The number of grade school-aged students with diabetes in Sarasota County schools has nearly doubled over the past six years. New data from the Florida Department of Health showed in 2011, 83 students were identified as diabetic in county schools. This school year, that number jumped to 128. Suzanne DuBose, a registered nurse and supervisor of health services in Sarasota County schools, told the Herald-Tribune the growing diabetes rate is putting extra pressure on school health services. Per state law, insulin shots are required to be administered by registered nurses. In Sarasota County, not every school has a full-time nurse on staff. That means more rotations of nurses who travel throughout the district.
