Supporting Students with Diabetes in Lessons
Ensure inclusivity and support, by putting the following accommodations in place.
Students with diabetes may experience fluctuating blood glucose levels, which can impact their ability to concentrate and participate fully in lessons. Managing their condition may require them to take time out during class, and following a hypoglycaemic episode (low blood glucose), it can take up to 45 minutes for a student to regain full concentration.
To ensure inclusivity and support, the following accommodations can be put in place:
- Access to essential supplies: Students must have access to their phones, blood glucose testing kits, and hypo treatments at all times.
. - Space for diabetes management: A designated area in the classroom should be available for students to check and manage their blood glucose levels.
. - Flexible eating and break times: Students may need to eat or drink at any time and should be allowed flexibility with break times.
. - Snack storage: Spare snacks can be kept within the department for emergency use.
. - Unrestricted bathroom access: Students should be allowed to use the bathroom whenever needed.
. - Assessment adjustments: Timing of assessments may be adapted if a student’s blood glucose levels are outside the recommended range.
. - Catch-up opportunities: Students should be given the chance to make up missed instruction or assessments without penalty.
. - Medical appointments: Time off for medical care should be supported, with guidance provided to help students catch up on missed work.
. - Advance notice of changes: Students should be informed of any timetable changes in advance to help them plan their diabetes management.
. - Classroom awareness: Students may choose to speak to their class about their condition if they feel it would be beneficial.
. - Regular check-ins: Staff should check in periodically to ensure the timetable or lesson structure is not causing difficulties.
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All students with diabetes have an exam protocol in place, which can also be applied to other assessments.