Diabetes at school, by state

Type 1 diabetes at school in Connecticut

What Connecticut law and the state’s own guidance say about insulin, glucagon, supplies and phones at school, with each source quoted. Checked 2026-10-06.

Can trained school staff give insulin?

No

When no licensed nurse is present, Regs. Conn. State Agencies § 10-212a-2(d) lets trained school staff give only oral, topical, intranasal or inhalant medications; insulin injection is not on that list. CSDE guidance says that when the nurse cannot give insulin, the plan uses a parent or a nurse from a nearby school. (eregulations.ct.gov; portal.ct.gov (PDF))

Can trained school staff give glucagon?

With limits

Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-212a(e), a school nurse supervises a trained qualified school employee who volunteers to give glucagon to a student with diabetes, only when the school nurse is absent or unavailable. (cga.ct.gov)

Can a student carry supplies and manage diabetes at school?

Yes

A board of education may not prohibit or restrict the time and place of blood glucose self-testing on school grounds for a child with a written provider order and parent authorization (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-220j). CSDE guidance says students who self-administer may carry supplies at all times and give insulin anywhere in the school setting. (cga.ct.gov; portal.ct.gov (PDF))

Does the state publish a diabetes care plan form or guidelines?

Yes

The Connecticut State Department of Education publishes a Diabetes Management Plan and School Treatment Authorizations (DMP) form and the guide Learning and Diabetes: A Resource Guide for CT Schools and Families. (portal.ct.gov (PDF))

Can a student keep a phone for the CGM in class?

Yes

CSDE diabetes guidance (June 2019) lists CGM monitoring on a pump, receiver, or smart phone app among school nurse tasks. It says a phone for parent contact during the school day may be a reasonable modification, consistent with school phone policy and the student's IEP or 504 plan. (portal.ct.gov (PDF))

Also in Connecticut

The glucagon provision in Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-212a(e) was added by P.A. 12-198 (2012). CSDE guidance says parents may propose insulin dose adjustments when the provider authorizes it, and the nurse keeps professional judgment. (cga.ct.gov; portal.ct.gov (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

• eregulations.ct.gov: “in the absence of a licensed nurse, only qualified personnel for schools who have been properly trained may administer medications to students as delegated by the school nurse, specifically: (1) Qualified personnel for schools may administer oral, topical, intranasal or inhalant medications.”
• portal.ct.gov (PDF): “When the school nurse or parent is not available to administer the insulin, the plan may identify a school nurse in a nearby school that would be available for both routine administration of insulin or emergencies.”
• cga.ct.gov: “a school nurse or a school principal shall select, and a school nurse shall provide general supervision to, a qualified school employee to administer medication with injectable equipment used to administer glucagon to a student with diabetes that may require prompt treatment in order to protect the student against serious harm or death. Such authorization shall be limited to situations when the school nurse is absent or unavailable.”
• cga.ct.gov: “(C) such qualified school employee voluntarily agrees to serve as a qualified school employee.”
• cga.ct.gov: “No local or regional board of education may restrict the time and location of blood glucose self-testing by a child with diabetes on school grounds who has written authorization from a parent or guardian and a written order from a physician or an advanced practice registered nurse stating that such child is capable of conducting self-testing on school grounds.”
• portal.ct.gov (PDF): “Students who self-administer their own medications may carry their supplies with them at all times, and be permitted to administer their insulin anywhere in the school setting and at school sponsored events.”
• portal.ct.gov (PDF): “This plan outlines the diabetes management for children and adolescents to be used at home or in any community or school setting.”
• portal.ct.gov (PDF): “A written DMP is required to safely and effectively support all students with diabetes.”
• portal.ct.gov (PDF): “Perform routine and emergency diabetes care tasks, including blood glucose monitoring through traditional blood glucose testing or through the use of a continuous glucose monitor that may display data on either an insulin pump, a dedicated receiver, or a smart phone app, urine ketone testing, insulin administration and glucagon administration.”
• portal.ct.gov (PDF): “It may be a reasonable modification, where requested, for parents/guardians to speak to their child during the school day, whether through a cell phone provided to the child, or otherwise through a school phone, consistent with the school policies on cell phone use and the student's IEP or 504 plan, for the purpose of determining their recommendations to be made to the school nurse.”
• cga.ct.gov: “P.A. 12-198 amended Subsec. (a)(1) by adding references to Subsec. (e), amended Subsec. (d)(1)(A) by replacing "to practice medicine" with "under chapter 370" and added Subsec. (e) re administration of glucagon to a student with diabetes, effective June 15, 2012;”
• portal.ct.gov (PDF): “Likewise, health care providers of students with diabetes must specify in writing to the school, where appropriate, that the parent/guardian is sufficiently trained and experienced in adjusting the insulin dose of the student for the parent/guardian to propose adjustments of insulin administration during school time hours and at school-sponsored events.”

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).