Taking diabetes to school

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

The Youth and Family Diabetes Support Group of Putnam County will be hosting a special guest speaker during July's meeting.

Kathy Risk-Sego, advocate with the American Diabetes Association (ADA), will be leading a discussion and will present information regarding the ADA's Safe at School Campaign at 6 p.m. Thursday in the community classrooms on the third floor of Putnam County Hospital.

Mrs. Risk-Sego became a strong diabetes advocate when her son Hunter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2004 and was asked to leave his school to attend a school with a full-time nurse. She, along with her son, helped lead the charge in Indiana to legislate a law to keep children with diabetes safe.

"Hunter's Law," as named by the law's author, was passed in Indiana in May of 2007. Mrs. Risk-Sego is a member of the American Diabetes Association and serves on the National Advocacy Committee, Safe at School Work Group, National Youth Advocate Work group, co-chairs the American Diabetes Association's Family Resource Network, serves on the Association's Indiana Area Community Leadership Board, and is Indiana's Advocacy Chair. Mrs. Risk-Sego has had Advanced School Diabetes Advocacy Training through the American Diabetes Association and, in this capacity; works with hundreds of families across the nation to help ensure all children with diabetes are safe.

"Students with diabetes need a supportive environment to help them take care of their diabetes throughout the school day and at school-sponsored activities," according to the Association's web site, www.diabetes.org. "In an effort to accomplish this goal, the Association is advocating for a team approach to school-based diabetes management. School principals, administrators, nurses, teachers, coaches, bus drivers, health care, and lunch-room staff -- along with parents, personal health care providers, and students with diabetes -- all play an important role in making the school experience safe and productive for students with diabetes."

"We want this workshop to serve as an opportunity to build bridges over barriers that may exist so our children can thrive at school," states Annette Handy, RN and Diabetes Educator for Putnam County Hospital, "We want to provide our communities with the tools to allow students with diabetes, their families and school personnel succeed together in making the educational experience the best possible."

All community members, including school personnel, who have contact with children living with diabetes are encouraged to attend the workshop to learn more about the ADA's campaign and what their role is in the monitoring of the disease.

The program is presented at no cost and registration is not required. For additional questions, call Annette Handy, RN at 655-2583, extension 1.

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