"I feel HB146 is terrible. How could you put the health and welfare of children into the hands of lay people rather than professional nurses? Do you realize how strong insulin is? Do you realize as little as .5cc too much insulin could put a child into a coma or worse? I am a registered nurse and I am well aware of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia reactions. • I have read HB 146. A lay person could not be expected to know all the possible signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia. Some children cannot distinguish it themselves. Some children just know they don't feel well, but don't know why. • Legislators are always so willing to look for the cheapest quick fix for the masses. Do you think they would put up with this for their own children? I doubt it. I would be very interested in knowing the ratio of legislators' children in schools with nurses available compared to the general public. • If you are truly interested in the welfare of children, work for nurses in schools."—RR, Glenview NOTES >>>

"Good Luck with this! I feel sorry for the future of school age diabetics. I am a school nurse and I have had years of training on how to handle diabetic children. By putting the responsibility of handling complications, glucagon administration, insulin administration and interpreting blood glucose readings in the hands of non-medical personnel is frightening. May I suggest you spend more of your energy working on getting more nurses in the schools and less time settling for just anyone to care for our kids. I will continue to pray for you and the children you care so little about."—KA, Chicago

"I am adamently opposed to this bill. I feel the passage of this bill could have dangerous, even life threatening ramifications for the children of Illinois. To ask the school nurses to knowingly participate in such a risky endeavor is out of question. We are all in full support of students with diabetes having their health needs met. Why not encourage an increase in nursing services to be available as opposed to this unsafe route. What's next, children with tracheostomies can now be suctioned by the gym teacher? As a proud school nurse, I again voice my strong objection to this bill."—CA, Chicago

"I'm curious to know why you think that a lay person with NO training at all can make decesions regarding a condition as serious as diabetes. Why in heavens name would a foundation as big as yours not campaign for more nurses, instead of lowering your standards of care for these children. The thought of this is scaring me! If I ever had a child with diabetes, I certainly would not want some person that had an hours worth of "training" (if you can refer to this as training) to make life threatening decisions for MY child. And your comment about school nurses not having diabetes training, is appauling. Not only do nurses get diabetic training in their four years of education, but nurses care for diabetics in every specialty, wherever they may choose to practice. This is an insult and deserves an appology to the profession! I'm not sure just where your information is coming from, but if you want better care for diabetics in schools than you need to campaign for the PROPER Licenced individuals to care for these children, not just handing their care off to anybody. Law suits are expensive and believe me you will have plenty of them if this bill goes through! I used to value this foundation, and refer patients to you all the time, but my thoughts have changed since you are lowereing your standards!"—TS, Chula Vista, California

Editor's note: There is no organization or "Foundation" behind this bill. This is a grassroots campaign of parents, health care providers, educators and policy makers.