Type 1 diabetes at school in New Mexico
What New Mexico 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 | With limits |
| Glucagon by trained staff | With limits |
| Self-carry | Yes |
| State plan or guidelines | Yes |
| Phone for the CGM | Yes |
Can trained school staff give insulin?
With limits
In the absence of a school nurse, trained diabetes care personnel, who are school employee volunteers and need not be health care practitioners, give insulin as the diabetes medical management plan directs (6.12.11.7, 6.12.11.8, 6.12.11.10 NMAC). (srca.nm.gov)
Can trained school staff give glucagon?
With limits
In the absence of a school nurse, trained diabetes care personnel give glucagon and other emergency treatments as prescribed (6.12.11.10 NMAC). (srca.nm.gov)
Can a student carry supplies and manage diabetes at school?
Yes
With a parent's written request, authorization in the diabetes medical management plan, and demonstrated proficiency, a student may check glucose, give insulin, and treat highs and lows anywhere on school grounds and at school activities, and may carry all supplies at all times (6.12.11.12 NMAC). (srca.nm.gov)
Does the state publish a diabetes care plan form or guidelines?
Yes
The New Mexico Department of Health publishes "Helping the Student with Diabetes Succeed" supplementary materials for New Mexico schools (2009). 6.12.11.9 NMAC requires parents to submit a diabetes medical management plan. (nmhealth.org; srca.nm.gov)
Can a student keep a phone for the CGM in class?
Yes
Each district and charter school phone policy must let a student use a wireless communication device to manage the student's health care (SB 11, 2025). Diabetes care personnel training includes scanning continuous glucose monitors (6.12.11.8 NMAC). (nmlegis.gov (PDF); srca.nm.gov)
Also in New Mexico
6.12.11 NMAC implements the Student Diabetes Management Act (Sections 22-34-1 to 22-34-9 NMSA 1978). Each school with a student with diabetes must have at least two trained employees, and bus drivers who transport a student with diabetes must be trained to recognize highs and lows. A school must not require parents to provide diabetes care at school. (srca.nm.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
- srca.nm.gov: “In accordance with the request of a parent or guardian of a student with diabetes and the student's diabetes medical management plan, a school nurse, or in the absence of a school nurse, diabetes care personnel shall perform diabetes care functions that may include:”
- srca.nm.gov: “(4) administering insulin or assisting a student in administering insulin;”
- srca.nm.gov: “Each governing body shall not require that diabetes care personnel be health care practitioners.”
- srca.nm.gov: “(3) administering glucagon and other emergency treatments as prescribed;”
- srca.nm.gov: “A student with diabetes shall be permitted to self-manage in any area of the school or school grounds, and at any school-related activity .”
- srca.nm.gov: “A student with diabetes shall be permitted to possess on the student's person at all times all necessary supplies and equipment to perform these monitoring and treatment functions.”
- nmhealth.org: “Helping the Student with Diabetes Succeed A Guide for School Personnel Supplementary Materials for Implementation in New Mexico Schools August 2009”
- srca.nm.gov: “The parent or legal guardian of the student with diabetes who seeks diabetes care while at school shall submit a diabetes medical management plan to the school.”
- nmlegis.gov (PDF): “permit a student to use a wireless communication device in the event of an emergency or to manage the student's health care;”
- srca.nm.gov: “performance of finger stick blood glucose testing, scanning of continuous glucose monitors, ketone testing, and recording of results;”
- srca.nm.gov: “Each governing body shall ensure a minimum of two school employees, at each school attended by a student with diabetes, receive the training outlined in this rule.”
- srca.nm.gov: “This rule is promulgated by the secretary of public education and the public education department under the authority of Sections 9-24-8, 22-2-1, 22-2-2, and 22-34-1 through 22-34-9 NMSA 1978.”
- srca.nm.gov: “Each governing body shall also ensure annual training is provided to all school personnel with a primary responsibility for supervising a student with diabetes during some portion of the school day that includes bus drivers responsible for transporting a student with diabetes.”
- srca.nm.gov: “A school shall not require nor compel parents or guardians to provide diabetes care for a student with diabetes at school or school-related activities.”
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).