Proper Care for Diabetic Children

Diabetes is a serious life threatening illness. SB 846 and HB146 violate the State of Illinois Nurse Practice Act and place children in harms way. These two bills provide that teachers and educational support personnel (unlicensed non-health care employees) will be required to act as unlicensed diabetes care aides and could put these children a great risk of receiving incorrect treatment.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Proper Care for Diabetic Children

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

Diabetes is a serious chronic illness which must be managed 24 hours a day. Medical management of diabetic students must be taken very seriously and implemented by educated, licensed healthcare professionals. Mismanagement can lead to death.

Teachers and educational support personnel (ESPs) are NOT licensed to provide health care. They are not licensed to perform glucose testing, inject insulin or assess students' health problems in order to make medical decisions. Teachers and ESPs should assure that diabetic students have access to snacks and to the medication laid out in their individualized school health care plan.

Although I sympathize with this cause and recognize the need for specialized care, I urge you NOT to support a bill which provides a simple solution for a complicated and dangerous problem. Please provide a healthy and safe solution instead.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
May 24, 2007

Background Information

Medical management of diabetic students must be taken very seriously and implement by educated, licensed healthcare professionals. Students who receive medical management from unlicensed non-health care school employees will be negatively impacted.

HB146 and SB848 do not provide safe and secure methods for managing diabetes in the school. School employees will be required to act as unlicensed care providers. Principals will be mandated to monitor the implementation of the diabetes management plan.

State legislators may feel that these bills will relieve them of the duty of providing funding for more certified school nurses. Because this is a very serious illness, the legislature should be discussing how to provide more professional nursing care in the schools.

Health care should remain in the hands of healthcare professionals!