What Teachers Should Know Diabetes affects how the body uses glucose. Glucose comes from the foods we eat and is the main source of energy for the body's cells. Glucose levels in the blood are controlled by a hormone called insulin. Insulin is made by the pancreas and helps glucose enter the cells. There are two types of diabetes: Type 1: the pancreas doesn't make enough insulin. Kids and teens who have type 1 diabetes must take insulin as part of their treatment. Insulin is the only medicine that can control their blood sugar levels. Type 2: the pancreas makes insulin, but the body cannot respond to it properly (this is called insulin resistance). Most people who develop type 2 diabetes are overweight, since extra body fat causes insulin resistance. Most people with type 2 diabetes do not need to take insulin, but may take a pill to help control blood sugar. Having too much or too little sugar in the blood makes a person feel sick. Blood sugars can be checked with a blood glucose monitoring system. People with diabetes must check their blood sugar levels regularly throughout the day. Diabetes can be managed through medicine, diet, and exercise. Students with diabetes may: need to go to the school nurse and monitor blood sugar levels several times a day need to take insulin or wear an insulin pump need to drink from a water bottle in class and use the bathroom frequently need to eat lunch and snacks at a certain time, and eat snacks in class have symptoms of high or low blood sugar. Low blood sugar symptoms include hunger, shakiness, dizziness, headache, irritability, and confusion. High blood sugar symptoms include thirst, frequent urination, nausea or vomiting, rapid breathing, fruity breath, and confusion. Because bullies often target students who seem "different," some health conditions, including diabetes, can put kids and teens at higher risk of being bullied. What Teachers Can Do Students with diabetes may miss class time or be absent due to doctor visits and hospital stays. Your students with diabetes may need special consideration regarding missed instruction, assignments, and testing. People with diabetes can exercise and play sports at the same level as anyone else. Regular exercise is an important part of diabetes management. You may want to remind students to check their blood sugar levels before, during, and after exercise and to keep a snack handy. Learn to recognize the symptoms of high and low blood sugar. Keep extra snacks, juices, and emergency supplies in the classroom in case your student starts to have symptoms of low blood sugar. Make sure your students with diabetes have diabetes management plans and be prepared to respond in the event of an emergency in accordance with the plan. Back to Articles Related Articles 3-Day Food Diary If your child has diabetes, you can use this printable sheet to record what he or she eats over a 3-day period. Read More Diabetes Center Our Diabetes Center provides information and advice for teens about treating and living with diabetes. Read More Diabetes Center Does your child have type 1 or type 2 diabetes? Learn how to manage the disease and keep your child healthy. Read More School and Diabetes You probably spend more than a third of your waking hours at school. Chances are you'll need to check your blood sugar levels or give yourself an insulin injection during that time. So what do you do? Read More School and Diabetes Are you on your own at school when you're dealing with diabetes? Not at all. Your teachers, coaches, school nurse - and even your friends - can help you out. Read More Diabetes: Dealing With Feelings Dealing with diabetes can stir up a lot of different emotions. Find out more about dealing with your feelings if you're a kid with diabetes. Read More Diabetes Control: Why It's Important You've probably heard your child's doctor talk a lot about diabetes control. What is it and why is it important? Read More Monitoring Blood Sugar To keep blood sugar levels under control, you have to check them regularly. Learn about checking and recording your child's blood sugar levels. Read More Diabetes Control: Why It's Important Keeping blood sugar levels under control can help keep you healthy and prevent health problems from happening down the road. Find out more. Read More About Recipes for Kids With Diabetes Just like everyone else, kids who have diabetes need to eat a variety of healthy foods. Give these nutritious recipes a try! Read More Diabetes Control: Why It's Important People who have diabetes may hear or read a lot about controlling, or managing, the condition. But what is diabetes control and why is it so important? Read More Diabetes Center Diabetes means a problem with insulin, an important hormone in the body. Find out how children with diabetes can stay healthy and do the normal stuff kids like to do. Read More About Recipes for Kids With Diabetes These recipes were created for kids with diabetes, but can be enjoyed by anyone looking for nutritious meals and snacks. Read More About Recipes for Teens With Diabetes A diabetes educator and dietitian chose these recipes, but they're not just for people with diabetes. Almost anyone looking for nutritious meals and snacks can enjoy them. Read More Diabetes: Dealing With Feelings If your child has diabetes, you may spend a lot of time thinking about the physical effects. But it's also important to understand the emotional issues surrounding a diabetes diagnosis. Read More School and Diabetes When kids with diabetes attend school, parents should discuss the condition with teachers, school staff, and coaches. Here are some tips on what to cover. Read More Diabetes: When to Call the Doctor Taking care of your diabetes includes knowing when to call a doctor and get medical help. Read More Diabetes: When to Call the Doctor Caring for a child with diabetes includes knowing when to get medical help. Learn more about when to call the doctor. Read More Diabetes: Dealing With Feelings It's perfectly normal for people with diabetes to feel sad, angry, confused, upset, alone, embarrassed, and even jealous. After all, these are natural emotions that everyone feels from time to time. But how can you cope? Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.