Author: Leslie

While having Type 1 diabetes does not affect a person’s ability to learn in the classroom, lack of knowledge, improper care, and inflexibility by school personnel with regards to Type 1 diabetes could potentially affect a child’s success in the classroom.

While on the outside most children with Type 1 diabetes look and act exactly the same as everyone else in their class. They learn the same, the play the same, and most likely, they get in trouble the same. But one main difference between a child with Type 1 diabetes and a child without Type 1 diabetes is their blood sugar. A child without diabetes does not need to think about their sugar level before, during an after a test or activity. A child with Type 1 diabetes has no choice but to check and monitor their sugar before, during and after a test because it could mean the difference between an A or an F.

I saw this first hand when my son was on MDIs (multiple daily injections/shots). He was recently diagnosed and in preschool three days a week. The only thing he knew how to read at the time was his name. Having a name with 8 letters really helped him because he was able to pick it out of most of the names in his class because the other names were shorter. So, I got to the school and asked him to grab his work off of the table that his teacher would lay out at the end of each day.

My son could not find his paper. There were only 9 papers on the table. He looked at me and said, “I can’t tell which one is mine, could you get it?” I grabbed the paper that was covered on the entire top half with his 8 letter name. Immediately upon getting to our car I tested my son, his number was in the high 400s. Too high, yes. So high that he was unable to focus enough to pick out his own name. If this had been the SATs in Junior Year of high school, well, we all know where that would have ended, and it wouldn’t have been good.

All children with Type 1 diabetes have to have a 504 Plan or a Diabetes Medical Management Plan (DMMP) that stipulates, among other items, when a child is supposed to test their sugar, and in what range their number fall in order to perform at their absolute best.

This plan is something that needs to be discussed with all people involved with the education of children with Type 1 diabetes. While some teachers may think it is smart teaching to surprise the class with a ‘pop’ quiz, that teacher still needs to allow for time for the child to test their sugar and provide treatment if necessary in order for the child to do their best on the ‘pop’ quiz.

People with Type 1 diabetes are at their best when their numbers are in range. The only way to tell if their numbers are in range is to test, test and test some more. School districts need to follow these plans in order to keep the playing field level for all kids. In some states, the schools provide breakfast the day of a big test to make sure everyone is thinking at their best. This is the same for a child with Type 1 diabetes, they test to make sure they are at their best. That’s all anyone wants for their child, that they are able to perform at their best. Children with Type 1 diabetes can’t do it alone, they need the support of school personnel to understand, learn, and respect how knowing one’s blood sugar can be the difference between an A or an F.

Type 1 diabetes demands your respect whether you think it deserves it or not.

Respect, according to Merriam-Webster online, is an act of giving particular attention. Type 1 diabetes demands that it is given particular attention at any moment of the day. People that assume otherwise are seriously mistaken. There are people that feel Type 1 diabetes will work with their plan, and that is just not so. Type 1 has it’s own secret plan, and we are just along for the ride.

Let me explain. People with Type 1 diabetes can have a seizure if their blood sugar drops too low. The key is that there is no number that a person will or will not have a seizure. Some people may have a seizure if they are in the 30s, or 50s, or even 60s. I think you get my point. If a person with Type 1 diabetes tests their sugar and they are in the 50s, regardless of what you may believe, that person could possibly have a seizure.

You may say to yourself, 50 is not that low, and he probably won’t have a seizure, but unfortunately you do not have that power over Type 1 diabetes and the human body. A seizure can happen at any time. Every low, no matter how low or not too low, needs to be treated with the utmost respect. All lows need to be treated with glucose within seconds. It is not up to us as caregivers of this disease to determine how low is too low and how fast it needs to be treated. Low is low and it needs to be treated immediately.

Along the same lines, a high is high and needs to be respected. No one knows how fast a body can go into DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis). Just because a body has seen numbers in the 300s does not mean that that number is acceptable. All numbers out of range need to be respected and dealt with immediately, if not sooner, as they say.

The biggest mistake that I see people make when dealing with people with Type 1 diabetes is an exaggerated comfort zone. Once you see a low that does not cause a seizure the comfort level rises and then you are opening yourself up to more disastrous situations. Once you see a high where there were no ketones and no DKA your comfort level increases and you think all high numbers are nothing to sneeze at.

There is no comfort zone with Type 1 diabetes. All lows are serious. All highs are serious. Type 1 diabetes is in charge. Sometimes it complies and works with our ratios, and basal settings. And then other, more serious times, it does not. It doesn’t comply and it reminds us that if we don’t give it the respect it deserves it will turn around, slap you in the face, and make you respect it.

Babysitters of children with Type 1 diabetes must be properly trained in all aspects of diabetes management. Significant others of adults with Type 1 diabetes must be extremely knowledgeable of the disease too.

When you child is born, you don’t ever want to leave their side. You set them at your feet when you do laundry. You bring them into the kitchen when you are cooking dinner. You never leave your newborn’s side. I know of new moms that bring their babies into the bathroom with them when they shower, just to ensure the little one is breathing while the mom gets clean. Eventually, as time goes on, months for some, maybe even years for others, but eventually the mom decides that it will be okay if she leaves her little one for a short while with a babysitter.

First is may start with a trip to the supermarket with a babysitter watching the baby, then is may be a longer trip out to lunch with a friend, and then finally and even longer trip, possibly over night with their husband. The babysitter proves they are capable one excursion at a time. The baby seems to love the babysitter, the sitter seems to be a really responsible, caring person, a perfect match is made.

A perfect match between a child with Type 1 diabetes and their babysitter is not just about love and responsibility. A major part of the relationship between child and babysitter is knowledge. Specifically, knowledge about diabetes. My son’s Nannie and Papa already had two parts of being the perfect babysitters, there is more then enough love, and they are very responsible, and this weekend they began working towards getting that third component. They attended Caregivers Camp for kids living with Type 1 diabetes this weekend (along with my son’s very wonderful Uncle).

While I am grateful that caregivers camp exists, I am also saddened that my son up until 21 months ago, didn’t need to attend a special camp with his Nannie and Papa, and now because of Type 1 diabetes he does. Up until 21 months ago, there was no special knowledge to take care of my son. You loved him, fed him, and bathed him, that was about it. Yes, those three tasks are still on the list, but now there is so much more.

Now on top of loving, feeding and bathing, my son’s Nannie and Papa need to know how to check his sugar, count carbs, recognize highs, recognize lows, correct high sugar, treat low blood sugar, administer Glucagon, attack ketones, and evaluate insulin on board to name a few of the new responsibilities. They truly need to take my place when I am not around. Not fun and not fair. Grandparents should have the lighter side of the reponsibilities, but unfortunately with Type 1 diabetes there is no lighter side.

Fortunately for both my son and me, his Nannie and Papa are willing to take on these responsibilites, and thanks to their attending Caregivers Camp they are well on their way.