Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Terry Keelan on August 11, 2010 at 7:44pm

I think you should have as deep a support team as you feel comfortable with. If two close teachers are enough in your estimation, then that's enough.

Personally, I'd feel quite comfortable having two co-workers who know what to do for me in an emergency. With a nurse twice a week - sweet.

Terry

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Permalink Reply by Sophie J. on August 12, 2010 at 3:40am

Thanks Terry. I just don't feel it's necessary to "train" 7 other teachers. I truly believe my closest 2 are enough. :)

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Permalink Reply by Brunetta on August 12, 2010 at 5:35am

Sophie, I understand what you are going through. I am a public school speech pathologist, and I travel to 3-4 schools every week. I and I am fortunate not to have hypounawareness., but I do wear a CGMs, anyway.
I have informed all the school nurses, who fortunately for me.. are all at the school when I am there. I tell close friends ( I do not meet a stranger, I am pretty outgoing and upfront about my diabetes) what to do if I tell them I am going low.... and they have all been great,:On the occassions where I am too low to go to the nurses office to get assistance, these kind individuals have brought me orange juice from the cafeteria,sent my kids back to their rooms or sat with them with while I recovered, got my stash of glucose tabs from my room... I have never passed out at school , but I do understand how frightening it is for the others to watch. I am fortunate that I do not have these episodes very often, and if I do go low, usually I can self-treat with glucose tabs without any help from others..

A couple of years ago,the vocal music teacher at one of my schools was hypounaware and would hit the floor at 58....They would call the school nurse, then me,and if necessarry, 911 when she started acting strange. I heard so many comments about how frightening it was for the kids and the other teachers, and they wanted to know why she wasn't like me, who did not pass put while on insulin. I explained about hypounawarenss in long-term insulin-dependent diabetics , and that I get warning signals, but some don't; but they still were very frightened, though they knew what to do....

Suggestion: Can you write up a plan as to what is to be done if you go into a hypo episode, and have the school nurse and teachers who volunteered to help sign it? I have one ( a standard copy) on file at each of my schools ( on advisement from my union). This is not required by my district, and administrators know about it, but have never questioned me. I do not think you have to train everyone on your team. If you get the plan in writing, I think your administrator will be ok.

God Bless,
Brunetta

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Permalink Reply by Leo2 on August 12, 2010 at 7:29am

Dear Sophie,
I'm coming in on the side of training!
Not to be different, but just to get as many people knowledgeable as possible - and you can say it's not for you, since you have CGM, but for the kids who don't have a CGM, for the others they meet who don't have a CGM, even for the nurses' medication assistants, even for the nurses!
I am an all-about-knowledge person, having been a teacher-researcher all my life, professional and non-professional. So read this knowing that's who/what I am/do!
At the dinner table last weekend I had a new son-in-law (professor/teacher/researcher), and as I was giving my insulin, I was giving him ideas that would make him ask more questions. Things he needed to know for students in his classes, for graduate students running computers who get so involved they don't recognize signs in themselves. Need I say for the person who runs the physical plant, the administrator, etc.
I think training is an imperative activity for all diabetics!
And I empathize with you on having those hypo-unaware times. I had one once, and my 8 year old grandson was more aware than my husband because he had listened to my explanations to him. He knew intervening immediately was best to do! My husband, the physician-retired, was totally unaware.

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Permalink Reply by Denise Bevard on August 12, 2010 at 9:02am

I too come in on the side of training..and just thihnk of all the sutdent you may be helping who will now have a teacher who is informed...

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Permalink Reply by Tom T on August 12, 2010 at 9:02am

I fully understand your hesitation, but this is a great opportunity for you to formalize the information you've given to your team in the past and to dispel lingering misconceptions about D. It will also give them a chance to ask you questions that they may not have been comfortable asking informally. It is a sacrifice on your part, but one that may also help other diabetics they might encounter in the future. Every diabetes-educated person out in the world (not just school) counts!

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Permalink Reply by Jacky on August 12, 2010 at 9:20am

I'm coming in on the vote for training too. I would also flinch if it was all about me, but if this training could be generalized as a part of overall D education. As the Mom of a 20 year old and 12 year old type 1, I would be thrilled for my girls to have had a teacher with type 1 that could present another view of living with D, aside from our extremely unique family.

I can only imagine the difficulty involved before your CGMS, I hope it will be helpful this school year in avoiding hypos.

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Permalink Reply by Kristin on August 12, 2010 at 2:15pm

I would vote for the training too. The more people that know the better, in my opinion.

Just think that if they ever have a student with diabetes, they will be much more prepared. You can even tell them that the training is not just for you, but for any possible future students with diabetes :)

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Permalink Reply by Angie on August 12, 2010 at 3:44pm

Hi Sophie! I too am an elementary school teacher. I would have to speak up for myself if the nurse came to me and told me that she was having a training on this. You said that you have support with two other people. You can stand up for yourself without being ashamed of having to go through a training. I would tell her that you have a support system already. I know how you feel about others having another student to look after.....I am fortunate in that I work right down the hall from my husband. He checks in on me diffferent times during the day! This is not her decision to make, it is yours. You need to speak up against if if you don't feel that it is necessary to your health! Just my feelings on the topic. Good Luck! Let us know what you decide!

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Permalink Reply by Sophie J. on August 12, 2010 at 4:25pm

Okay TuDiabetes Family- Thanks for all of your wonderful responses. I respect ALL of them and I took each of them into consideration and figured I would ask the people who would be affected the most. All of the teachers on my team (7 total) were all very supportive and some said that even if they did not go through the training at school, they would do "research" on their own via the world wide web.......ha....this is when my "Iwanttomakesuremyco-workersarereceivingaccurateinfo" instinct kicked in. Lol! So I have agreed to the "training" under a few conditions. #1. We are all meeting at my house.....we've done it before for social gatherings and I want everyone to feel comfy. #2 The nurse is conducting the training BUT I get to say whatever I want that is specific to my own situation. So I guess you can say we are co-teaching! :) and #3. When we return to work, DO NOT try to tell me what I can and can not eat! I get very cranky about my food! Don't tell me I'm going to die when you see me eating a Hershey's Kiss! In fact, I am just going to share the Diabetes Etiquette list that I stole from one of the members on this site! Lol! I love you guys the info I get from you on this site! http://behavioraldiabetesinstitute.org/downloads/Etiquette-Card.pdf. Thanks again for EACH of your responses!

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Permalink Reply by Bradford on August 13, 2010 at 7:22am

Sophie I think the conditions you came up with are great! And I think #3 is the best part :-) You don't want any more food police patrolling you any more than you already encounter I'm sure...I feel the same way!
Good luck w/ the training session. And be sure to let us know how it goes (what kind of questions they have, what kind of response you get from providing them the info, etc...). I think it could be a good learning experience for all of us here to maybe use this sort of situation in our own lives in the future!

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Permalink Reply by DC Reporter on August 13, 2010 at 7:38am

i have a much different (and admittedly, minority) opinion on this topic. i would respectfully tell your nurse to mind her own business. your diabetes is yours alone to manage and treat. if you want a ``team'' it should come only if you initiate it. otherwise, it's an unneeded and unwelcome intrusion.
i have never disclosed my diabetes in all my years of school and work. no one at work knows i'm diabetic and i will never disclose it. i'm convinced this ``go it alone'' approach is the reason for my great success -- no complications or problems after 50 years; never had a seizure nor have i been incapacitated by a high or a low in all these years (including time spent in iraq, central america and bosnia).
the reason is, having only myself focuses my attention; it forces good habits and routines. this is unconventional, i know. but it has worked for me. so ... until i'm here no longer, only my mother, my wife, my two kids and my doctor will know of my ``condition.''

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