Type 1 diabetes at school in North Carolina
What North Carolina 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 | Yes |
| State plan or guidelines | Yes |
| Phone for the CGM | Yes |
Can trained school staff give insulin?
Yes
Public school employees authorized by the board of education may give any drug or medication a doctor prescribes, on the parents' written request (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 115C-375.1). The statute does not name insulin; the NCDHHS School Health Program Manual tells districts to designate staff trained to give students with diabetes their ordered medications. (ncleg.gov; ncdhhs.gov)
Can trained school staff give glucagon?
Yes
Authorized public school employees may give prescribed medication and may give emergency health care when a delay would endanger the student (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 115C-375.1). The statute does not name glucagon. (ncleg.gov)
Can a student carry supplies and manage diabetes at school?
Yes
The NCDHHS School Health Program Manual lists diabetes (insulin or a source of glucose) among the conditions where a student may self-carry and self-administer medication, if the student has the maturity to manage it without staff oversight. The diabetes care plan states the extent to which the student takes part in their own care (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 115C-12(31)). (ncdhhs.gov; ncleg.gov)
Does the state publish a diabetes care plan form or guidelines?
Yes
The State Board of Education must adopt guidelines for individual diabetes care plans (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 115C-12(31)). NCDHHS school health guidance points schools to the ADA forms for written care plans and lists a North Carolina plan of care template. (ncleg.gov; ncdhhs.gov)
Can a student keep a phone for the CGM in class?
Yes
Each public school unit must have a policy that bans student wireless devices during instructional time, but the policy must allow use as required to manage a student's health care for a documented medical condition (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 115C-76.100, from HB 959, S.L. 2025-38). The statute does not name diabetes or CGM. (ncleg.gov)
Also in North Carolina
Local boards and charter school boards must implement the State Board's diabetes care plan guidelines (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 115C-375.3). NCDHHS lists two intensively trained school staff per student with diabetes, generalized diabetes training for all staff, and a written care plan as required components. (ncleg.gov; ncdhhs.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
- ncleg.gov: “it is within the scope of duty of teachers, including substitute teachers, teacher assistants, student teachers, or any other public school employee when authorized by the board of education or its designee, (i) to administer any drugs or medication prescribed by a doctor upon written request of the parents”
- ncdhhs.gov: “Designate staff who will be trained to provide care for students with diabetes including administration of ordered medications.”
- ncleg.gov: “(ii) to give emergency health care when reasonably apparent circumstances indicate that any delay would seriously worsen the physical condition or endanger the life of the pupil”
- ncdhhs.gov: “There are a limited number of health conditions which may require a student to self -carry and self - administer medication. These include asthma (inhalers), diabetes (insulin or source of glucose), and severe anaphylactic allergies (emergency epinephrine).”
- ncdhhs.gov: “Parents should be informed that students who self - carry must have been determined to have sufficient maturity to be independent in the management of their medication with no oversight from school staff.”
- ncleg.gov: “the extent to which the student is able to participate in the student's diabetes care and management”
- ncleg.gov: “The State Board shall adopt guidelines for the development and implementation of individual diabetes care plans.”
- ncdhhs.gov: “Forms for written care plans and other documents are available here.”
- ncdhhs.gov: “North Carolina Plan of Care Template - NC Plan of Care/Individualized Healthcare Plan Template”
- ncleg.gov: “(c) A wireless communication policy shall allow student use of a wireless communication device during instructional time as follows:”
- ncleg.gov: “(3) As required to manage a student's health care, in accordance with a documented medical condition.”
- ncleg.gov: “Local boards of education and boards of directors of charter schools shall ensure that the guidelines adopted by the State Board of Education under G.S. 115C-12(31) are implemented in schools in which students with diabetes are enrolled.”
- ncdhhs.gov: “Required components for schools with diabetic students: • Generalized diabetic training for all school staff • Two intensively trained school staff for individual students with diabetes • Written plan for diabetic student care”
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).