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What PTAs Can Do For Diabetic Students
PTAs can do a lot to help students with diabetes by encouraging a change in the school and extracurricular environment:
- PTAs can urge schools to provide nutritious foods in the cafeteria and in vending machines, and to limit the amount of foods offered that are high in sugar, fat, and calories, which can contribute to a child becoming overweight or obese.
- To get children moving more, PTAs can advocate for physical activity programs before and after school. PTA fundraisers can adopt policies to sell more low-fat and low-calorie foods and fewer cakes, cookies, and candies.
- To help educate parents about diabetes and the obesity epidemic, PTAs can sponsor health fairs or invite speakers from groups such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Association of Diabetes Educators, or the American Dietetic Association. These activities will benefit not only children with diabetes but also all of the parents, teachers, and children in the school.
- The National Diabetes Education Program guide Helping the Student with Diabetes Succeed is designed to help school personnel and parents work together to ensure the child's safety. PTAs can download or order the guide and use it as a resource in schools where there are children with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
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