Superior school nurses had a special training session on how to help students with diabetes from Essentia Health’s Dr. Kannan Kasturi, the only pediatric endocrinologist in northern half of Minnesota.

Viral infections, like covid-19, can be triggers for autoimmune disorders, like type I diabetes. Of course, genetics plays a role. Diabetes does not just happen all of a sudden it can develop over years.

Post-pandemic there has been a slight increase in cases, and the numbers could potentially get worse- which is why this training is essential.

“There are so many misconceptions associated with this condition. With children there are so many other issues that go on as they are growing,” Dr Kastari tells The Lift.

“There are social issues. There are academic issues. When dealing with a medical program, it just complicates the issues. It gives a special layer of complexity to those patients which is why we focus on this condition.”

He held a Q and A session for the nurses– and demonstrated how to use insulin pumps and how to troubleshoot them when they’re not working.

“We try to do a lot of training on diabetes for our community and we regularly invite diabetes school nurses to come to Essentia once a year to give them a training session. But sometimes we like to go out into the community as well”

Essentia’s Pediatric Endocrinology team serves patients as far east as Detroit and as west as Fargo.