Parents, teachers, and students with Type 1 Diabetes will see some new standardized guidelines come into play to help them manage the disease that impacts roughly 2300 students in the school system province-wide.

Yesterday (February 12), Education Minister David Eggen announced guidelines with information and resources that will support the students while they are in school, which he believes is a good first step. "We wanted to make sure there was clarity around standards of care and to make sure the students are in a safe environment at school, getting the care that they need so they are ready to learn."

With advocacy coming from Diabetes Canada as well as individual parents, Eggen is proud of what has come forth. "The idea/guidelines are for people to build a care plan for the student which will include an emergency plan for example, as well as individualized care. Diabetes can be monitored with much more accuracy due to new technologies where we can manage dosages of insulin and diet in a more fluid way."

Believing that many school boards across the province were already providing excellent care, these guidelines will just ensure we are achieving the same standards across all jurisdictions. "We want to ensure that teachers feel supported as well and so by building guidelines I think it is an organic way to help with education, training and identifying the next steps that need to be taken. This is to provide direction and intent, but it may not be the final form it's going to take, however, with everyone working cooperatively and understanding that the province is here to help too, is a big step forward."

While Minister Eggen was unsure why standardized guidelines weren't already in place, he says they have worked hard to make sure the supports are now there. Not saying this is the be all and end all, Minister Eggen is encouraging schools, teachers, parents, and students to provide feedback. "The province will support this initiative every step along the way; it's not like we are just handing out some guidelines and saying here you go. We want that feedback to make sure we get this right."

Local mom, Laura Colameco, is thrilled to see the provincial government move in this direction, however, she would love to see more supports added on in the future. Her son William is a Type 1 Diabetic, and she shares the support both he and her family have received through the Calgary Catholic School District has been heads and tails above what some other parents in the province are currently receiving. "I am hopeful that this is moving in the right direction but I still feel like there is plenty to go. Because this hasn't been standardized in the past any new parent who hasn't been comfortable to advocate for more, has just been taking the previous standard and rolling with it, which for most has been quite low. "

By self-advocating and aligning herself with other parents who also have a Type 1 student in the school, the Colameco's have had a great experience so far, and hope this move benefits other families. "We were lucky enough to feel empowered enough to fight for our kids to get more. With a high population at Holy Spirit School, statistic wise, having Type 1 Diabetes it made a massive difference in the school to change what they were previously doing. I hope that by this moving province-wide, this will allow other parents to have an easier transition, either at the time of diagnosis or as they start school, without having multiple meetings or feeling like they have to fight for their kid. I hope this will give them a tool to do that with because even within one district the difference from school to school to school is night and day."

Besides supporting those living with diabetes, the guidelines are also aimed at educating the public overall, says Eggen. "The other part is educating the general population and building resources people can use to educate themselves about Type 1 Diabetes, diabetes in general, and healthy living. I think we can use this in a way to build more bridges between education and health, which I believe is part of the evolution of safe and caring schools."

To view the guidelines released, go HERE.