Testing blood sugars as a teacher

[thisonebreath]

Hello, I've just been diagnosed with gestational diabetes and need to test blood sugars four times a day. The early morning before/after breakfast and evening ones are fine but the timings for the after lunch one is awkward. I eat lunch about 1.30-1.45 but an hour after that I'm teaching - the earliest I can do is 3.20 so 35-45 minutes after I should. I forgot to ask about this and will do when I speak to them next week, but if you're a teacher or have a job with restrictions on testing, how do you manage?

TIA

You need to get your risk assessment updated. A pregnant teacher who had recurring uti used to have a ta or cover superviser regularly pop into her room so she could go on a ‘message’.

A colleague of mine is a teacher with type 1 diabetes and thinks nothing of testing as and when she pleases. The kids are all used to it, she talks to them about it/explains it with new groups.

She's been known to inject insulin whilst dealing with kids (she has some responsibility). She occasionally sends a kid to fetch snacks if she discovers she's low.

It's all matter of fact and business as usual. No issues. Kids and staff all get used to it. (And the ones that get weird with it learn to avert their eyes/wait a minute)

She may not be particular typical though! And this is secondary.

Thanks. I'm secondary as well, so although there'd be a fair amount of fascination, it'd be easy to do in class. I'll get risk assessment updated as well.

I think I mean that it's as normal to her as breathing. And becomes so to everyone around her very quickly.

Which is good. She's a great role model to students with diabetes (we have a few).

I say, test whenever you need to. Just explain it to curious observers. They'll get used to it quickly!

I have to test my son’s blood sugar regularly - you could easily do it in class.

I’d really recommend getting the Accucheck fastclix lancet, so much less painful than others.

Thank you.

There's no need to even show the kids imo, though I do agree that normalising it is a great idea. You could discreetly turn your back on them or do it in your cupboard (if you have one!)

A bit different but my sons are type one and do their finger pricks in class so I wouldn't have thought it would be a problem and it takes 2 minutes!

I would also speak to your diabetic Nurse as whilst you are new to diabetes it is possible to manage it differently e.g. having a fixed lunch that you know is fine for blood sugars normally provided you were not high when you tested no 2. This would avoid the need to test the third time (its not completely necessary to do this and anyone type 2 these days doesn't have to test - the main reason you do is risk to Baby should you go super high) If you have decent control it shouldn't be an issue to miss that one and then test for the evening.

It will also depend on how much insulin you are taking as well but you need to make these decisions in conjunction with nurse and also in some ways school to allow you to do this. At this stage you would be testing and recording rather than testing and taking more insulin if nec so risk is lower

Thank you. At the moment I'm just testing and recording. Apparently my level was only just over, and was on fasting blood only - the second one after the sugary drink came up normal, so it was suggested it should he controlled by diet.

btw if you do test timing IS important as they are looking for you to be in certain parameters a fixed time after eating.

Having said all that a quick test at your desk in school SHOULD be fine - all needles are covered and blood is present for a very short time, just have some tissue or cotton wool handy till it stops bleeding - which is generally pretty immediate anyway

If I were you then I would just have a conversation with your nurse regarding having a standard lunch and not testing after lunch time but continuing for other times.

Have they told you to watch out for other infections - often if your bloods start to get out of kilter it means there is possibly another underlying infection e.g. I had a mouth abscess which effected my sugars and eventually triggered my waters breaking (31 weeks). Things like mouth care, feet care and care of cuts etc v important as that is how infections get in.

There is another target figure for 2hrs post meal- that should be late enough for you to test without stressing about remembering during a lesson.

Ooh, no they haven't said anything about infections. Interestingly, for the first time ever (in this and two previous pregnancies) I've got raised something or other in my urine so they've sent that for testing for infection. I feel fine though.

I remember my blood sugar being harder to control when I was pregnant, so it could be that a fixed lunch might not help if bg is getting progressively worse.

I agree with others, just test and explain if anyone asks. You can get a bg scanner now that requires no blood and is literally like contactless payment - unfortunately you're probably unlike to get funding (& it's £100+ a month without), but that would solve your problems.

I used to nip into the cupboard to do my tests but I work in a special school and some of the students wouldn't have understood. In mainstream secondary I think you could definitely do it in class.