6A-6.0253. Diabetes Management

(1) Definitions.

(a) Diabetes. Diabetes is a disease that impairs the body’s ability to produce or properly use insulin, a hormone that is needed to convert food into energy.

(b) Diabetes Medical Management Plan (DMMP). A DMMP is a medical authorization for diabetes treatment that includes medication orders from student’s healthcare provider for routine and emergency care.

(c) Emergency Care Plan (ECP). An ECP is a child-specific action plan to facilitate quick and appropriate responses for an individual emergency in the school setting. The ECP may be a component of the Individualized Healthcare Plan (IHP) that is developed consistent with Sections 1002.20(3)(j) and 1006.062(4), F.S. The ECP shall specify when the emergency number (911) will be called and describe a plan of action when the student is unable to self-administer medication or self-manage treatment as prescribed.

(d) Individualized HealthCare Plan (IHP). An IHP is a written plan of care developed at the local level to outline the provision of student healthcare services intended to achieve specific student outcomes. The IHP is part of the nursing process that is detailed in the National Association of School Nurses Position Statement: Use of Individualized Healthcare Plans to Support School Health Services (2020), (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-12105), which is hereby incorporated by reference and available online at https://www.nasn.org/nasn/advocacy/professional-practice-documentsx/position-statements/ps-ihps. A hard copy may be obtained by contacting Student Support Services, Turlington Building, 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 644, Tallahassee, Florida 32399. The IHP is developed from the DMMP by a registered nurse (RN) in collaboration with the family, student, student’s healthcare providers, and school personnel for the management of diabetes while in school, participating in school-sponsored activities, and in transit to or from school or school-sponsored activities. The IHP is child-specific and includes a written format for nursing assessment (health status, risks, concerns, and strengths), nursing diagnoses, interventions, delegation, training, expected outcomes, and goals to meet the healthcare needs of a student with diabetes and to protect the safety of all students from the misuse or abuse of medication, supplies, and equipment.

(e) Self-Administration. Self-administration means that a student with diabetes is able to self-manage medication, supplies, and equipment in the manner directed by a licensed healthcare provider without additional assistance or direction.

(2) School districts are to have appropriate personnel, whether licensed nurses or trained school personnel, assigned to each school a student with diabetes would otherwise attend if he or she did not have diabetes. School districts are to ensure that such personnel are available to provide the necessary diabetes care throughout the school day and during school-sponsored activities.

(3) With written consent from the healthcare provider and parent, a student with diabetes shall be allowed to carry and self-administer medication, supplies, and equipment based on the student’s diabetes medical management plan.

(4) The Department of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Health, shall develop technical assistance regarding the care of students with diabetes, and shall identify and provide sources to school districts for training school personnel.

Rulemaking Authority 1001.02, 1002.20(3)(j) FS. Law Implemented 1002.20(3)(j) FS. History–New 11-25-12, Amended 3-25-14, 1-7-16, 8-18-20.