Type 1 diabetes at school in Colorado
What Colorado 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 | With limits |
| State plan or guidelines | With limits |
| Phone for the CGM | Yes |
Can trained school staff give insulin?
Yes
Through nurse delegation, a school nurse may delegate giving insulin to trained school staff under the student's individualized health plan; choosing the insulin type and dose may not be delegated, and correction doses need a consult with the delegating nurse (3 CCR 716-1, Rule 1.13(G)). (sos.state.co.us)
Can trained school staff give glucagon?
Yes
Through nurse delegation, a school nurse may delegate giving glucagon to trained school staff (3 CCR 716-1, Rule 1.13(G)). (sos.state.co.us)
Can a student carry supplies and manage diabetes at school?
With limits
Each local school board must adopt a policy on students carrying and self-administering prescription medication, and the school nurse or administrator may set restrictions based on the student's age, maturity and responsibility and the risk of harm (1 CCR 301-68, Rule 7.00). The rules do not address checking blood glucose or treating lows. (sos.state.co.us)
Does the state publish a diabetes care plan form or guidelines?
With limits
The Colorado Department of Education school nurse health issues page links a diabetes plan from Colorado Kids with Diabetes and diabetes training resources; the Department does not publish its own diabetes plan form. (ed.cde.state.co.us)
Can a student keep a phone for the CGM in class?
Yes
By July 1, 2026, each school must adopt a student communication device policy, and the policy may not stop a student from having and using a device to monitor or address the student's medical condition (C.R.S. 22-1-149, added by HB 25-1135). The law does not name diabetes or CGM. (leg.colorado.gov)
Also in Colorado
Colorado's medical-condition exception for phones comes from HB 25-1135 (2025), which added C.R.S. 22-1-149. Under the Board of Nursing rule, insulin delegation is limited to a specific staff member, for a specific student, for a specific time. (leg.colorado.gov; sos.state.co.us)
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
- sos.state.co.us: “The administration of insulin or glucagon is a nursing task that may be delegated in accordance with the requirements of Rule 1.13. The selection of the type of insulin and dosage levels shall not be delegated.”
- sos.state.co.us: “Non-routine, correction dosages of insulin may be given by the Delegatee only after: (1) Following the guidelines of the IHP; and (2) Consulting with the Delegator, as designated in the IHP, and verifying and confirming the type and dosage of insulin being administered.”
- sos.state.co.us: “The administration of insulin or glucagon is a nursing task that may be delegated in accordance with the requirements of Rule 1.13.”
- sos.state.co.us: “A local school board of education shall adopt a policy for student possession and administration of prescription medication.”
- sos.state.co.us: “Factors to be considered in establishing any such restrictions include the age and/or maturity of the student, the degree of responsibility of the student, the type of medication, and whether the student's possession or self-administration poses a significant risk of harm to the student or to other students.”
- sos.state.co.us: “This restriction shall not apply to medication that is contained in a multi-dose device including but not limited to asthma inhaler or insulin pump.”
- ed.cde.state.co.us: “Diabetes Plan - Colorado Kids with Diabetes”
- leg.colorado.gov: “THE POLICY MUST NOT PROHIBIT A STUDENT FROM POSSESSING AND USING A COMMUNICATION DEVICE DURING THE SCHOOL DAY IF THE POSSESSION AND USE ARE NECESSARY AS AN EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION ACCOMMODATION PURSUANT TO THE FEDERAL”
- leg.colorado.gov: “OR THE STUDENT'S SECTION 504 PLAN, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 22-20-123; OR TO MONITOR OR ADDRESS THE STUDENT'S MEDICAL CONDITION.”
- leg.colorado.gov: “In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 22-1-149 as follows:”
- sos.state.co.us: “insulin administration by the Delegatee is limited to a specific Delegatee, for a specific Client and for a specific time.”
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).