Type 1 Diabetes: Understanding Blood Sugar

Key wellness / safety strategies (Type 1 Diabetes & blood sugar management)

Prioritize frequent blood sugar checks

• Students should check several times per day while at school.
• Common methods:
  • Glucose meter: finger-stick test using a small drop of blood
  • Continuous glucose monitor (CGM): wearable that measures glucose every few minutes and sends data to a receiver/smart device

Enable checking “anytime, anywhere”

• Students should be able to test whenever needed, without barriers related to location or time.

Use blood sugar readings to guide treatment decisions

Blood sugar levels help determine:

• When and how much insulin to give
• When to have a snack

Remember core patterns that affect blood sugar (“4 things”)

• Carbohydrates in food raise blood sugar
• Insulin lowers blood sugar
• Stress, illness, or excitement can raise blood sugar
• Physical activity usually lowers blood sugar

Recognize and respond to highs and lows

• High blood sugar (example: above 15)
  • Can make it harder to concentrate
• Low blood sugar (example: less than 4)
  • Can cause confusion
  • Treat immediately with fast-acting sugar (e.g., juice or candy)

Do not leave the student unattended when low is suspected

• It’s not safe to send a student elsewhere or leave them alone if you suspect blood sugar may be low.
• If low is suspected but testing isn’t possible, treat anyway.

Reframe blood sugar readings

• A reading isn’t inherently “good” or “bad”—it’s useful information for the student and parents/caregivers to make decisions.

Establish communication with caregivers

• Use a reliable system to share daily blood sugar levels with parents/caregivers.

Presenters / sources

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