“Sweet Subject” is a signature program of the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi created to offer Mississippi schools and daycare facilities with the opportunity to earn Continuing Education Units (CEU) by attending a DFM school presentation.
The Sweet Subject School Diabetes Education program is free for schools and daycare centers around the state, with the goal of educating teachers and school staff to recognize and handle emergencies in the school setting and care for children with diabetes. The DFM provides the schools with an emergency box containing blood glucose testing supplies as well as information and items for treating hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia for their students. Children spend most of their time in school and/or daycare. Informing Mississippi’s school educators and daycare staff about recognizing and treating high and low blood sugar emergencies can help Mississippi’s educators save a student’s life. Understanding the complications associated with diabetes equips educators with the knowledge to reach out to students with diabetes and understand these students’ specific needs.
“In spite of it being an optional program, it was great to see that probably more than two-thirds of the school’s teachers – even the ones who aren’t in contact with Hayden – were interested in learning more about diabetes and about how to better understand their students with the disease,” said the mom of 8-year-old Hayden. “The teachers seemed better prepared and more comfortable – they learned a lot from it.”
“The program has answered many questions that we all had about diabetes and helping those with diabetes,” she said. “It went great.”
When parents, children and school staff have done their homework, children with diabetes will be able to enjoy school to the fullest without undue worry or restriction. To help implement this program at your child’s school or for more information, please call 601-957-7878.
The form to request a Sweet Subject program at your Mississippi school is here