Rules for diabetic provisions

Diabetic provisions

Diabetic provisions are approved for students with a medical diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. NESA will require confirmation of the diagnosis.

This provision is NESA determined and schools are required to complete the online application through Schools Online.

Diabetic provisions allow students to:

• have small group supervision or be seated near an exit, to leave the room supervised if necessary
• take bite-sized food and drink into the examination room
• take blood glucose testing equipment into the examination room to monitor their blood glucose level (BGL)
• take their insulin, injection device and/or pump into the examination room (pump may be worn at all times)
• have five minutes per half-hour without access to their exam questions and answers, that can be used to eat, drink, go to the toilet or check their BGL
•  take remedial action of up to 20 minutes if the BGL is below 5 mmol/L or above 15 mmol/L.

Note - students must NOT have access to their examination questions and answers during any extra time associated with diabetic provisions.

If the student uses a mobile phone to monitor their blood glucose levels (BGL), the following additional rules apply:

• The phone must:
  • be placed on the supervisor's desk and connected to power for the duration of the exam
  • not be on the student’s desk
  • be connected to a separate monitor/screen on the supervisor's desk. The monitor/screen must be visible by the student
  • remain unlocked and display ONLY the app presenting BGL information
  • not be connected to any network, wifi or cellular service. Only a Bluetooth connection is permitted.
• The phone and monitor/screen must be set up before the examination starts.
• The student and supervisor must not engage with the phone during the examination.

How hypoglycaemia (low BGL) is treated

Treatment of hypoglycaemia requires immediate consumption of sweet food or drink, followed by slowly absorbed carbohydrate, for example, a sandwich or banana.

If a student needs to take remedial action for low BGL

If the student’s BGL falls below 5 mmol/L, the student may have one period of up to 20 minutes to take remedial action and retest their BGL. If, after 20 minutes, the BGL is still below 5 mmol/L, an illness/misadventure application may be submitted. The student’s BGLs should be included in the application. The student may elect to keep working.

How hyperglycaemia (high BGL) is treated

Hyperglycaemia will cause frequent urination and thirst, leading to the need to drink and visit the toilet frequently. Additional insulin (given either by injection or insulin pump) is needed to reduce the blood sugar level.

If a student needs to take remedial action for high BGL

If the student’s BGL is above 15 mmol/L, the student may have one period of up to 20 minutes to take remedial action and retest their BGL. If, after 20 minutes, the BGL is still above 15 mmol/L, an illness/misadventure application may be submitted. The student’s BGLs should be included in the application. The student may elect to keep working.

Contact Student Support

• phone 9367 8117
• email studentsupport@nesa.nsw.edu.au