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