'It's a very, very serious matter': WNY parents demand schools monitor children's diabetes remotely
Some parents in the Northtowns are demanding change after saying school nurses are not remotely monitoring their children with Type 1 diabetes, despite technology that makes it easier than ever.
By: Eileen Buckley
Posted 4:58 PM, Sep 16, 2025
and last updated 6:14 PM, Sep 16, 2025
Sign the petition to the schools to follow CGMs: https://c.org/N9tyWwGz7C
Parents Urging Newton School Board to Change Policy for Diabetic Students
“COVINGTON — For children with Type 1 diabetes, continuous glucose monitors can not only improve their quality of life but the devices can be a lifesaver.
During the Tuesday, Aug. 19 Newton County Board of Education meeting, two parents came before the board to urge the school system to change its policy on CGM monitoring for students while they are at school.
Continuous glucose monitors are sensors under the skin that monitors glucose levels 24 hours a day. The CGM transmits to devices or cell phones so you can track your glucose level in real time.
Lora Petersheim, whose daughter Charlotte is a Mansfield Elementary student, said there are 183 counties throughout the US that have CGM policies.
“Newton County not only has the ability but it also has the obligation to receive alerts and view glucose (levels) on a school device,” she said.”
Aug 22, 2025
Georgia Parents Advocate for Newton County Schools to Implement Remote Monitoring for Students with Diabetes
Parents of students in Newton County Public Schools, Georgia, urged the Board of Education to reconsider its policy prohibiting remote monitoring of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) for children with diabetes.
Arlington County Schools in Virginia to Implement Remote Monitoring on School Provided Ipads 2025-2026 School Year
Use of Mobile Applications: Some CGMs transmit data remotely to multiple devices simultaneously via smartphone technology using an application. A parent/guardian may request that Arlington School Health staff and/or APS Principal Designees use the application to periodically observe their child’s CGM data during the school day by completing the Parent/Guardian Agreement and Acknowledgement Form for the Remote Monitoring of Student’s Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM).
Prince William County Schools in Virginia Begins Secondary Device Initiative
Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) is set to launch a new divisionwide initiative at the start of the 2025-26 school year. This initiative aims to enhance the management of diabetes and other medical conditions requiring continuous glucose monitors (CGMs). To facilitate this, schools will be equipped with iPads as secondary devices. These devices will provide an additional layer of safety by ensuring quicker responses to CGM alarms and minimizing the risks of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia.