MADERA  -  School nurses from across Central California converged on Valley Children’s Hospital to learn more about the latest improvements in managing students with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The daylong event, “Diabetes Management for the Pediatric Population,” provided school nurses an opportunity to interact with pediatric professionals who discussed subject matter ranging from insulin therapy, exercise and nutritional management.

Valley Children’s gets phone calls every day from school nurses who care for the Hospital’s  diabetic patients, said Denise McEowen, a registered nurse and certified diabetic educator at Valley Children’s. “They are like our partners in taking care of these kids,” she said.

Frequently, schools are the best conduit for the Hospital to reach families because they have the most up-to-date information about children and their families, McEowen said.

Valley Children’s treats around1,500 children and adolescents with diabetes.

In addition to school nurses, social workers, public health nurses and dietitians were among the nearly 100 in attendance. The program offers hours in continuing education for healthcare professionals.