Pediatric Diabetes is a growing concern and California is trying to legislate school districts into a corner. In an effort to better understand the issues, I've joined the Diabetes Educator Association. With membership, I now have access to position papers and research that isn't only supplied by the American Diabetes Association. I'm not in anyway criticizing the ADA, they do immensely important work and bring it to the people who need it most. However, as a scientist, I need data from different sources.

But speaking of the ADA, I went to a great workshop last Friday sponsored by the ADA. There were presentations from 4 experts in the field of pediatric diabetes and how to get appropriate care in schools. Dr. Bruce Buckingham talked about cutting edge research, showing the lasted and future "artificial pancreas" otherwise known as a pump. Melinda Lanham, School Nurse in San Jose, gave parents tips on how to advocate for their child's needs with administrators and other school personnel. There were a couple of other speakers, but these two were the highlights for me. This was part of the ADA's SAFE at school program.

One last note, although the ADA's position is that anyone should be trained to administer insulin, most of the parents I met at this gathering had a licensed professional, such as a nurse, working with their child every day while they are in school. If ADA's position is for parents to have non-nurses to monitor their children, why do so many parents REQUIRE a nurse to be with their child all day? These parents have it specifically written in to the 504 or IEP. Can anyone answer this for me? What am I missing?