Diabetes: When Your Child Should Stay Home from School

It’s important to know when your child with diabetes should stay home from school. This guide goes over reasons to stay home and how to get a school excuse.

Diabetes generally shouldn’t cause your child to have more sick days than other students. We want your child to be able to go to school.

When to Keep Your Child Home

  • Your child SHOULD stay home if:
    • They were treated with glucagon any time that day or the night before.
    • Their blood sugar is less than 70 mg/dL per meter reading that required 3 or more treatments.
    • They have ketones and their blood sugar is less then 70 mg/dL.
    • They have ketones and are vomiting regardless of their blood sugar level.
  • Your child MAY stay home if:
    • They have moderate to large ketones that have been treated 2 times and they haven't improved.
    • They have moderate or large ketones and aren't feeling well.

When Your Child Should Stay in School

Your child SHOULD stay in school and NOT be sent home if they have:

  • High or low blood sugar that has been treated.
  • Ketones, but feel fine and are not vomiting.

Getting a School Excuse from Nationwide Children's Hospital

  • The parent or legal guardian must call the endocrinology office on the same day your child is missing school by 12 p.m. (noon). If you have to leave a message, say your name, your child’s name, their date of birth, and a phone number where we can reach you. Also explain why you’re asking for a school excuse. Please reach us at (614) 722-4425.
  • A team member will only send an excuse when approved for one of the reasons listed on page 1.
  • If your child has to miss more than 3 days in one school year for their diabetes, we will address these concerns. We may be able to problem-solve through a phone call. Sometimes another clinic visit may be needed before approving more school excuses.
  • We will NOT give a school excuse for:
    • The day after ketones or illness has passed.
    • Any future days that your child might miss.
    • Illness not caused by diabetes. Call your child’s doctor or health care provider.

Some Things to Remember:

  • Most of the time, ketones without vomiting can be treated at school. If not, call the endocrinology office on the same day.
  • High and low blood sugar needs to be treated. There is not a set value for if your child should stay or be sent home from school.
  • You will get a school excuse for the day of your child’s diabetes clinic appointment.
  • If your child is being sent home when it’s not needed, talk to the school nurse or principal. Your child’s diabetes doctor or care team can help you talk with the school if needed.

504 Plan or Individualized Education Plan (IEP)

If your child has a 504 plan and/or an Individualized Education Plan (IEP):

  • They are not guaranteed an excuse to miss school. You still need to contact our clinic to get a school excuse.
  • They will still need to make up any work they missed if they had a school excuse.

 

 

PDFs to Download:

Helping Hands™ Patient Education Materials

Helping Hands™ are easy-to-read guides about different illnesses, therapies, surgeries, and more. They’re created by the Patient Education team at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and are reviewed and approved by clinical staff, like nurses, doctors, pharmacists, and psychologists. Nationwide Children's Hospital is not responsible for misuse of information in patient education materials, including Helping Hands.

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