ALEXANDRIA, VA -- (Marketwire) -- 08/07/08 -- The American Diabetes Association (ADA)
applauds the Rhode Island legislature for making schools safer for children
with diabetes by recently passing the glucagon bill. This legislation
allows non-medical staff in schools to administer glucagon when a school
nurse is not present and the child is experiencing severe
hypoglycemia. Companion versions of the bill were introduced by Senator
Charles Levesque and Representative Al Gemma and both were passed with
resounding support. Under the provisions of the law, state agencies will be
required to revise related school health regulations and to establish
training guidelines for school personnel.
"As both a nurse and a certified diabetes outpatient educator, I'm very
pleased to see the bill's passage into law," said Dolores Norton Braica,
RN, BS, CNP, CDOE. "Severe hypoglycemia resulting in seizures or
unconsciousness is an emergency situation that can be deadly -- if a nurse
is not present, it is important that someone be trained to respond right
away."
Today, 23.6 million children and adults in the United States -- or nearly 8
percent of the population -- have diabetes. Diabetes is among the leading
causes of death by disease in the United States. Since 1987, the death rate
due to diabetes has increased by 45 percent, while the death rates due to
heart disease, stroke, and cancer have declined.
The ADA is the nation's leading voluntary health organization supporting
diabetes research, information and advocacy. The Association's advocacy
efforts include helping to combat discrimination against people with
diabetes; advocating for the increase of diabetes research and prevention
programs by government; and improved access to, and quality of, healthcare
for people with diabetes. The ADA's mission is to prevent and cure diabetes
and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. Founded in
1940, the Association provides service to hundreds of communities across
the country. For more information please call the American Diabetes
Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org.
Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.
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