Last modified: Thursday, March 15, 2007 1:46 AM EDT Bill would let diabetic students inject insulin BY JIM HAND SUN CHRONICLE STAFF Two local legislators are pushing for a bill that would allow students with diabetes to administer insulin shots to themselves in school. The bill was the subject of a hearing at the Statehouse Wednesday and supporters are hoping it can pass this legislative session. State Rep. Louis Kafka, D-Sharon, is the sponsor of the House bill. Sen. James Timilty, D-Walpole, is the chief backer in the Senate. The measure would allow students who are deemed responsible to test their blood-sugar level during school and inject insulin if needed. Timilty said state law mandates that school nurses must perform the procedures, and that can be a problem. "There are many instances where such an emergency arises without an available nurse to attend to the student," he said in written testimony on the bill. "Some estimates have identified a mere 150 of the 386 school districts as having a full-time nurse assigned for each school. This poses a significant risk to our students in the event of an emergency." Kafka said many students are also embarrassed to constantly go to the nurse because it draws attention from their classmates. He said they would rather administer the insulin themselves in private in the bathroom. Kafka said there is opposition to the bill from school nurses, but he believes a compromise can be worked out.