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Diab Dock-Spring 2015
- 1. eNews SignUp | diabetes.org/discrimination | Forward to a Friend | Spring 2015
Supreme Court to Decide Two Cases Affecting People with Diabetes
This spring, the U.S. Supreme Court is hearing two
important cases that matter to people with diabetes. On
March 4th, the Court heard the case of King v. Burwell,
a challenge to President Obama’s health care law (the
Affordable Care Act). The Court will decide if an Internal
Revenue Service rule that offers tax credits to millions of
Americans is legal. These tax credits help them afford
health insurance. If the Supreme Court decides that the
tax credits are not legal, nearly 10 million people in 34
states will not be able to afford to buy health insurance.
That includes millions of people who have diabetes or
are at risk for diabetes.
On March 23rd, the Court heard the case of Sheehan v. City and County of San Francisco, about
the actions of police officers who responded to a call involving a woman with a mental disability. The
case is important for people who have diabetes and other disabilities. That is because the Court will
decide how the Americans with Disabilities Act covers situations where police come into contact with
people who have disabilities.
The American Diabetes Association filed legal briefs at the Supreme Court in both of these cases.
Decisions are expected in June, and we will provide updates in a future issue of Diabetes Docket.
New and Noteworthy
Keeping Your Child with Diabetes Safe at School:
A New Web Page Has the Information You Need
Federal law gives students the right to receive the
diabetes care they need to be safe and take part in
school activities, just like other children. But each state
has its own laws and policies that affect how students
with diabetes get that care. Do you know what the laws
are in your state?
Find the answers on our new state law page, including
answers to these questions:
1. Does my state allow school staff members who are
not health care professionals to administer insulin?
2. Does my state allow school staff members who are not health care professionals to administer
glucagon?
3. Does my state allow students to selfmanage diabetes care at school, anytime and anywhere?
You will find a summary of each state’s rules, links to laws of each state, training materials and
other information to help you get fair treatment for your child at school. If you need more help, or
- 2. have other questions, our Legal Advocates are always here to help. Call 1800DIABETES (3422383)
or write askADA@diabetes.org. We want to hear from you!
Parents Corner
Supporting California Students with Diabetes:
A Joint Statement by the American Diabetes
Association and Key Nursing Organizations
Recently, the American Diabetes Association, along with
the American Nurses Association, American Nurses
Association/California and California School Nurses
Organization, issued a joint statement that supports
the medical needs of students with diabetes in California
schools. It stresses the need to provide timely access to
insulin, glucagon and other diabetes care. It also
supports training school staff members (who volunteer)
to provide this care, when the school nurse is not
available.
This joint statement is another positive step in the effort to make sure that students with diabetes in
California have access to the care that they need in school. A huge victory occurred in August 2013
when the California Supreme Court ruled that, when a school nurse is not available, trained school
staff members can provide insulin to students who cannot do it themselves.
The American Diabetes Association, through its Safe at School® campaign, supports the rights of all
students who have diabetes. If you know of a student who is not receiving the proper diabetes care in
school, contact the Association for help at 1800DIABETES (3422383) or askADA@diabetes.org.
Diabetes on the Job
Putting Out Fires with Diabetes
Severe heat, tough hours, hard physical activity—all part of a day’s work for firefighters. Fighting fires is
hard enough as it is. But firefighters who have diabetes, just like people with diabetes who have other
jobs that involve safety issues, must pay closer attention to their blood glucose levels and manage their
diabetes with care.
The Americans with Disabilities Act requires that medical reviews for people with diabetes need to be
fair—and they need to be based on the most current medical facts. Organizations like the National Fire
Protection Agency have comprehensive standards for firefighters with diabetes. But, many local fire
departments also have their own policies, and sometimes they are too strict because employers do not
fully understand diabetes or diabetes care.
Problems in medical reviews that may affect a firefighter with diabetes can include:
Too much focus on high A1C levels
Unnecessary requests for years of medical data
Total bans on people who use insulin serving in such jobs
Removal from duty immediately after diagnosis of diabetes
The good news is that, when firefighters with diabetes know their rights, they can often fight these
medical reviews. Given a fair review, and with strict attention to diabetes care, firefighters with diabetes
should be able to focus on battling fires, and not fighting useless red tape during the medical review
process. Firefighters with diabetes who need information or help should contact the Association at 1
800DIABETES (3422383) or askADA@diabetes.org.
How to Get Help
