OAK PARK, IL…State Representative Tom Cross (R-Oswego) and the Illinois Legislative Diabetes Caucus awarded the first Stand Up/Stand Out Award to Horace Mann Elementary School in Oak Park on March 19th. Horace Mann Elementary was selected because of their excellence in implementing the Care of Students with Diabetes Act into their everyday education.

“The Care of Students with Diabetes Act was created to ensure that children with diabetes are able to get the care they need in school,” said Cross. “Horace Mann Elementary has done a great job of implementing the new law in its very first year and they deserve our recognition.”

The recipient of The Stand Up/Stand Out Award, Horace Mann Elementary was nominated by the parents of a kindergartener named Alexandra who is living with Diabetes. Alexandra’s parents were pleased that her teachers, administrators and the school nurse have created and implemented a plan that provides all the necessary care, but does not disrupt the educational experience for her or her classmates.

“Horace Mann Elementary is a model for exactly how The Care of Students with Diabetes Act (“The Act”) is supposed to work,” said Todd Kahn, a father that nominated the school. “The team at Mann gets it right by balancing the duties of Alex’s designated care aides with those of trained healthcare providers. They have provided great care, a safe, supportive environment, and most importantly, they have allowed Alexandra to be a kid.”

Horace Mann Elementary has assigned two teachers as designated care aides to help Alexandra in the classroom with her daily blood sugar checks and medication. Two school nurses are also kept informed and available to help if a problem occurs.

“This school is going above and beyond to make sure Alexandra gets her daily routine care without having to miss class or her educational and social opportunities,” said Cross.

For more information on the award and how to implement The Care of Students with Diabetes Act in your school visit www.thecareact.com.

(Springfield) Rep. Tom Cross’ Diabetes Awareness Day bill passed out of the Illinois House of Representatives unanimously Thursday.

“Diabetes affects nearly one out of every ten residents in Illinois,” said Cross. “We hope by bringing more attention to this disease, we can ultimately find a cure.”

Illinois’ Diabetes Awareness Day lands on World Diabetes Day — which celebrates the birthday of Frederick Banting who, along with Charles Best, carried out experiments in 1922 that led to the discovery of insulin to manage diabetes.

According to the American Diabetes Association, Illinois has 800,000 residents diagnosed with diabetes and another estimated 500,000 who are not aware they have the disease. Illinois’ estimated direct healthcare cost from diabetes is $7.3 billion per year.

Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, non-traumatic lower-limb amputations and new cases of blindness among adults in the United States and is a major cause of heart disease and stroke.

Rep. Cross also heads up the Illinois Diabetes Caucus which was started in May 2011. It is a bi-partisan group of lawmakers from the House in Senate committed to promote sound diabetes policy development.

For more information please visit http://www.ilgadiabetes.com/.

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