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AIBU?

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Original poster

To ‘EDUCATE’ this teacher?

342 replies

Misinformation · 05/09/2023 16:03

DS has Type 1 diabetes. He has to put up with stupid comments like ‘did you eat too much sugar’ regularly.

At school today, a boy asked him this. Teacher nearby started telling him what Type 1 is and he asked if anyone could get it and could you get it randomly.

Teacher said No which DS was quite pissed of about as it seems to imply he’s done something to get it or it’s in his genes (it’s not). He’s not the type to correct a teacher so I think I should?

Quite annoyed as if you’re going to educate someone, do it correctly!

OP posts:
Basilthymerosemary · 05/09/2023 21:24

@MysteryBelle

So are you saying that all the scientific journals that do say there is a genetic component/inheritance (from people who have studied diabetes for years and are experts in their field) know less than you?

Ok then.

BackToOklahoma · 05/09/2023 21:26

“You can’t catch it from sitting next to someone who has it, but anyone could develop it at any point in life, through nobody’s fault, now please get on with your work”

is how you deal with that question without othering the child with T1.

This.

Callyem · 05/09/2023 21:27

BackToOklahoma · 05/09/2023 21:26

“You can’t catch it from sitting next to someone who has it, but anyone could develop it at any point in life, through nobody’s fault, now please get on with your work”

is how you deal with that question without othering the child with T1.

This.

Is that true though? Or is it only true to those of use that meet certain genetic factors?

anotherside · 05/09/2023 21:28

@TeresaCrowd

Teachers have to answer a dozen tricky questions a day, five days a week, forty weeks (?) a year. I hope you would be able to answer all 2000+ questions perfectly - on the spur of the moment and with other students and issues also demanding your attention.

Boredombeckons · 05/09/2023 21:30

Misinformation · 05/09/2023 18:20

How the actual fuck is it ‘precious’ to not want my son to feel like shit by a teacher’s stupid remark about a life threatening medical condition when he is struggling to understand why it happened to him?

She could have just said ‘I don’t know’!

Yes, saying it can’t just happen to anyone and you can’t get it randomly does imply DS is somehow different.

I have absolutely no doubt DS relayed it as it was said. He has better comprehension that most on here.

To be fair, it's so obvious that you'd be on here ranting too if she had said "I don't know".

Plus, "I don't know" would mean children being more scared they could "catch" it from your child. That IS probably the present reality.

The teacher was probably trying to prevent your child being ostracised, due to the kids being afraid of "catching" diabetes from him.

If you would have liked the teacher to add that it's just bad luck (genes, magic, whatever), no fault of your son, etc, I would raise that point civilly. I don't think painting her as the bad guy is helpful when she's trying to stop your child being shunned.

uneffingbelievable · 05/09/2023 21:30

50 yrs since I was diagnosed - people ask questions - I answer them, educate them, I do not get pissed off and definitely have heard some BS.

Sorry OP - way too sensitive bigger things to worry about than that in the world of type DM.
Wait till yu get to my age 52 and now I am told even by GPs and practice nurses I have Type 2 DM now as that is what you have when you get older.

Willyoujustbequiet · 05/09/2023 21:32

Sidslaw · 05/09/2023 16:53

It is inherited though, that is how most people get it

No it's not.

Certain genes can mean you may be predisposed to it but its not inherited. There are many other factors..

MysteryBelle · 05/09/2023 21:36

TeresaCrowd · 05/09/2023 21:23

“You can’t catch it from sitting next to someone who has it, but anyone could develop it at any point in life, through nobody’s fault, now please get on with your work”

is how you deal with that question without othering the child with T1.

This is excellent.

Boredombeckons · 05/09/2023 21:38

Also just to add on, if the teacher wants to elaborate, I don't think there's any harm in talking about genetic predisposition, race, etc as significant higher risk factors.

It's good to know and nothing to be ashamed about, or to teach your child to be ashamed about!

Mamai90 · 05/09/2023 21:38

My best friend was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 21 years old. Even as teens she reckoned she'd get it at some stage as her Dad, her maternal grandmother and Uncle all had type 1. Her mum and maternal Aunt developed type 2 in their 30s.

When she was diagnosed they told her it was genetic and her diabetic team have told her to be vigilant because her two children have a much higher chance of getting it.

OP, I think it was just a misunderstanding with the teacher. You're being over sensitive which is maybe understandable given your situation but I'd honestly let it go.

Septemberdaysarehere · 05/09/2023 21:38

strawberriesarenot · 05/09/2023 20:49

I am sorry your son has Type 1 diabetes. However, I do think you are being very unreasonable. The teacher was clearly explaining that it wasn't contagious and you are just refusing to accept that obvious fact. Your 'educating' sounds very like bullying to me.

This. I also read you ‘educate’ as bullying and absolutely not on. It’s the start of term you are also having this third hand, as well as assuming what another pupil’s intentions were eg the boy said it to … you can’t know that. You are throwing around wild assumptions! You are being a bully and highly patronising. My daughter has hyper mobility - you can’t catch it, is it genetic? - no one in our family has it - she has - could be recessive gene for me and biological father -

Basilthymerosemary · 05/09/2023 21:39

@Willyoujustbequiet

You are right that diabetes T1(disease) is not inherited but most people understand that we are talking about the genes being inherited.

TeresaCrowd · 05/09/2023 21:45

@MysteryBelle T1 daughter of a T1 ex-headteacher here so it probably does suit my skill set. You definitely do gain a certain ability to say ‘fuck off and shut up, you little prick’ in a way that sounds very happy clappy and socially acceptable after listening to someone dealing with 11 year olds for 20 years.

Willyoujustbequiet · 05/09/2023 21:47

Primrosesanddaisies · 05/09/2023 17:54

There is no 't1 gene' there is no 'autoimmune disease gene'. Of course there are genetic factors - everything we are as a human is to some extent. However it is not hereditary. You can have predispositions to diseases of the immune system but the actual triggers for T1 are not known. If it was solely genetic, the huge rise in autoimmune disorders cannot be explained. Environmental triggers must play a part but the truth is no one really knows.
I hope you don't teach it as black and white as that. Perhaps ask JDRF for guidance.

Show quote history

Thank you

I think it's quite worrying that a teacher who claims to teach it appears to misunderstand it to this extent.

MysteryBelle · 05/09/2023 21:48

simpledimple · 05/09/2023 21:00

I'm a parent of a T1 daughter and a teacher.
We have had health care professionals say the actual stupid things about T1D - 'Did you eat too many sweets?'
My daughter just rolls her eyes and explains that there are many causes of T1D, (never eating sugar) and that hers was due to an autoimmune reaction that has attacked her healthy pancreas and so it no longer works. Simple and stating the facts.
I wouldn't be angry or upset at the teacher.
The reason my daughter's autoimmune system chose to attack her pancreas may have been triggered as a result of a virus., that she 'caught'. Ultimately, her T1D was caused by both her autoimmune system malfunctioning (genetic) AND the virus (caught) that triggered it.
Other people in our family caught the same virus but it didn't trigger T1D as their genetic codes are different or they just happened not to be triggered on that occasion.
We do have a distant great, great uncle who had T1D so in our case we do seem to have the inherited gene.
Why get angry? Your child will encounter so much misinformation, ignorance and prejudice about T1D as they get older - show them how to deal with it calmly and without getting wound up, as this will help your child the most in the long run. You don't want your child to become an adult who spends their life angrily correcting people - your child is way more than just their condition and will be happier living with it if they can brush off questions quickly rather than reacting emotionally.
Perhaps 'help' your teacher by giving them a simple answer 'statement' that they can say - one that you are happy with and that your child can learn to use too in the future to deflect a question or 'wrong' supposition.

This is a great post. I want to say though, the op is upset and that’s ok too. She is coming here to vent and get support. Obviously she would think out exactly what she might say to the teacher and not go screaming and acting crazy.

Sometimes the British stiff upper lip goes to the extreme. I’ve noticed (from the USA) that I have to be careful to not have strong feelings or show emotion much here, or use an exclamation point ever no matter what, or use a strong adjective. Anyone who posts with a title of ‘aibu to be furious’ or similar emotional word, will get a furious kicking from every single poster 😂

I also try to never use “ instead of ‘, because that is apparently a crime too 😂 People are awfully wound tight as a wire to be set off so easily.

We all are human and will feel upset sometimes especially concerning our children. It’s like you all instinctively want to gang up on a poster who is feeling emotional. Look through all that and see what her concern is. Actually, it is illogical to meet an emotional outburst with another, in the name of squashing the emotion. ‘Ffs’ incoming I’m sure. Give the op a break. Goodness.

TeresaCrowd · 05/09/2023 21:51

@Callyem yes. Even if you are not predisposed to the genetic influences that may cause T1 to develop, there’s nothing to stop you needing your pancreas removed due to an accident for example, or pancreatic cancer can also lead to insulin dependence, though I believe is now T3 for those without a pancreas, the needing insulin through no fault element is the same. Nobody is immune from ending up needing to take insulin for the rest of their lives.

Deliana · 05/09/2023 21:52

OP, it's not true to say genetics aren't involved. They are, at least sometimes. People are more likely to develop it if their parents have it. That in itself shows a genetic inheritance of risk factors in at least some people with Type 1 diabetes.

Callyem · 05/09/2023 21:58

TeresaCrowd · 05/09/2023 21:51

@Callyem yes. Even if you are not predisposed to the genetic influences that may cause T1 to develop, there’s nothing to stop you needing your pancreas removed due to an accident for example, or pancreatic cancer can also lead to insulin dependence, though I believe is now T3 for those without a pancreas, the needing insulin through no fault element is the same. Nobody is immune from ending up needing to take insulin for the rest of their lives.

So T1 requires a genetic element and T3 results from pancreatic trauma?

Noseybear38 · 05/09/2023 21:59

Sceptic1234 · 05/09/2023 20:53

Why not Huntington's??

Show quote history

The symptoms of Huntington’s typically don’t start until the age of 30 and beyond. There is no cure and those who have it have a 50% chance of passing it on to their offspring. Before a genetic test for it was developed potentially a parent may not have known they had the disease until after they had children. Others may make the decision not to have children to avoid the risk of passing it on.

The test itself raises a lot of ethical questions about when to test, would you want to know etc. so to me it makes good sense to use polydactyly instead as there are interventions that can be used if required.

ZadocPDederick · 05/09/2023 21:59

Why should the teacher protect his feelings by giving incorrect information and by doing so upsetting DSs, if that’s what she was doing?

I just don't understand how you make out this was protecting the boy's feelings? As I understand what you have said, she was trying to make it clear to him that it is not something you catch by being around someone who is diabetic. She seems to have been trying to protect your DS from stupid kids implying he's infectious, unclean and to be avoided.

Basilthymerosemary · 05/09/2023 22:00

@Willyoujustbequiet

Although HLA class II alleles account for up to 50% of genetic type 1 diabetes risk, multiple non-MHC loci contribute to disease risk. These include the insulin, PTPN22, CTLA4, IL2RA, IFIH1, and other recently discovered loci.
All these different genes contribute to the development of T1. It means as you correctly said- you are predisposed to acquiring the disease if all other factors are triggered (unknown/ unclear about which factors trigger).

However, you are being obtuse by saying it is not inherited. These autoimmune genes are inherited. If parents do not have these genes- a child is very unlikely to have T1. (Cannot say 0% as scientists are still unsure of genetic pattern- but they are certain that there is a strong genetic component).

And yes- everything is genetics- but not all diseases are genetically inherited; saying T1 disease has nothing to do with genetics is misinformation, it's purposefully leaving out bits that don't suit your narrative.

Boredombeckons · 05/09/2023 22:00

@MysteryBelle pretty sure from previous posts about the war she's waging against teachers about her child's diabetes, stiff upper lip is not the case lol

Boredombeckons · 05/09/2023 22:01

I do sympathise with parents of ill children, but I think diabetes or not, she would've been one of those parents no matter what

Tyrannosaurusdrip · 05/09/2023 22:04

This has maybe already been said but...
I would offer to do a short education session for the kids. It would be useful for them to be able to identify diabetic emergencies, in case the need arises, and just to give them a bit more info

TeresaCrowd · 05/09/2023 22:07

There’s no resounding study that has identified a certain specific gene element for T1. Specialists believe you can inherit certain genetic risk factors but often there also has to be an external trigger, such as a virus, that the immune system essentially over reacts to. It’s a very complex condition and not much one can do to prevent it. Those who suffer pancreas damage or removal through things like pancreatic cancer or other illness/injury I believe are technically diagnosed Type 3C. Depending on the level of damage they may be able to take things like metformin, but for complete removal they will have to take insulin as well as additional hormones that a T1 does not have to take. Essentially though both groups are reliant on insulin (amongst other things) to remain alive. This is probably the limit on my knowledge of it, but ‘diabetes’ can strike anyone, irrespective of their diet or genetic risk factors is the overall takeaway so maybe people should not be so quick to judge.