Hypos in lectures

[kayleigh1991]

Hello,

I'm going back to uni tomorrow for the first time since being diagnosis with type 1. I'm going to have quite active days with a lot of walking, and my glucose levels are coming down pretty well now from the astronomical levels just after diagnosis (five weeks ago).

I'm quite worried about going back anyway (it's one thing getting used to the insulin injections and blood testing at home, but something very different when I'll be in a different city with a whole new schedule), but I'm particularly concerned about what to do if I feel myself going low in a lecture. Has anyone here experienced this who can offer some advice? I'm not sure if I should just discreetly test my glucose and treat it with jelly babies or excuse myself from the room or do something else... any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[AJLang]

Hi Kayleigh

Personally I would check my BG before the lecture and see if it is at a level where it might go hypo - if you think it will have something to eat before you go into the lecture room. If you have a hypo in the lecture itself probably best to have two or three jelly babies and check it afterwards. Let the lecturers know that you are diabetic so they know that there may be a problem. Good luck with your studies.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Hello,

I'm going back to uni tomorrow for the first time since being diagnosis with type 1. I'm going to have quite active days with a lot of walking, and my glucose levels are coming down pretty well now from the astronomical levels just after diagnosis (five weeks ago).

I'm quite worried about going back anyway (it's one thing getting used to the insulin injections and blood testing at home, but something very different when I'll be in a different city with a whole new schedule), but I'm particularly concerned about what to do if I feel myself going low in a lecture. Has anyone here experienced this who can offer some advice? I'm not sure if I should just discreetly test my glucose and treat it with jelly babies or excuse myself from the room or do something else... any ideas?

Thanks!

Hi Kayleigh,
I'm sure you will manage just fine. Take one day at a time and do everything at your own pace.

Hypo's test in the lecture and treat as needed. If anyone objects ask them to swop places with you 🙂 There's no reason to leave at all.
Do you have a small container to keep your JB's in? That's better as no noise will be heard to disturbe anyone else.
Good luck you will be fine.

 

[DeusXM]

Don't worry about it.

Firstly, I'm of the school of thought that if you're feeling like you're having a low, you don't need to bother testing. Unless you suffer badly from phantom hypos ie. low blood sugar symptoms at normal or high levels, generally if you feel like you're having a hypo, what's the point in testing? All you're doing is getting a machine to say yes, you are low, when your own body is screaming at you that you're low.

As for treating them...well, I suppose you could use jelly babies but they come in noisy, rustly packets and they're not just pure glucose. Why not just carry glucose tablets with you? I carry a pack around all the time that come in a waterproof canister that I just refill when empty. Much cheaper, easier and less likely to draw attention to yourself.

And then if you want a real covert option...I'm assuming in your lectures you'd generally have a bottle of water etc with you. Why not just take in a bottle of regular soft drink or Lucozade with you and drink a bit if you feel yourself going low? It'll work far more quickly than food and no-one will even notice.

I know it's all new in but the important thing to remember is that a hypo does not have to be a massive deal or emergency unless you want it to be one. There's certainly no need to leave the room. You can resolve a hypo in five minutes with minimal disruption to yourself or others provided you have an easily accessible source of glucose with you.

 

[kayleigh1991]

Don't worry about it.

Firstly, I'm of the school of thought that if you're feeling like you're having a low, you don't need to bother testing. Unless you suffer badly from phantom hypos ie. low blood sugar symptoms at normal or high levels, generally if you feel like you're having a hypo, what's the point in testing? All you're doing is getting a machine to say yes, you are low, when your own body is screaming at you that you're low.

As for treating them...well, I suppose you could use jelly babies but they come in noisy, rustly packets and they're not just pure glucose. Why not just carry glucose tablets with you? I carry a pack around all the time that come in a waterproof canister that I just refill when empty. Much cheaper, easier and less likely to draw attention to yourself.

And then if you want a real covert option...I'm assuming in your lectures you'd generally have a bottle of water etc with you. Why not just take in a bottle of regular soft drink or Lucozade with you and drink a bit if you feel yourself going low? It'll work far more quickly than food and no-one will even notice.

I know it's all new in but the important thing to remember is that a hypo does not have to be a massive deal or emergency unless you want it to be one. There's certainly no need to leave the room. You can resolve a hypo in five minutes with minimal disruption to yourself or others provided you have an easily accessible source of glucose with you.

Ah I forgot about glucose tablets actually, I have some in my bag so I'll use those, thanks!

Yeah, I wouldn't want to have to leave the room as it would be quite disruptive I think, I'm just wondering whether it would be seen as inappropriate! In my opinion, as long as I'm discreet then nobody should mind, but I was made to go to another room to test my blood sugar recently as one of the people I was with thought it was disgusting. Not really my fault, but I don't want to make other people feel uncomfortable!

Ah there's so much to learn, being diabetic! I honestly feel like I've learnt more in the last month than I have in my entire degree so far!

 

[DeusXM]

I wouldn't want to have to leave the room as it would be quite disruptive I think, I'm just wondering whether it would be seen as inappropriate!

How's eating glucose tabs or taking a sip of Coke inappropriate?

With BG testing, you've probably got a desk or something in front of you - you can always do the testing with your hands under the desk if you're that concerned about other people objecting. But as I said, if you're having a hypo, testing's a bit irrelevant really.

 

[kayleigh1991]

How's eating glucose tabs or taking a sip of Coke inappropriate?

With BG testing, you've probably got a desk or something in front of you - you can always do the testing with your hands under the desk if you're that concerned about other people objecting. But as I said, if you're having a hypo, testing's a bit irrelevant really.

The main problem is that I can't always tell if it's a real hypo or not - sometimes I'll be at a fairly normal level and will start shaking and feeling like I'm much lower than I am! It's probably because I was diabetic for about seven months before diagnosis, so my doctor said I might start to feel low at normal levels while my body adjusts to such drastically reduced blood sugar.

I never know how other people are going to react, and before I was diagnosed I was extremely blood-phobic (the testing soon put paid to that), so I want to make sure I'm sensitive to other people.

I'm thinking I'll probably just make sure I'm at an acceptable level before I go in, and I'm probably worrying for nothing, but the idea of being alone with diabetes for the first time is spooking me a bit!

 

[Pumper_Sue]

The main problem is that I can't always tell if it's a real hypo or not - sometimes I'll be at a fairly normal level and will start shaking and feeling like I'm much lower than I am! It's probably because I was diabetic for about seven months before diagnosis, so my doctor said I might start to feel low at normal levels while my body adjusts to such drastically reduced blood sugar.

I never know how other people are going to react, and before I was diagnosed I was extremely blood-phobic (the testing soon put paid to that), so I want to make sure I'm sensitive to other people.

I'm thinking I'll probably just make sure I'm at an acceptable level before I go in, and I'm probably worrying for nothing, but the idea of being alone with diabetes for the first time is spooking me a bit!

Kayleigh, you will be fine a nice deep breath is in order. If you feel low test just pop the tester on your lap no one can see it then. You need to do what you need to do. No one will notice you testing as they will be concentrating hard on the lecture.
Your GP is 100% correct re the hypo feeling when it's not. It's called a false hypo. This will improve fairly soon and you will then feel them as normal so to speak.
Now pep talk....... if you have managed to get over your blood phobia you can manage college.
Have you told your friends so they know how to help you out if needed at any time?

 

[trophywench]

And have you contacted the welfare officer at the college? You should let them know so they can never say 'We didn't know she had diabetes' - plus sometimes peeps who are struggling can be allowed extra time to do stuff - eg exams but that's not an immediate worry at the mo LOL

Sorry, I really wouldn't concern yourself about other people. And fraid I wouldn't have left the room either - if the person didn't like it, they THEY should have left the room not you. For them it's a matter of not liking - for you - it's life or death.

That sounds over dramatic I know. But it IS.

 

[Copepod]

Either eat anyway - something quiet to open / unwrap and non smelly; so, not a can of fizzy drink, a noisy sweet wrapper etc, but many things are suitable eg a few jelly babies in a sandwich bag or a 35mm film pot - or test, then eat if needed.

Personally, when I did my MSc in the year after my diagnosis, I chose to test before going into lecture, and on the couple of occasions when I feld hypo during a lecture, I ate a muesli bar as quickly and discretely as I could.

False hypos will get fewer and fewer as your body gets used to nearer normal levels, so don't worry too much.