Type 1 diabetes is a severe and chronic disorder that usually begins during childhood and may adversely impact neuropsychological, academic, social, and emotional functioning. Within academic settings, the needs of students with diabetes are often misunderstood and sometimes denied. School psychologists are uniquely qualified to assist and advocate for the needs of diabetic students.
Background
Essentially, diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin. Type 1 diabetes is the most severe form and is also commonly referred to as juvenile diabetes, diabetes mellitus, or insulin-dependent diabetes. Type 1 diabetes usually appears during childhood and some children develop it as young as 2 or 3 years old. The disease tends to develop quickly during childhood as a result of an aberrant immune response in which the body's defense mechanisms attack and destroy insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. As a result, insulin is not produced. Insulin is a hormone that enables cells throughout the body (including the brain) to absorb glucose from the blood. Cells in the body metabolize glucose (i.e., sugar) to produce energy, function
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