Help from teachers - Type 1 Diabetes

[Alba37]

Hi,

I wonder if any teachers (without much knowledge of Type 1) would be willing to give me a quote to use anonymously? I am doing a presentation on 'Type 1 Diabetes at school' at a conference and I was hoping to put some quotes on a slide of initial thoughts/first reaction when/if you are told you will have a child with Type 1 in your class? Either replying here or messaging me would be much appreciated.

TIA

[CraftyGin]

I don’t really have anything particularly quotable, but have taught many diabetic children over the years, some that were not well-controlled.

I would say that it really doesn’t faze me. I will ask a student to test their blood if I have an inkling that they are close to, or out of, limits. They always comply, IME. A lot of students have no idea that they are low, so need prompting to test.

It is useful for the diabetic nurse to come into school to do a presentation of teachers and support staff.

[Alba37]

Thanks CraftyGin, I appreciate your reply.

[t1mum3]

@alba37 you might get more responses if you post in the staffroom area as it’s specifically for teachers

[Flyingarcher]

Hi. I'm a teacher and a mum of a type 1. Teachers do get very worried about taking a child on trips with type 1. One thing we found was that when in year7 teachers wouldn't acknowledge that my son, who had had the condition for a few years, knew more than them and knew far better how to treat himself as did his friends. We had the ridiculous situation when on an initial outdoor activity trip when he tested, was high and this meant mass panic. He told them all he needed to do was inject and or run round the field a few times. He was told to be quite by an officious TA, who said she knew best and was the adult. His tutor phoned his mother, a doctor to ask her what to do. He was made to sit out and not inject. It was all down in the forms.

As a teacher I find it worrying that staff think that if there are problems (usually hypos - lows) then inject with insulin. I have had to be very forceful that if a child is shakey, ill, etc, they should blood test and if losing consciousness phone for a,bulence and give sugar. A high isn't going to kill anyone but a low plus insulin will. People automatically associate diabetes with injections and it should be with blood testing. Staff should be shown how to perform a blood test on someone who is incapable.

[CraftyGin]

That is scary, flying.

I am mostly tuned into lows. That is when students can be missed, or become invisible.

The highs are easier to spot.

I just have the attitude of asking them to test if I am at all uncomfortable. It’s really not a big deal to ask them to test.

The student needs to make sure they carry their kit around with them in secondary. A bumbag is good. We also have a supply of mini-cans of full-fat Coke in school.