Beat the teacher!

[Sally71]

My daughter came home from school the other day all pleased with herself because she had taught the teacher something! They are learning about the digestive system in science, which of course includes the pancreas. The teacher wandered over to my daughter's table and commented that she's a useful person to have in the class when they are doing that topic. (Presumably because she must know a bit more about her digestive system than most other people do.) My daughter replied that she's been dealing with diabetes for almost 6 years so should know a thing or two. The teacher was shocked that my daughter wasn't born with it, she thought that type 1 was some sort of birth defect! She said she learned this in college 😱😱 So my daughter quite happily pointed out that it's an autoimmune condition which can strike at any age. The teacher is going to tell all her year 11 students about it too, so hopefully that's a few misinformed people put right!

Those of you who have read previous posts from me will know that my daughter really struggles to talk to anyone at all about her diabetes (even the medical team, who she is very familiar with and who are only trying to help), so I'm dead proud of her for having this conversation 🙂 She says "oh well it's the science teacher, that's different", but I don't see why! Daughter has taken a Novorapid vial, an old cannula and an old Libre sensor into school the last couple of days to show this teacher. I don't think she's had chance to show her yet, but I hope she does manage to do so eventually, it's all steps forward 🙂

 

[Lanny]

Great to hear, @Sally71! 🙂

Little steps that build up her confidence! 😎

 

[CathyB]

What a brave girl she is, clearly knows what she is talking about, no wonder you are super proud

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

That’s excellent @Sally71

Hope the experience helps her confidence to grow a little.

 

[Northerner]

That's so good to hear Sally! 🙂 I'm proud of her too! 🙂

 

[trophywench]

Hear hear - and tell her I remembered my biology lessons at school, when I was diagnosed 6 years after I left - and wished I'd paid more attention to Mr W when he was telling us about the digestive system. However he had told us quite firmly - as did the textbook - that Type 1 diabetes cannot be caught because it's auto-immune, and also cannot be cured - so I instantly knew I was stuck with it, needed to get to know it very well, and therefore let me control it rather than it controlling me.

Although of course to begin with when I had the glums I used to wonder Why Me? and cry - that doesn't last forever and does stop.

 

[SB2015]

Well done your daughter.
Good news that she was able to be open about it with the science teacher.