son was given 50 carbs uncovered at school

[Ryans-Rock]

I just can't seem to get it through to the principle that 50 carbs is to many to be given uncovered.

Heres the story..... Ryan went to the nurses office to check his BG at 2:30. His BG was 69. Not really on the too low side. But to the nurse that was too low. Well, the principle is already in the room when Ryan gets there. (He wasn't there for him) When the principle finds out that Ryans BG was 69 he said he should get a snack from the cafateria. (now, right in that room he just tested in, is a snack box. I know there is. I took it there myself) But the principle is also type 1 and thinks that they all 3 (Ryan, nurse and the principle) need to go to the cafateria. They get there and the principle makes him drink 2- 15 carb juices and a package of crackers at 20 carbs (son thinks thats what the crackers where) They did this because they didn't want Ryan going low coming home on the bus. Well, I think the 1 juice would have been fine. Maybe even 2 of the crackers to go along with the 1 juice.BUT NO MORE. 2 hours later after he got home and told me this (Because NO, They didn't call) I tell him to check and see what his BG is. 298:eek: I WAS PI$$ED!! and of course, the school was closed so i couldn't call. OH, but will they hear from me tomorrow!!!!
My hubby thinks that A-Their scared to have Ryan even close to anything low. and B- the principle has no idea how to take care of his own "D". let alone our sons.

[Heather(CA)]

Has this happened a lot of times and they just wont listen? I hear your frustraition. Take a deep breath and calm down before talking to them...Have them give one juice and call you if he's low. Was this RIGHT before he got on the bus? Or did he have time to drink a juice, wait 15, have another if necc, wait 15min. etc.. If not, he could have been on his way to a lot lower...They should have called to let you know for sure. That way you would know to watch for a high.:(

If he had time to re-test etc...That was A LOT of carbs:rolleyes:

On the other hand...They probably over did it, but just to put it into perspective...The other night, for some reason, it took 20 grams of juice, then 1/2 a cup of milk with 15 grams of Strawberry milk syrup to get and keep Seth up. That's around 43 grams. (He had exercised more than I realized) So, if they had thrown him on the bus not knowing he would stay up...I would be more upset.

[coni]

Perhaps the principal was basing the carb coverage on what it takes him to come up from a low like that. It can take quite a few more carbs to bring up a low in an adult. I also agree that the principal may operate on the "better safe than sorry" idea. Hope you can calmly continue to educate. Sounds frustrating...

[wendyc]

Perhaps the principal was basing the carb coverage on what it takes him to come up from a low like that. It can take quite a few more carbs to bring up a low in an adult. I also agree that the principal may operate on the "better safe than sorry" idea. Hope you can calmly continue to educate. Sounds frustrating...


I agree w/Coni. I wouldn't go in with guns blazing, but put in writing what you want followed for treating a low. They probably already have it, but use it for them to go over again.

Yikes!

[valerie k]

also, how long is his bus ride? ours is 10 minutes tops that matt is on the bus. but there are kids on the bus for up to an hour. I could see over carbing those kids. Better high then low

[Charmed7]

I didn't read the responses, but they really should have doctors orders.

Our orders say how to handle Hypo and Hyper. And it outlines the numbers.

So for instance it would say

Blood sugar range: >70 give 15 carbs juice
Blood sugar range: <200 give 1/2 unit of insulin, adding 1/2 unit for each
increment of 50


Then they need to follow those orders, and not just make up their own rules.

That is really odd.

Charmed

[Gwyn]

Charmed is right--they need to do what it says in your doctor's orders. Of course they need to use their common sense too:). Sounds like a visit is in order.

[Lee]

We have a similar school bus issue with the nurse overcarbing - but not nearly that bad! The dr's just wrote new orders, saying if this - give 1 glucose tab; if this, give 2, etc...69 is not 'really' low; but we are not allowed on the bus under 100. The nurse was giving 20 - 30 carbs uncovered all the time.

I would remind them of the doctor's orders, write out a plan, and just say, I don't want this to happen again.

[shirley83006]

I am so glad that my daughters school, calls everytime she is low for instructions. they do have instructions on how to deal with it. and i know they can take care of it if we can not be reached. but they call beforehand to see how we want it to be handled. i can understand your frustration. Did they even bother to check in the doctors instructions on how to treat your child? i hope that you are able to get through to them.

[Mom2rh]

We have a similar school bus issue with the nurse overcarbing - but not nearly that bad! The dr's just wrote new orders, saying if this - give 1 glucose tab; if this, give 2, etc...69 is not 'really' low; but we are not allowed on the bus under 100. The nurse was giving 20 - 30 carbs uncovered all the time.

I would remind them of the doctor's orders, write out a plan, and just say, I don't want this to happen again.

This seems like a good approach.

Also, as others have said, depending on how long the bus ride is...and if your son carries his own glucose for lows...69 could have been too low, especially if he was still going down.

[Mary Lou]

I agree with others. Take a deep breath. They are all just trying to do right by your son and are as new at dealing with this as you and Ryan are.

Our nurses's have a checklist of what do to at dismissal. If one of my boys were 69, and there wasn't time for them to give them a snack and be sure BG is rising, I'd want to come and pick them up as our bus ride is 30 minutes, sometimes 40.

BG can go from 69 to rock bottom fast.

Write out how you want them to handle different situations. Have them post it in the office. Go over it with them in person. Remember they are just trying to care for him, too. Try to schedule the dismissal BG check with time for a snack and recheck.

Good luck!

[Ellen]

I would meet in person with them....and start out the conversation with thanking them for their efforts to notice when he's low, to check, and to treat. Then you can explain what happened yesterday. I imagine the principal will "get it" when you nicely tell him that your son's bg went high after so many carbs and that it only takes X number to bring it to where it needs to be without it going really high. From my many years of experience, walking in and starting off with gratitude gets their attention and you end up with a more captive audience.

[Sarah Maddie's Mom]

I use a site-word type of ring of index cards for treatment rules. Each card has a different BG range and treatment plan, one set for before eating, one set for just feeling unwell and one set for pre-bus. All on one ring, easy to flip through, they are even color coded ;)
They take a while to make up - but have proven their worth time and time again.

[LINDA BALL]

I do know that it is hard to know how much of juice or cracker will bring bg up high enough
Last night at 1:30 my daughter called me from her cell phone from her bed room unable to get up out of bed to get me up to help her . BG was 42 she had checked it but could not help her self.
Our house is not big but she just could not get up to wake me up so she called . even after 5 years I am still not sure how much of juice and crackers to give to bring her back up to at least 80Bg last night it took ..16oz if apple juice and 4 peanut butter cracker to get a BG of 68. so for an hour and a half we kept putting in a little milk and more peanutbutter and rechecking. till finily at 3:00 she was up to 82 Bg. we were both very tired at this time.

The school just don't know what to do whit diabetic kids.
Does you child have a 504 form at the school to tell them how much and what to give when low.
We live in Western North Carolina. The school system is small and they struggle with what to do. Jenna just has to tell them how to help. They just don't know.
Sorry I am rambling not much sleep last night.
Hope this helps.
Linda

[LINDA BALL]

I am so glad to find this web site. I really needed to hear from other mom's of diabetic kids. I really don't have any one where we live to talk to about diabetes.

[Andrelaplume]

Is Ryan 12? I think he should know how many carbs he needs and stand up for himself. The sooner he is independent the better...I tell my wife this all the time regarding our child. Schools will forver err on the high side because they do not want to get sued.

[Ryans-Rock]

Hi all, just wanted you to know I went to the school and had a talk with nurse first, then the principle and last the Superintendent. No, I did not go in with my guns a blazing :p I wanted to, but didn't think it would do any good. I did show up right before I new my son would be headed in to check his BG. I discussed with the nurse that yes, I understood that she was worried that he could go lower before the day was out. I explained to her again that since it was 2:00pm that he should have been given a juice and then rechecked in 15 minutes. To continue this approach untill he has reached his target area of 70-150. I also let her know that he can check right before the bus and "IF" needed he can take a glucose tab and that will keep him in range till he gets home. I told her that 100 is a good range to leave school on. I was very nice to her and let her know that i understood that this was a learning experience for us both.

Next, i talked to the principle. This was a VERY short conversation. It ended with pretty much he would leave the care of Ryan up to the nurse since all his orders are on HER desk. (and yes it's right there for everyone to see if there is any questions to his care, such as this. That there was orders on a low and what it took to bring him up how much) Today when I went, it was still there.

and last the superintendent. We do not have a 504 in place, so talking to her was about if one was needed to be put in place before the school year was out. At first she's like....what are you talking about? So I explained about it guarantees Ryans care while he is at school. She asked if I was talking about a Diabeties Management Plan? Well, yes. If thats what you want to call it. She said that they will do what ever is best for Ryan. I explained that some of his teachers are not comfortable with his testing in class. She said, thats crazy. He's 12 years old and should be able to test in any of his classes. Sooooo......Theres a memo to go out to all of the teachers tomorrow on testing in class, water fountain and bathroom privilages to not be withheld at any time. The overall conversation went well. I let her know that since it was so close to the end of the year that we would talk more on implimenting a 504 plan at the end of this year for next year. She didn't think it was necessary. So, I will see how next week goes:D

[Mom2rh]

Sounds like good conversations.

A 504, or whatever they want to call it, is absolutely necessary.

[Heather(CA)]

It sounds like you handled it perfectly!:D