# UK expert offers guidance for diabetes management in schools **Published:** 2026-07-22T15:40:23.000Z **Source:** [University of Kentucky News](https://uknow.uky.edu/uk-healthcare/helping-students-diabetes-start-school-year-safely) **AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) **Canonical:** https://feeds.lexingtonky.news/article/uk-expert-offers-guidance-for-diabetes-management-in-schools LEXINGTON, Ky. — As the new school year approaches, parents of children with diabetes should work with their healthcare providers to develop proper management plans before classes begin, according to guidance from [UK HealthCare's Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center](https://uknow.uky.edu/uk-healthcare/helping-students-diabetes-start-school-year-safely). Hunter Hardin, an apprentice diabetes educator at the center, outlined several key steps parents and guardians should take to ensure their children's safety and full participation in school activities. The process begins with establishing a Diabetes Medical Management Plan (DMMP), a document prepared by a child's diabetes provider that outlines insulin doses, blood glucose monitoring protocols, diabetes technology used, and procedures for treating high and low blood glucose levels. The DMMP can be incorporated into a child's [Section 504 plan under the Rehabilitation Act](https://diabetes.org/advocacy/safe-at-school-state-laws), a federal law that ensures students with diabetes receive appropriate accommodations. Hardin recommended that parents reach out to their school's 504 coordinator—typically the principal, guidance counselor, or a teacher—with a formal written request early in the process, as scheduling and staff training can take considerable time. "While the DMMP includes provider orders for diabetes management, the 504 plan allows reasonable accommodation customized to each student and school," Hardin wrote. Common accommodations include unlimited access to water and bathroom breaks, blood glucose testing breaks during assessments, student access to diabetes supplies, and designated school staff trained to provide care during field trips and school activities. [UK HealthCare's Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center](https://ukhealthcare.uky.edu/barnstable-brown-diabetes-center) serves approximately 2,500 children annually and offers multidisciplinary care through physicians, nurses, diabetes educators, dietitians, and other specialists. Hardin noted that the university and the American Diabetes Association's Safe At School Campaign both offer free training resources to prepare school staff for diabetes management. Parents are responsible for supplying schools with necessary diabetes care items, including blood glucose testing supplies, insulin, pump supplies, low blood glucose treatments, and emergency glucagon kits along with emergency contact information. ## Sources - [University of Kentucky News](https://uknow.uky.edu/uk-healthcare/helping-students-diabetes-start-school-year-safely) - [American Diabetes Association Safe At School Campaign and Kentucky state laws](https://diabetes.org/advocacy/safe-at-school-state-laws) - [UK HealthCare Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center information](https://ukhealthcare.uky.edu/barnstable-brown-diabetes-center) --- This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from University of Kentucky News, enriched with 2 web searches. The original source is available at https://uknow.uky.edu/uk-healthcare/helping-students-diabetes-start-school-year-safely.