Pappas-Backed Law to Ensure Students with Diabetes Have Access to Lifesaving Medication

BLOOMINGDALE, Ill. – To guarantee the safety of children with diabetes, state Rep. Diane Pappas, D-Itasca, backed a new law allowing schools to maintain a supply of potentially lifesaving medication to manage blood-sugar levels.

“Children who are dealing with serious medical problems because of diabetes need to know they have a safety net in case of an emergency,” Pappas said. “When they’re called on in critical situations, schools nurses and other medical professionals need to be prepared, and that means having the right medication to deal with any problem. Right now, they are unable to provide necessary care due to outdated regulations about which medicines they can stock and administer. That has to change before there are serious consequences.”

Pappas co-sponsored House Bill 822, which provides that schools may maintain a supply of glucagon, a medication to rapidly raise a patient’s blood-sugar levels. Glucagon can be lifesaving for diabetics, who may face serious health risks due to extremely low blood sugar. The measure received robust bipartisan support and was recently signed into law.

“I want a safer Illinois for the next generation of kids, which we can do by removing barriers to good medical treatment,” Pappas said, “whether they come in the form of overpriced prescription drugs, unreliable insurance plans or a poorly-supplied medical staff. It’s time for a new system. Our children deserve to grow up knowing their school nurses are ready to help in an emergency.”