New diabetes monitoring program helps Chesapeake students stay safe in class

Author: Germyah Batey Published: 1:59 PM EST January 16, 2026

CHESAPEAKE, Va. — A new program in Chesapeake is changing how students with diabetes are cared for during the school day, giving parents peace of mind and helping students spend more time learning in the classroom.

For Susie Steffes, dropping her son off at Cedar Road Elementary used to come with constant worry. Her son, Luke, has type 1 diabetes, which means his body does not produce insulin as it should.

“It was nerve-wracking. I stayed glued to my phone all day, looking at his numbers, making sure that he wasn’t too high,” Steffes said.

Monitoring Luke’s blood sugar is a daily responsibility Steffes has always managed closely. Before the new diabetes monitoring program, that same task could be difficult for school administrators, especially when his blood sugar levels dropped unexpectedly.

“My son, Luke, when he goes low, he goes low quickly, and low blood sugar can mean death,” Steffes said.

That concern led Steffes to push for change, and it sparked the launch of a remote diabetic monitoring program within Chesapeake Public Schools…. READ MORE HERE: https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/education/new-diabetes-monitoring-program-helps-chesapeake-students-stay-safe-in-class/291-d75475fe-eb1b-452b-a69e-02fb8732aa4d