Ask Our Team
"Does diabetes affect learning ability at least in the first year of diagnosis?"
Responses
Laura Plunkett says
Diabetes doesn't have to affect a child's ability to learn, but the first year after diagnosis does present unique challenges that can make learning harder.
My son Danny was diagnosed seven years ago at the age of seven. During that first year, his blood sugars were very unpredictable. We didn't know that simple carbohydrates like white bread would affect him differently than complex carbohydrates like sprouted grain bread. We didn't understand that a few animal crackers at bedtime would affect him differently than a handful of almonds. Therefore, at school, Danny was often either high or low, and he had frequent headaches and stomachaches from the ups and downs.
These factors definitely affected his ability to concentrate and learn at school. In addition, Danny wasn't used to testing his blood sugars in the classroom, having different snacks than the other children, having his teachers worry about him, and needing to test for ketones in the bathroom when he was high. Some nights, he had to wake up to eat a snack or get a shot as well, and he would be tired the next day. All of these issues got better over time as he adjusted to his new situation.
Now, at the age of 14, Danny knows how to manage his numbers in school so that he feels good. He doesn't consider diabetes to affect his learning in any way.
Helping your child and their teachers understand the school dynamics of diabetes will help the situation. Your 504 meeting will give you an opportunity to explain what specific accommodations your child needs at school such as access to their glucose meter, food and water. You can also set target numbers and teachers can postpone a test or quiz if your child is too high or too low. If your child's school has a school nurse, that person can be a tremendous resource for your child during the day.
In our family's experience, frequent testing, reducing simple carbohydrates such as white flour and white sugar, and increasing exercise are the best ways to make sure your child has a good day at school with diabetes.
