Schools

the stats

770,000 young adults in the US, ages 18 to 30, are living with diabetes. That's about 1.3% of everyone in that age range, or roughly 1 in 75.

run that against your enrollment and it gets concrete. a campus of 20,000 students likely has around 260 students managing diabetes right now, today, between classes and exams and everything else college throws at them.

the reality for schools

the number of students on campus living with diabetes is a small share of your student body.

but the need is real, it's specific, and it's easy to overlook precisely because the numbers are small. that's why we are building plan to partner directly with higher education organizations and colleges across the country to make it easier to support students living with diabetes on your campus.

the reality for students

71% of college students report having difficulty managing their diabetes at school.

students make about 95% of their own diabetes management decisions, with doctors weighing in on the other 5%.

managing diabetes takes roughly 1 to 2 hours of active attention every day.

how the diabetes link helps

we've do the legwork. We can show you what these students need and walk you through how to provide it. you don't have to become a diabetes expert. you just have to know where to point them, and we make that part simple.

three ways to help

join our campus professionals community

small change you can make to ensure your campus is diabetes-friendly - sent right to your inbox.

spread the word

the fastest way to help is to make sure students know we exist. our online community, college chapter network and online educational resources exist to support them through every phase of their college career. learn more about how we support student directly and work with your school to connect them to us.

chat with our experts

our team is here and ready to learn about the challenges your school faces and provide ways you can support students living with diabetes on your campus.

schedule a meeting

campus accessibility checklist

in the classroom and during exams

Are insulin pumps and CGMs allowed to stay on during class and tests? A student can't safely remove them. As little as 30 minutes off a pump can send blood sugar dangerously high.
Do instructors know these devices can't browse the internet, run calculations or store notes? They're medical equipment, not a cheating risk.
Can a device stay on silent or vibrate so a student isn't singled out by an alarm?

insulin and supply storage

Can students receive temperature-sensitive insulin without it sitting in a hot or cold mailroom? Spoiled insulin is an expensive, dangerous loss.
Does the Health Center offer a place to receive and store supplies if a student's housing can't?

dining

Is nutrition and carb information posted or easy to get? Students dose insulin based on carbs. Guesswork puts their blood sugar and their focus at risk.
Can students with diabetes get flexibility on meal times and plans?

housing and scheduling

Do students have access to a refrigerator for insulin and food?
Is housing placed with distance to dining and class in mind?
Can students get early scheduling if walking distances affect their blood sugar?

emergency readiness

Is campus staff prepared to recognize a severe low and respond? Newer glucagon comes as a nasal spray or auto-injector, so anyone can give it.
Do Health Services, Disability Services and Counseling talk to each other about students with diabetes?

Ready to learn more about how to support students living with diabetes at your school?

you support students