To ‘EDUCATE’ this teacher?

[Misinformation]

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!

Exactly this.

I think it's certainly worth a follow up but less heavy handed than you've put it here!

Great. Let's add knowing absolutely everything about every single medical condition possible to the teachers list of things to do.

As a lifelong eczema sufferer, there is a big difference between explaining whether something is contagious and can be “caught” by contact and whether anyone can potentially develop it.

I think it’s most likely that a teacher who is able to explain what T1 diabetes is, is fully aware that anyone could develop it at any time and thought the other boy was asking if he could catch it off your DS.

However if the teacher caused your DS upset and he is also experiencing unkind behavior or questions over his condition then I think you should politely contact the school and ask them for help and advice on dealing with this.

This! The teacher is probably running between classes trying to fit in wee and quick drink thinking about 42083 things on their to do list!

You're getting annoyed about a conversation that you heard second hand from a child. YABU.

Perhaps she was trying to reassure the boy that he wasn’t going to catch it, because he’s a very anxious child. It isn’t all about your DC.

The teacher was explaining that it is not contagious. You sound like someone who takes offence at the slightest thing.

The American Diabetes Association says you inherit a predisposition to it - and mostly that has to be inherited from both parents. Then there are triggers:

Type 1 diabetes develops more often in winter than summer and is more common in places with cold climates. Another trigger might be viruses. It’s possible that a virus that has only mild effects on most people triggers type 1 diabetes in others. Early diet may also play a role. For example, type 1 diabetes is less common in people who were breastfed and in those who first ate solid foods at later ages.

https://diabetes.org/diabetes/genetics-diabetes

Most teachers are very aware of T1 diabetes, as it often strikes during secondary school age and can come on very quickly, and is one of the reasons secondary schools are so strict about knowing where all students are at all times - there have been deaths on school premises when a child has become seriously unwell out of site.

And every child in the country should know it is inherited, as it is a basic fact in the general science GCSE

"Catch" to me implies that it's contagious and the child was asking if he could "catch" it from the OP's son. The teacher was right to say no.

I am not sure if you’re deliberately misunderstanding. You cannot “catch” t1 diabetes, that would indicate it’s contagious. You can however develop it.

it sounds to me also like the boy was asking if it was contagious. I am not sure the teacher needs educating. The answer at a high level for the context was fine.

Type II CAN be developed from lifestyle implications. Not does as that implies it always does.

The misinformation on this thread 🙄

Information here

He’s not the type to correct a teacher so I think I should?

No.

Your stated your DS is 14.

Your son needs to learn to correct others about his diabetes. Currently his peers but later when his working, his colleagues.

Some people will be a-holes while others will take note and be the ones who will help your son the correct way in an emergency.

As a teacher myself that teacher was trying not to cause panic or hysteria in the other kid to reassure them. You are completely over reacting.

But OP swears what she’d DS heard and he never lies!

Teachers have enough to be worried about without being educated by a parent whose DS could be ratting on the teacher for any reason.

No, it isn’t.

I am guessing the boy was asking if your son's diabetes was contagious and was he at risk of passing it to other children and the teacher reassured him it is not?

well, that is a basic GCSE science fact, so take it up with the exam boards ( all of them) if you don't want children in the worldwide to be taught this ( all of them)

For type 2 I always remember Steve Redgrave - 5 times Olympic rower.

His only "lifestyle factors" was family inheritance.

This. So much this.

DBIL also almost died from a hypo. It’s absolutely imperative that people around you understand what can happen, what it might look like and what to do.

Of course teens might not like this attention but it’s potentially life saving. No different to knowing how to react to anaphylaxis, asthma or epilepsy.

So yes, do consider ‘educating ’ the school but not from a place of defensiveness but of offering life saving first aid in a crisis.

I think there is still a lot we don’t know about the causes of diabetes. It’s not always inherited and is a complex mix of predisposing and environmental factors. Some forms of Type 1 are very much genetic. The science continues.

I think the teacher could have said ‘you can’t catch it like you would a cold. You don’t catch it from other people, but anyone can develop it, if their pancreas stops producing insulin’ BUT that’s a lot to ask.

The teacher did their best but this might be an opportunity to talk to them to see if they are aware of the mean intentions of the boy asking and that would be an opportunity to do a bit of education may be.

My DiL went straight into type 1 at 43 because her pancreas just packed up and stopped producing insulin. It wasn't insulin resistance it was insulin non production.
A pancreatectomy can result in type 1 diabetes also for example pancreatic cancer or severe pancreatitis.

The OP is annoyed that the teacher said you couldn't catch Type 1 diabetes. There isn't any suggestion as yet that the school need training in managing diabetes.

That's interesting @Sidslaw . I didn't know that! Thank you.

Maybe - with your DS blessing of course - contact the school and highlight that questions have been being asked so if the school can do some education on it so other pupils understand (without singling Ds out) and maybe provide them with more information to help with that.

the teacher was trying to help and they can’t be experts in all medical conditions. I know we have had to explain lots of things about DS various health conditions over the years. I’m learning on the go so of course they are!