Managing Diabetes
Back to School with Diabetes: Tips for a Smooth Transition
Jan. 22, 2025 • 5 min read
The content in this article should not be taken as medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider regarding your individual health needs and Dexcom alert settings.
Here's how to build a diabetes care plan with your child's school that goes beyond the 504 plan for diabetes, and help your student start the school year strong.
Freshly sharpened pencils, colorful folders, and binders—it's that time of year again! While you stock up on your school supplies, don't forget your favorite treatment for low glucose (glucose tabs, anyone?!).
Back to school is a whirlwind of excitement, hesitation, and anticipation. Adding diabetes management to the mix can be a bit challenging, but with the Dexcom G7 Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) system, you can navigate it more smoothly.
The Dexcom G7 provides continuous real-time glucose readings directly to a smartphone* or receiver, no fingersticks required.† This allows the person with diabetes to see their glucose levels and trends, helping them make informed decisions about food, activity, and medication and gain better control over their diabetes management.
The ultimate goal of diabetes management in a school setting is to create a safe environment for your child while maximizing their learning experience with minimal interruptions.
Here are five helpful tips for parents to make back-to-school transition and diabetes management smooth and enjoyable for your child, because school and learning should be fun!
1. Create a diabetes care plan
Work with your child/student's diabetes healthcare team to create a plan for the school setting. There are a ton of great resources out there and the American Diabetes Association and Dexcom has a couple of helpful templates.
- Diabetes Management Medical Plan (DMMP) - The DMMP is an individualized diabetes medical plan developed by the student's doctor that lays out the prescribed diabetes regimen for the school setting. This is typically for the school nurse to have on file and follow in case of diabetes related event. You can download the DMMP template here. Bring this care plan on the first day of school.
- Section 504 Plan for Diabetes - This plan sets forth the sets forth the accommodations, education aides, and services needed for the student with diabetes. This form is typically for the School Staff. Learn more about the 504 plan and download a model 504 plan here
Together these two plans work together to provide the school, school nurse, and parents/guardians with a comprehensive plan to meet the health care needs of the student with diabetes. It is recommended that these plans be kept separate to make it clear that it is responsibility of the treating physician and parents/guardians, rather than the school to determine the individualized treatment regimen for the child.
One of the best things about Dexcom CGM is the share and Share feature and Follow app‡ which lets a student's parents/guardians follow their glucose numbers while they are away from home. You will also be alerted if your child/student's glucose levels are going high or too low which can provide both you and your child/student with more peace of mind.
You can use the Dexcom downloadable Follower's Guide for CGM in the School Setting to help discuss the Share/Follow‡ features of Dexcom with your student's teacher and school staff.
2. Keep glucose in target range
Dexcom CGM Alerts can help let you know when glucose levels are outside of the student's target range. You can customize Dexcom CGM alerts to be actionable during school. Here's a tool to review customizing Dexcom G7 alerts.
3. Talk about more than diabetes
Remember, your student is more than their diabetes. Ask about their day and interests before diving into diabetes questions when they get home. Schedule a weekly time to discuss diabetes so it doesn't dominate every conversation.
4. Communicate Regularly
Diabetes management may change throughout the school year, so keep the lines of communication open with your child, their healthcare team, and school staff. Adjustments to the diabetes management plan will likely be needed and that's normal.
5. Encourage them to have Fun!
School is a time for learning and growing. Be a positive voice for your student. Encourage them to have fun and enjoy their experience at school.
Don't let diabetes hold your student/child back from excelling and having fun in school! Yest, sometimes low or high glucose might take priority but it doesn't have to dominate their lives.
If your student/child is having to visit the school nurse a lot or is missing a lot of class time because of diabetes, check in with your student/child's doctor because adjustments might be needed.
Get started on Dexcom G7
Are you or your child living with diabetes and not using CGM? Talk to your doctor about Dexcom G7. We can help you get started with a free benefits check. Click the button below to send us some basic information.
*Smart device sold separately. To view a list of compatible devices, visit dexcom.com/compatibility. †Firgersticks required for diabetes tratment decisions if symptoms or expectations do not match readings. ‡A seprate Follow app and internet connection are required to follow CGM users' glucose readings and trends. CGM users should always confirm glucose readings on the Dexcom CGM apps or receiver before making treatment decisions.
BRIEF SAFETY STATEMENT: Failure to use the Dexcom Continuous Glucose Monitoring System and its components according to the instructions for use provided with your device and available at https://www.dexcom.com/safety-information and to properly consider all indications, contraindications, warnings, precautions, and cautions in those instructions for use may result in you missing a severe hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) or hyperglycemia (high blood glucose) occurrence and/or making a treatment decision that may result in injury. If your glucose alerts and readings from the Dexcom CGM do not match symptoms, use a blood glucose meter to make diabetes treatment decisions. Seek medical advice and attention when appropriate, including for any medical emergency.