Family of diabetic child calls on province to create standard of care in Sask. schools

Jennifer Simmons says her daughter Kinsley has only been able to attend five days of school in the past five months. From left to right: NDP MLA Meara Conway, Kinsley Simmons, Jennifer Simmons, NDP MLA Joan Pratchler. (CTV News)

The family of a seven-year-old girl with diabetes is calling on the province to create a standard of care that will allow her to continue her education.

“I’m the mother of a sparkly little girl named Kinsley who was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes November 17. Since then, she has attended school for only five days in the past five months,” Jennifer Simmons told reporters this week.

“We are incredibly grateful for the pediatric team in Regina and Saskatoon, but when it came down to school, we hit a gap in the education system, not because support doesn’t exist, but because it has not been consistently implemented in our province.”

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Joined by her daughter and NDP MLAs Joan Pratchler and Meara Conway, Simmons told reporters that she tried to bridge the training gap with the school but was refused.

She claimed Kinsley’s medical supplies were locked away after the school had said it was safe for her to return.

“The glucose monitor was taken from her, and within 30 minutes, I received a chilling email asking at what [glucose level] would we call 911,” she said.

Simmons said families shouldn’t have to choose between keeping their child safe at school and paying their bills, highlighting another incident that took place.

“In January, Kinsley’s second exclusion was lifted, but on her third day back, Kinsley’s alarm sounded and low blood sugar was confirmed. She was given only one single gram of carbohydrates,” she said.

“Her glucose continued to drop and she began to stumble, and she began to lose her vision. She went into severe hypoglycemic shock, a potentially fatal diabetic emergency requiring immediate treatment. This was followed by another exclusion.”

She said that incident could have been prevented if proper training was in place.

“Saskatchewan needs diabetes education for all school staff, training on how to recognize and treat low blood sugar, an emergency plan understood by everyone, designated staff to support diabetes management around meals and support for younger children who cannot manage this alone,” she said.

Speaking during legislative assembly earlier this week, Pratchler introduced the family and called on the province to create a standard of care.

“Kinsley has faced a life changing journey with strength, sparkle, and a smile that lights up a room,” she said. “Kinsley has only been able to attend school for five days since her diagnosis. It’s 2026, why hasn’t the minister created a standard of care for diabetic students?”

Minister of Education Everett Hindley said he has been kept aware of the circumstances surrounding Kinsley’s education and has been in contact with her parents in respect to standardized training and consistency for diabetic students.

“As per our expectations in the government with the Ministry of Education, we fully expect that every child, every student, has every opportunity to receive education in the classroom, recognizing of course, that there will be challenges and there will be cases like Kinsley’s with medical complexities and medical challenges,” he said.

Hindley said through the Ministry of Education, he has committed to working with school divisions to see what steps can be taken so that Kinsley can get the education she needs.

Pratchler said Kinsley’s parents, Jennifer and Clayton, should not have to choose between their child’s safety and going to school.

“They can’t go to work if Kinsley can’t go to school,” she said. “Without clear provincewide standards, students such as Kinsley are vulnerable.”

Hindley reiterated that the Ministry of Education is working to support students like Kinsley and the medical requirements she has.