Help available for students with diabetes

As obesity rates in children continue to soar, Type 2 diabetes — once seen primarily in adults — is becoming more common.

A free guide from the National Diabetes Education Program illustrates how school personnel can better meet the medical needs of students with diabetes.

It includes user-friendly tools, copier-ready action plans, a diabetes primer and a review of school responsibilities under federal laws.

Helping the Student with Diabetes Succeed: A Guide for School Personnel can be ordered or downloaded by visiting http://www.yourdiabetesinfo.org/; click on "publications" and then "resources for school personnel." For phone orders, call (888) 693-NDEP. 

Green-cleaning mandate spreads

Missouri this summer became the third state in the nation, after New York and Illinois, to require green cleaning in schools.

A spokesman for the Healthy Schools Campaign said the Missouri legislation – along with similar laws passed in Illinois in 2007 and New York in 2006 – represents the beginning of a national movement to protect children's health through green cleaning.

'Donate Life' calls for organ donors

A campaign titled "Call to Action" to motivate people to sign up as organ and tissue donors is being promoted by Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, D-Westchester, whose daughter received a life-saving kidney.

For information on becoming an organ, eye or tissue donor with the New York State Donate Life Registry, check out http://www.donatelifeny.org/.