Keeping kids with Type 1 diabetes medically safe in school requires a team effort among families, health care providers and school staff. Here's one mother's story of how she's been prepping her son to start kindergarten with a lunch box and diabetes kit in hand.

When Stacey Simms sends her 5-year-old son, Benny, off to school, she's confident he'll be in good hands. Benny has been dealing with diabetes since he was age 2. "Now he's a pro," says Simms, a radio talk-show host in Charlotte on WBT-AM (1110).

The little boy can check his own blood sugar and use his insulin pump, both with adult supervision. He can't count carbs, however, which is how his parents measure out how much insulin he needs.

Simms has been pleased with the response from her son's public school, and has worked hard to get several legal forms and doctor's orders organized. Benny will get most of the care he needs in the classroom.

Type 1 diabetes, usually diagnosed in children and young adults, was previously known as juvenile diabetes. In Type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone needed to convert glucose, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life, according to the American Diabetes Association.

Like most children with Type 1 diabetes, Benny's care is intense, Simms says:

"We check his blood sugar with a finger prick six to eight times a day. He needs to be checked before he eats, before exercise and before he gets on the bus. He'll also need to be checked anytime he just doesn't feel right. He'll need insulin anytime he eats and anytime his blood sugar is too high. He'll need sugar, usually from a juice box, anytime his blood glucose number is too low."

She's hopeful that what is routine to the family will soon become routine at school.

Here's Simms' plan for her son: Benny will take his diabetes kit to school every day. It includes a meter, with lancet and test strips, extra insulin, pump supplies, juice boxes and snacks with protein, an emergency glucose shot, and syringes in case something goes wrong with the pump. There will be a duplicate of everything in the school's front office. Benny's lunch will be labeled with the carb count of each item.

Resources the mom suggests:

"Taking Diabetes to School" (JayJo Books, 2004) by Kim Gosselin, first in a series of "Special Kids in Schools" books.

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation website ( www.jdrf.org). Simms is on the board and donates proceeds from her book, "I Can't Cook, But I Know Someone Who Can" (Spark Publications, 2008) to the foundation. For more information, see www.staceysimms.com.

An online community for kids, families and adults with diabetes is www.childrenwithdiabetes.com.