You can monitor your child’s glucose at school remotely by pairing their continuous glucose monitor (CGM) with a cloud sharing service, then following those readings on your own phone through a follower or viewer app. FreeStyle Libre shares through LibreLinkUp, Dexcom shares through Dexcom Share and Follow, and a Nightscout site can broadcast to anyone you invite. Once sharing is turned on, you see your child’s number, trend arrow, and high or low alerts in near real time, even when you are miles away.
The short version: Turn on your child’s CGM cloud sharing, add yourself and the school nurse as followers, and set clear high and low alerts. Pair that with a written school plan so everyone knows who watches the app and what to do.
What do you need to follow your child’s CGM from work?
Three things have to line up: a CGM on your child, cloud sharing switched on, and a follower app on your phone. The CGM sends readings to a phone or receiver near your child. That device uploads to the manufacturer’s cloud. Your phone then pulls those readings down wherever you are.
- FreeStyle Libre: Your child’s Libre app shares to your LibreLinkUp app once you accept the connection invite.
- Dexcom: Your child’s Dexcom G6 or G7 app uses Dexcom Share to send readings to your Dexcom Follow app.
- Nightscout: A self-hosted site lets you view data in any browser or a Nightscout viewer app, and you control exactly who gets the link.
If you want to see Libre, Dexcom, and Nightscout in one place, and get readings on your wrist during meetings, a companion app like Sugar Sense can pull from all three sources at once.
Which sharing setup works for school?
The right choice depends on which CGM your child wears and how many adults need to follow along.
FreeStyle Libre at school
Libre shares through LibreLinkUp. You can invite several followers, so both a parent and the school nurse can watch the same data. Readings depend on your child (or a school device) staying near the phone that scans or streams the sensor. If numbers go stale, our guide on fixing LibreLinkUp signal loss walks through the common causes. For setup basics, see how to share FreeStyle Libre readings with family.
Dexcom at school
Dexcom lets you add up to 10 followers through Dexcom Share, which is plenty for parents, grandparents, and a nurse. If you are unsure how the two apps differ, read Dexcom Share vs Dexcom Follow. Followers see the same trend arrow your child sees, which matters when you are deciding whether a number is heading up or down.
Nightscout for full control
Nightscout is popular with families who want one dashboard, custom alerts, and a link they can share with anyone. It takes more setup, but it works with most CGMs. If you go this route, our Nightscout setup and troubleshooting guide can help.
How do I set alerts so I do not miss a low during class?
Following readings only helps if your phone actually gets your attention. Set alerts thoughtfully so they are loud enough to notice but not so frequent that you start ignoring them.
- Set a low alert at a level you and your child’s care team agree on. Many families choose a number that gives time to act before a serious low.
- Set a high alert so you catch stubborn highs, not just lows.
- Turn on a predictive alert if your app offers one. A predictive low glucose alert warns you when the trend is heading down fast, before your child crosses the low line.
- Make sure critical alerts pierce silent mode. Phones on silent during work can swallow notifications. See glucose alarms that work in silent mode so a real low is never missed.
Understanding the arrows helps you read a situation at a glance. Our guide to glucose trend arrows explains what a single down arrow versus a double down arrow is telling you.
What should the school know and do?
Remote monitoring is a safety net, not a substitute for a trained adult on site. The school still needs a plan and someone who can act quickly.
Put it in writing
In the United States, most children with diabetes qualify for a written plan such as a 504 plan or an Individualized Education Program (IEP). Your child’s care team can provide a Diabetes Medical Management Plan that spells out target ranges, low and high treatment steps, and who is authorized to help. The American Diabetes Association offers guidance for families on school rights and safe-at-school plans at diabetes.org.
Decide who watches the app
Add the school nurse as a follower so a trained adult on site sees the same data you do. Agree on who responds first during the day. If the nurse gets an alert, they act; you are the backup. This avoids the trap where everyone assumes someone else is watching.
Keep the phone or receiver charged and close
Readings only upload if the child’s device stays powered and within Bluetooth range. Ask the school where the phone or receiver will live during class, PE, and lunch. Distance and thick walls are the most common reasons data goes quiet.
What about the school day realities?
Real classrooms bring a few predictable challenges. Planning for them keeps the data flowing.
- PE and recess: Activity can drop glucose fast. Watch for a downward trend before and after exercise, and make sure fast-acting sugar is within reach at all times.
- Lunch: Expect a rise after eating. A high reading right after lunch is often normal and not an emergency.
- Naps and quiet time (younger kids): Lying on a sensor can cause a false low reading. Learn the signs in what is a compression low.
- Finger sticks still matter: A CGM reading can differ from a meter, especially when glucose is changing fast. Our article on why CGM and finger stick readings differ explains when to confirm with a meter.
For the bigger picture of following someone from a distance, our caregiver’s guide to remote glucose monitoring covers building a Care Circle and avoiding alert fatigue.
Frequently asked questions
Can the school nurse and I both follow the same CGM?
Yes. LibreLinkUp, Dexcom Follow, and Nightscout all support multiple followers, so a parent and a nurse can watch the same readings at the same time. Agree in advance on who responds first during school hours.
How far behind real time are the readings I see?
Followers usually see readings within a few minutes of the sensor recording them. Delays grow if the child’s phone loses Bluetooth range, drops Wi-Fi or cellular signal, or its battery dies. Keeping the device charged and nearby keeps the delay small.
Is remote monitoring enough to keep my child safe?
No app replaces a trained adult on site or the CGM’s own alarms. Remote monitoring adds a valuable extra layer, but treatment must happen where your child is, following the plan your care team wrote.
What if my child does not carry a phone at school?
Many schools allow a dedicated device or a school-owned phone or receiver to stay with the nurse or in the classroom. Dexcom receivers and Libre readers can stand in for a phone in some setups. Ask your care team which option your CGM supports.
How Sugar Sense helps parents stay connected
Sugar Sense lets you follow your child’s FreeStyle Libre, Dexcom, or Nightscout readings from your iPhone and Apple Watch, with high, low, and heading-low alerts you can tune for the school day. Its Care Circle feature means a parent and the nurse can stay in sync, and glancing at your wrist keeps you connected without pulling out your phone in a meeting. You can start with the free real-time monitoring in Sugar Sense and see if it fits your family’s routine.
This article is educational and general information, not medical advice. A companion app never replaces your child’s CGM device, its built-in alarms, or a trained adult at school. Set glucose targets, alert levels, and a school plan with your child’s healthcare provider. See our medical disclaimer for details.
