Diabetes is a medical condition that impacts the blood sugar levels of students. The two most common types of diabetes are type 1 and type 2.

Type 1 diabetes is where a student’s body stops making insulin and requires daily insulin injections to survive.

Type 2 diabetes is where a student’s body doesn’t use insulin well and can’t keep blood sugar at normal levels.

There are a variety of risk factors and warning signs associated with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

   -Some risk factors for type 1 diabetes are family history and genetics. The other risk factor is a person's age. Students can get type 1 diabetes at any age, but it usually develops in children, teens, or young adults.

   -Risk factors for type 2 diabetes include, but are not limited to weight, inactivity, age, and family history.

Some of the symptoms of type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes are feeling more thirsty than usual, frequent urination, feeling tired, slow-healing sores, blurry vision, and the presence of ketones in the urine.

Parents or guardians of students displaying warning signs associated with type 1 or type 2 diabetes should consult with the student's primary care provider or a medical provider. The primary care provider will determine if immediate screening for Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes is appropriate. A primary care doctor, clinic, or hospital emergency department can test a blood sugar level, give those results quickly, and advise if further testing is needed. If the blood glucose level is high, the student may have diabetes.

   There are 3 stages of type 1 diabetes. By the time a student is diagnosed, they usually are in stage three.

      -Stage 1 is the start of type 1 diabetes with the immune system beginning to attack the insulin producing beta cells, although there are no symptoms and blood sugar remains normal.

     -Stage 2 has increased attacking of the beta cells and blood sugar levels are abnormal. There are still typically no symptoms with stage 2.

      -Stage 3 is when clinical diagnosis typically takes place and warning signs begin to show. Once a student has been diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes parents/guardians should consult with their doctor to obtain a treatment care plan (called a diabetes medical management plan) to follow at home and one to follow at school.

If a diabetes medical management plan is created after the screening process, parents or guardians will bring the plan to the school. The school will work with the parent to assist the student in following the diabetes medical management plan at school.

For further information on diabetes risk factors, warning signs, treatment plans, and screening process, you may visit the following links:

Georgia Department of Public Health

American Academy of Pediatrics

American Diabetes Association

Georgia Department of Education