Type 1 diabetes at school in Alabama
What Alabama law and the state’s own guidance say about insulin, glucagon, supplies and phones at school, with each source quoted. Checked 2026-10-06.
| Insulin by trained staff | Yes |
| Glucagon by trained staff | Yes |
| Self-carry | Yes |
| State plan or guidelines | Yes |
| Phone for the CGM | Yes |
Can trained school staff give insulin?
Yes
Under the Alabama Safe at Schools Act (Act 2014-437, Code of Ala. § 16-30A-1 et seq.), registered nurses may delegate giving insulin to trained, unlicensed school employees (unlicensed medication assistants), through nurse delegation. (alabamaachieves.org (PDF))
Can trained school staff give glucagon?
Yes
The same Act lets registered nurses delegate giving glucagon to trained, unlicensed school employees, through nurse delegation (Act 2014-437; Ala. Admin. Code 610-X-7-.02). (alabamaachieves.org (PDF))
Can a student carry supplies and manage diabetes at school?
Yes
The State Department of Education diabetes curriculum says students who show competence should be allowed to self-test in class, around campus and on field trips, and its self-management agreement lets a parent authorize the student to carry and self-administer diabetes medicine and supplies. The underlying statute, Code of Ala. § 16-1-39, was not available from an official fetchable page. (alabamaachieves.org (PDF))
Does the state publish a diabetes care plan form or guidelines?
Yes
The Alabama State Department of Education publishes the Alabama Diabetic Curriculum (revised August 2018), which includes an Individualized Healthcare Plan - Diabetes and a Student Self-Management Agreement. (alabamaachieves.org (PDF))
Can a student keep a phone for the CGM in class?
Yes
From the 2025-2026 school year, students may not use wireless devices during the instructional day, but a student may use or have one when it is under the student's IEP, Section 504 plan, or Individualized Health Plan (HB 166 (2025), Section 3). The law does not name diabetes or CGM. (alison.legislature.state.al.us (PDF))
Also in Alabama
The Alabama Safe at Schools Act (SB 57, Act 2014-437) took effect July 1, 2014. A school system may not keep a student with diabetes from the school the student would otherwise attend because the school has no full-time nurse or no trained unlicensed medication assistants. (alison.legislature.state.al.us (PDF))
Federal law applies in every state
Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act can cover a student with diabetes at a public school in every state, whatever the state law says; a 504 plan is where the student’s care at school is written down. The federal rules, with sources.
Sources, quoted
- alabamaachieves.org (PDF): “The training for administration of injectable medication in the School Settings Training Program provides a framework for local school districts to implement the Alabama Safe at Schools Act (Alabama Act No. 2014 -437) allowing registered nurses to delegate to unlicensed school personnel in the school setting the nursing act of administration of insulin and glucagon to students.”
- alabamaachieves.org (PDF): “Administration of injectable medications, other than premeasured medication for allergic reactions, premeasured injection for opioid-related drug overdose and treatment of diabetes symptoms with insulin and glucagon”
- alabamaachieves.org (PDF): “Students who demonstrate appropriate blood glucose testing technique and competence in managing insulin requirements should be allowed to self -test in the classroom, at various campus areas, on field trips, and/or other locations as appropriate”
- alabamaachieves.org (PDF): “I authorize my child to carry and self-administer diabetes medications and management supplies”
- alabamaachieves.org (PDF): “ALABAMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ALABAMA HEALTH SERVICES ALABAMA DIABETIC CURRICULUM”
- alabamaachieves.org (PDF): “The student may perform this procedure independently if indicated on the INDIVIDUALIZED HEALTHCARE PLAN - DIABETES, and if the student has signed a STUDENT SELF-MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT.”
- alison.legislature.state.al.us (PDF): “(1) The use, operation, or possession is pursuant to the student's Individualized Education Program, Individualized Accommodation Plan, Section 504 plan, or Individualized Health Plan.”
- alison.legislature.state.al.us (PDF): “a student may use, operate, or possess a wireless communication device in a public elementary or secondary school building or on the grounds thereof during the instructional day in any of the following circumstances:”
- alison.legislature.state.al.us (PDF): “Section 1. This act shall be known as the Alabama”
- alison.legislature.state.al.us (PDF): “diabetes, that the school does not have a full-time school”
- alison.legislature.state.al.us (PDF): “nurse, or that the school does not have trained unlicensed”
Legal information, not legal advice. Laws change; the source page is the authority when it differs, and this page is rechecked each July. For help with a school, the American Diabetes Association’s legal advocates answer at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383).