The Uttar Pradesh government has allowed students under 19 years suffering from type-1 diabetes to carry insulin pens and glucometers inside classrooms as well as examination halls. They will also be allowed to check their blood sugar, inject insulin, take mid-morning or mid-afternoon snacks and perform prescribed diabetes care activities in class and during examinations as well.
It is pertinent to mention, people suffering from Type-1 diabetes need to take insulin injection three to five times a day and sugar test three to five times and negligence of any kind in this can be damaging for both physical and mental health of a student.
Yogi government decision in compliance with norms of NCPCR
According to an official statement, the Yogi government has taken this decision in compliance with the norms of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) for taking care of diabetic children in the age group of 0-19 years. Notably, the NCPCR had appealed to the state government to ensure action for the control of Type-1 diabetes in students aged 0 to 19 years.
Director General of School Education Vijay Kiran Anand has written to Joint Director of Education (Basic) Ganesh Kumar to issue guidelines to be implemented in schools run by the basic education department.
As per the guidelines, children with type 1 diabetes may need to check blood sugar, inject insulin, take a mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack, or perform diabetes care activities (if prescribed by a doctor), and teachers must allow them to do so in the classroom even during exams. The students can also participate in sports as per medical advice.
Children spend one-third of their time in schools, so it is the duty of schools to ensure special care for children suffering from Type-1 diabetes.
Children to be allowed to test blood sugar in classroom
"Children suffering from Type-1 diabetes who are appearing in school exams and other competitive exams can be given a few exemptions. These include the permission to carry sugar tablets with them, keeping medicines, fruits, snacks, drinking water, some biscuits, peanuts and dry fruits with the teacher in the examination hall so that they can be given to the children during the examination if required," the statements read.
The official statement further said that the staff should allow children to take their glucometer and glucose test strips to the examination hall, which can be kept with the invigilator or teacher. Additionally, children should be allowed to test blood sugar and consume the above items as needed.
India has highest number of children suffering from type 1 diabetes
Children using CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitoring), FGM (Flash Glucose Monitoring) and insulin pumps should be allowed to keep these devices during the exam, as they are attached to the child's body, the guidelines said. "If a smartphone is required for their reading, then this smartphone can be given to the teacher or the invigilator for monitoring of the blood sugar level," it added.
A letter by the NCPCR to the education department of Uttar Pradesh stated that according to the Diabetes Atlas 2021 data of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), India has the highest number of children suffering from type 1 diabetes in the world. The basic education department has issued directions to all divisional education directors and district basic education officers in connection with this.
(With agencies input)
