Type 1 diabetes at school in Iowa
What Iowa 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 | No source found |
| Phone for the CGM | Yes |
Can trained school staff give insulin?
Yes
Through nurse delegation: the school nurse may delegate medication administration to unlicensed school personnel who complete the Department of Education medication course and a skills check, with added specialized modules for insulin and insulin pumps (281 IAC 14.1, 14.2; Department of Education Medication Administration Toolkit). (educate.iowa.gov; legis.iowa.gov (PDF))
Can trained school staff give glucagon?
Yes
Through nurse delegation: the Department of Education toolkit lists a specialized glucagon module (injection, pen, intranasal) that the school nurse may have school personnel complete after the required medication course (281 IAC 14.1). (educate.iowa.gov)
Can a student carry supplies and manage diabetes at school?
With limits
Under the general medication rule, students who show competency in giving their own medications may self-administer (281 IAC 14.1). No Iowa rule or statute found addresses carrying diabetes supplies or self-managing diabetes anywhere at school. (legis.iowa.gov (PDF))
Does the state publish a diabetes care plan form or guidelines?
No source found
No Iowa Department of Education or Department of Health and Human Services diabetes care plan form or school diabetes guideline was found. The Department of Education publishes a Medication Administration Toolkit with skill checklists for insulin injection, insulin pens, insulin pumps, and glucagon. We found no statute or state agency page that answers this for Iowa. Ask the school nurse or the state Department of Education, and see the American Diabetes Association’s Iowa page.
Can a student keep a phone for the CGM in class?
Yes
Iowa Code § 279.88 (House File 782, 2025) requires district policies that restrict personal electronic devices during instruction. The policy must let a parent petition for access for a physical or mental health reason, and must allow access when a student's IEP or 504 plan requires it. The statute does not name diabetes or CGM. (legis.iowa.gov (PDF))
Also in Iowa
Diabetes care in Iowa schools falls under the general special health services and medication rules (281 IAC 14.1, 14.2). Unlicensed staff take a Department of Education medication course every five years plus an annual skills check with licensed health personnel. (legis.iowa.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
- educate.iowa.gov: “For example, the school nurse delegates medication administration in the school setting of districts or accredited nonpublic schools to align with the required policy as defined in IAC 281.14.1.”
- educate.iowa.gov: “The specialized modules include: 1. Medication Administration: Glucagon (injection, pen, intranasal) 2. Medication Administration: Insulin (glucose monitoring, carbohydrate counting, ketone checks if applicable)”
- legis.iowa.gov (PDF): “"Delegation" means the process within the licensed health personnel's scope of practice in transferring a task, skill, or procedure of the licensed health personnel to qualified designated personnel.”
- educate.iowa.gov: “The school nurse may have school personnel complete additional specialized modules after the school personnel has completed the required medication administration course.”
- educate.iowa.gov: “The specialized modules include: 1. Medication Administration: Glucagon (injection, pen, intranasal)”
- legis.iowa.gov (PDF): “Individuals who have demonstrated competency in administering their own medications may self- administer their medication.”
- educate.iowa.gov: “This toolkit provides school nurses with sample labels, a list of supplies, a list of steps in delegation of medication administration, a sample forms for delegation, evaluation and more.”
- legis.iowa.gov (PDF): “Establish a process through which a student's parent or guardian may petition the school district to allow the student to maintain access to the student's personal electronic device during the portion of the school day in which classroom instructional time is delivered if the student's parent or guardian can establish that there is a legitimate reason related to the student's physical or mental health for the student to maintain access to the device during such time.”
- legis.iowa.gov (PDF): “Allow a student who has an individualized education program, or a plan under section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. §794, to maintain access to the student's personal electronic device during the portion of the school day in which classroom instructional time is delivered if the student's individualized education program, or plan under section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. §794, requires the student to maintain such access.”
- legis.iowa.gov (PDF): “A provision for a medication administration course provided by the department that is completed every five years with an annual medication administration procedural skills check completed with licensed health personnel.”
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).