N.C. Law Gives Children Abililty To Monitor, Manage Diabetes At School

The law gives diabetic children the right to monitor and manage their diabetes wherever and whenever they need to while on school grounds.

"Wherever they are, wherever they choose," school nurse Jean Tripp said.

It also provides trained support to help students along the way. Schools are required to have at least two certified diabetes care managers on staff who volunteer to help students.

Tripp trained the care managers at Princeton's schools.

"They were people who felt comfortable doing this kind of thing," she said.

In Johnston County, each child also has a personal care plan outlining his or her individual needs.

"Every diabetic different and every diabetic is different on a given day," Tripp said.

Tripp applauds the new law, but said it requires money and manpower. The average care plan takes eight hours to write.

"I have nurses that have 10 diabetics in their schools. That's 80 manpower hours at the minimum," she said.

Tripp said if the work helps keep students well, in class and out of the nurses office, it is all worth it.

Care managers must undergo six hours of training for certification. Some schools have six or more care managers depending on how many diabetic students are on the campus.