Giving up summer vacation and heading back to the classroom is a Downer for most kids, but perhaps especially so for juvenile diabetics. How can children--and parents--best manage their condition under this kind of increased stress and decreased supervision?

This article offers some great tips.

-- Do your homework: Before you meet with staff at your child's school, you'll need to get organized, and perhaps do some research on your child's rights and Section 504 plans. A 504 plan, named for Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, is an agreement between the parent and the school, which gives guidelines for the child's type 1 diabetes management in school.

-- Meet with school staff: Schedule meetings to speak with the principal, any teacher your child will have, the gym, physical education, or coaching staff, school nurse and cafeteria manager. This meeting is usually the best time to go over your proposed 504 plan or other health plan, and distribute informational materials about your child and type 1 diabetes. The child may also be a part of this meeting.

Read on for more tips, and help make the school year as painless as possible...at least until that first math test!