Diabetes at school, by state

Type 1 diabetes at school in Louisiana

What Louisiana 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?

With limits

An unlicensed diabetes care assistant, a school employee who volunteers to be trained, may give insulin under the student's plan when the school has no full-time nurse or the nurse is unavailable, and only with a signed parent agreement on file (La. R.S. 17:436.3(B), (C)). (legis.la.gov)

The American Diabetes Association’s Louisiana page reads this differently: ADA answers yes and does not mention that assistants act when no full-time nurse is assigned or the nurse is unavailable.

Can trained school staff give glucagon?

With limits

The same unlicensed diabetes care assistant may give glucagon under the same conditions (La. R.S. 17:436.3(B), (C)(4)). (legis.la.gov)

The American Diabetes Association’s Louisiana page reads this differently: ADA answers yes and does not mention that assistants act when no full-time nurse is assigned or the nurse is unavailable.

Can a student carry supplies and manage diabetes at school?

Yes

In line with the student's diabetes management and treatment plan, a school must let the student check blood glucose, self-administer insulin, treat lows and highs, and carry supplies at any time (La. R.S. 17:436.3(D)). (legis.la.gov)

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

No source found

State law requires a diabetes management and treatment plan developed by the student's own physician or provider (La. R.S. 17:436.3(A)). No state Department of Education or Department of Health form or guideline was found. We found no statute or state agency page that answers this for Louisiana. Ask the school nurse or the state Department of Education, and see the American Diabetes Association’s Louisiana page.

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

Yes

Students may not have phones on their person during the instructional day, but this does not apply to a student whose IEP, Section 504 Plan, or Individualized Health Plan requires the use of a phone (La. R.S. 17:239(A)(2)). CGM is not named. (legis.la.gov)

Also in Louisiana

The principal may seek volunteers and should try to have at least one unlicensed diabetes care assistant if the school has a full-time nurse, or at least three if it does not (La. R.S. 17:436.3(C)(2)). A school may give an information sheet on the student's diabetes emergencies to the employee who transports the student (La. R.S. 17:436.3(E)). (legis.la.gov)

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

• legis.la.gov: “If a school has no school nurse assigned to the school on a full-time basis, or the school nurse is unavailable, an unlicensed diabetes care assistant may provide care to a student with diabetes, or assist a student with the self-care of his diabetes, as provided in this Section.”
• legis.la.gov: “(d) Administering, or assisting a student in administering, insulin through the insulin delivery system prescribed in the student's diabetes management and treatment plan.”
• legis.la.gov: “C.(1) For purposes of this Section, "unlicensed diabetes care assistant" means a school employee who volunteers to be trained in accordance with this Section.”
• legis.la.gov: “(c) Administering glucagon and other emergency treatments as prescribed in a student's diabetes management and treatment plan.”
• legis.la.gov: “(d) Possessing on the student's person, at any time, such supplies or equipment as are necessary to monitor and care for the student's diabetes.”
• legis.la.gov: “(b) Self-administration of insulin through the insulin delivery system specified in the student's diabetes management and treatment plan.”
• legis.la.gov: “Such plan shall be developed by the physician or other licensed health care provider recognized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services who is selected by the parent or guardian to be responsible for such student's diabetes treatment and a current copy of such plan shall be kept on file at the school in which the student is enrolled.”
• legis.la.gov: “(b) The provisions of Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph are not applicable to a student whose Individualized Education Program, Individualized Accommodation Plan, Section 504 Plan, or Individualized Health Plan requires the student's use of an electronic telecommunication device.”
• legis.la.gov: “(b) Make efforts to ensure that the school has at least one unlicensed diabetes care assistant, if the school has a full-time nurse, or at least three unlicensed diabetes care assistants if the school has no full-time nurse.”
• legis.la.gov: “With written permission from a student's parent or legal guardian, a school may provide a school employee with responsibility for providing transportation for a student with diabetes, or supervising a student with diabetes during an off-campus activity, with an information sheet that provides the following information:”

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).