An Examination of Educational Policies for Students with Type 1 Diabetes in Catholic School Boards

As one in 300 children have diabetes, Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is one of the most common chronic illnesses affecting school-age children (Kelo, Martikainen, & Eriksson, 2011; Kucera & Sullivan, 2011; Lawrence, Cummings, Pacaud, Lynk, & Metzger. 2015). If not appropriately managed. T1D can drastically affect a student's ability to experience academic success. Diabetes Canada, formerly known as the Canadian Diabetes Association, has a set of guidelines that they recommend each school board incorporate into their policies for the management of T1D. The authors analyzed 15 Ontario Catholic school boards' policies pertaining to T1D to determine if these policies address Diabetes Canada's guidelines. Out of the 15 school boards analyzed, only four had a T1D policy. A policy analysis was then conducted on the four policies to determine whether they met the guidelines set out by Diabetes Canada. The four policies were found to be lacking in the areas of staff education regarding T1D and assisting students during hypoglycemic episodes. It is recommended that a standardized Ministry policy be developed that addresses the guidelines outlined by Diabetes Canada.