For parents of children living with Type 1 diabetes in Alberta, the daily school routine is fraught with anxiety. Unlike several other Canadian provinces, Alberta lacks a mandatory, consistent standard of care for managing this chronic autoimmune condition in educational settings. This leaves families navigating a fragmented system, reliant on the individual goodwill of principals and teachers rather than clear, shared protocols.
The Personal Struggle Behind a Systemic Gap
The issue is deeply personal for advocates like Alison Stone and Kim Buchanan, two Alberta mothers who have lived the challenge. One is a teacher, the other a nurse. They have balanced careers and the relentless, minute-to-minute management of their children's diabetes, which requires constant monitoring of blood glucose levels and insulin administration. They have even modified their professional lives to ensure their children could attend school safely, highlighting the extreme measures families must take in the absence of systemic support.
Their shared experience revealed a stark reality: there was no provincial roadmap for what a supportive school environment for a student with T1D should entail. Determined to change this, they shifted from managing individual crises to addressing the root cause.
Building a Roadmap: The Birth of Glucose Scholars
This determination led to the creation of Glucose Scholars, a grassroots project initiated by parents for families. It began with a fundamental question: What would a clear, compassionate baseline of care look like if created collaboratively by families, educators, and health professionals?
The project team undertook comprehensive research, reviewing existing resources like the Alberta Guidelines for the Care of Students Living with Diabetes at School, clinic forms, and international best practices. They conducted interviews with numerous families and teachers and collaborated with experts from the Alberta Children’s Hospital Diabetes Clinic. The feedback was unanimous: families felt isolated and overwhelmed, while school staff wanted to help but lacked the necessary tools and guidance.
From Discussion to Action: Creating Practical Toolkits
In May 2025, the initiative took a significant step forward by partnering with the University of Calgary’s Health Systems Transformation Initiative to host a dedicated workshop. This forum brought together parents, teachers, clinicians, and researchers to share experiences and brainstorm concrete solutions.
From this collaborative foundation, the Glucose Scholars Toolkits were developed. The project created two distinct resources: one for families and one for schools. These toolkits are designed to translate the existing Alberta guidelines into practical, actionable steps that communities can implement. The goal is to move from ad-hoc arrangements to a reliable, province-wide standard of care.
The advocacy continues, with a clear call to action for the provincial government. Parents and supporters are urging Alberta to follow the lead of provinces like British Columbia and Nova Scotia by mandating a consistent standard of care. This would ensure that every child with Type 1 diabetes can feel safe, included, and confident at school, no matter which classroom or community they are in.
