Diabetic Teachers...talk to me!

[merrymunky]

Hi,

I’ve recently been diagnosed as T2. At the moment I am off work following a late miscarriage at the end of last year.

I am looking for some advice for when I do venture back to the workplace.

The pre-pregnancy consultant at my diabetic centre wants to start me on blood glucose finger prick testing while TTC which is doing to throw up all sort of issues.

For a start, I can’t just leave the classroom to go and test whenever I want so almost certainly won’t be able to test at the times required before and after a meal.

Also, I can’t carry needles around on my person or leave them in my bag, even in the locked classroom cupboard. They would have to be checked in and stored in the medical room in a first aid box, at the other end of the building.

How do you all manage?

I have no idea what my rights as a diabetic would be in a teaching environment.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Docb]

Whoa, merry munkey! If you get a test kit like mine, it comes in a zip up pouch which would reside in your handbag or even squeeze into a shirt pocket. In the kit is the meter, a container of test strips and a neat little jobbo which contains a cassette of lancets. You put your finger of a small hole on one end and press the top and bingo, finger pricked. No needles, no exposed sharps. When you have used all the lancets just change the cassette and away you go. Dunk end of strip in blood drop, wait 10 seconds and you have a reading. This, at least with mine, an ACCU CHEK performa nano supplied by my GP, can be stored in the machine for copying later. Process takes 15 seconds and I bet you could do it in a crowder bar without anybody noticing. I know schools go a bit daft on some of this stuff but they would have to really wierd to get uptight about a finger prick test kit.

Any way, don't you have the makings of a science project if you teach infants/juniors? Diabetes is becoming more common and introducing kids into some of the practicalities can't be a bad thing. Monitoring something and drawing graphs and finding out what it all means is at the heart of science - another thing kids need to introduced to at an early age. Mind you, if you teach hairy teenagers then maybe give it a miss.

 

[Robin]

I think @SB2015 was still teaching when she was first diagnosed, she may have some tips.
I can see why schools are a bit edgy these days, there was that case recently where a pupil at a primary school got hold of the teacher's testing kit and was going round testing all his friends.
However, they will need to make reasonable adjustments for you to be able to test at the times recommended by your health care team.

 

[merrymunky]

I teach in a special needs school with young children. I have a feeling even a discrete kit like this is going to cause an issue. We have very firm policies. Obviously I may stand corrected once I’ve talked to the relevant people at work.

Turning it into an experiment isn’t going to happen, not at their level of understanding.

 

[merrymunky]

I think @SB2015 was still teaching when she was first diagnosed, she may have some tips.
I can see why schools are a bit edgy these days, there was that case recently where a pupil at a primary school got hold of the teacher's testing kit and was going round testing all his friends.
However, they will need to make reasonable adjustments for you to be able to test at the times recommended by your health care team.

When we are working to a timetable maybe not. Imagine testing time being in a lesson observation slot? I can’t just stop teaching for this. I’m sure it will all be ok but just wondered how others have managed at work. Even my metformin might have to be locked away. Luckily we have a first aid box in our room is can be securely stored in.

 

[stephknits]

As a type 2 on Metformin I would have thought that if testing at work is too much of an issue, then you could gather the necessary data at weekends / evenings when you are not at work. All employers have to make reasonable adjustments though, so you may find they will help you find a way around it.

 

[Docb]

Thats the trouble when amateurs start to voice opinions - they talk rubbish! Hope you get something sensible sorted

 

[mikeyB]

My mother, a T1 like me, spent the whole of her career in junior school teaching, in the days of boiling needles and syringes and all the primitive paraphernalia of testing, not with the modern kit that we have.

I’m sure a special needs environment can include you if you discuss this. And I am certain that your insulin needles won’t have to be locked up, certainly not on the end of an insulin pen, nor your testing kit, which is no health and safety risk to anyone.

 

[merrymunky]

My mother, a T1 like me, spent the whole of her career in junior school teaching, in the days of boiling needles and syringes and all the primitive paraphernalia of testing, not with the modern kit that we have.

I’m sure a special needs environment can include you if you discuss this. And I am certain that your insulin needles won’t have to be locked up, certainly not on the end of an insulin pen, nor your testing kit, which is no health and safety risk to anyone.

I’m not on insulin. Only metformin. The pre-pregnancy consultant has said she wants me to start blood testing while trying to conceive as it is a more accurate and immediate way to test levels over urine testing. Like someone else suggested, maybe I don’t have to do it that rigorously and can just test when I am at home.

Just wish I wasn’t in this position full stop. I should be 27 weeks pregnant right now but lost our baby at 16 weeks, then got diagnosed as type 2 a couple of weeks ago. It’s all so new and overwhelming to be honest.

 

[Radders]

Your employer has to make reasonable adjustments. If their policies or health &safety won’t allow you to test in class, but your condition requires it, they will have to find a workaround. Perhaps they will need to relieve you in class so you can go out to do it.
I taught for 20 years with type 1 but in secondary. I can see that your situation is different but recommend that you talk to your line manager and explain your needs. If they are unsympathetic, see if your union can help.

 

[HOBIE]

Hi,

I’ve tecently been diagnosed as T2. At the moment I am off work following a late miscarriage at the end of last year.

I am looking for some advice for when I do venture back to the workplace.

The pre-pregnancy consultant at my diabetic centre wants to start me on blood glucose finger prick testing while TTC which is doing to throw up all sort of issues.

For a start, I can’t just leave the classroom to go and test whenever I want so almost certainly won’t be able to test at the times required before and after a meal.

Also, I can’t carry needles around on my person or leave them in my bag, even in the locked classroom cupboard. They would have to be checked in and stored in the medical room in a first aid box, at the other end of the building.

How do you all manage?

I have no idea what my rights as a diabetic would be in a teaching environment.

Thanks in advance.

A Freestyle Libre is the gadget to get Less than £150. A plastic bottle top on your arm. good luck 🙂

 

[trophywench]

On the other forum we had a Type 1 young lady prison officer whose job was actually looking after pregnant mums and new mums and their babies. They did arrange breaks for her at appropriate intervals whilst she was TTC. If HM Prison Service can do it then I'm sure a school can find a way!

 

[SB2015]

I’m not on insulin. Only metformin. The pre-pregnancy consultant has said she wants me to start blood testing while trying to conceive as it is a more accurate and immediate way to test levels over urine testing. Like someone else suggested, maybe I don’t have to do it that rigorously and can just test when I am at home.

Just wish I wasn’t in this position full stop. I should be 27 weeks pregnant right now but lost our baby at 16 weeks, then got diagnosed as type 2 a couple of weeks ago. It’s all so new and overwhelming to be honest.

I was also a secondary, rather than primary teacher. Whatever the school if you need to test during the day could you restrict this to prior to meals, two hours after meals (or break time - yes I know that there is no such thing as a break when teaching, but there needs to be ), and the afternoon one two hours after lunch should make it beyond the end of school. In the evenings there should be no problem. Those would seem to fit with the usual testing regime. If you are on metformin, that should not cause hypos so should eliminate the need to test at weird times.

I hope that that makes sense.

 

[Drummer]

could you eat two hours before break times?
I found that my levels dropped quickly and it became unnecessary to test after many meals as the numbers were predictable. By eating low carb foods and sticking to under 50 gm per day my blood glucose levels were normal within a few weeks and have stayed like that.

 

[merrymunky]

could you eat two hours before break times?
I found that my levels dropped quickly and it became unnecessary to test after many meals as the numbers were predictable. By eating low carb foods and sticking to under 50 gm per day my blood glucose levels were normal within a few weeks and have stayed like that.

The pupils usually go out to play at about 10.45. Lumchtime is 12 noon so I would usually be eating immediateltbsonincan crack on getting the afternoon prepped. Luckily this isn’t something I am going to be dependent on so it might be ok to just do in the evenings etc. I’ll have to see what the consultant says at the appointment.

 

[Drummer]

Testing takes seconds - it is equivalent to tying a shoelace once you get used to it.

 

[Docb]

Agree with Drummer and probably the only sensible bit of my other post was to suggest that finger prick testing is a doddle.. Once you get organised, i.e. after a day or so, testing really is no big deal and equating it to tying a shoelace is a good way of putting it.

 

[merrymunky]

Testing takes seconds - it is equivalent to tying a shoelace once you get used to it.

It’s not the time necessarily. It’s the storage of supplies and having to stop what I’m doing. I’m sure I’ll figure out a system. Despite how safe the needles are, I fear that work will say regardless, it is a tool a child could get hold of. Not that they would as my things would be in a locked cupboard or in the first aid box.

 

[SB2015]

I

It’s not the time necessarily. It’s the storage of supplies and having to stop what I’m doing. I’m sure I’ll figure out a system. Despite how safe the needles are, I fear that work will say regardless, it is a tool a child could get hold of. Not that they would as my things would be in a locked cupboard or in the first aid box.

had a friend who had T1 and taught in a special school.
She made sure that:
- she had her test kit accessible. It was in her bag in the cupboard
- had jelly babies with her in a pouch to treat hypos (although this should not be an issue for you on metformin)
- she explained to the TAs she worked with what she needed to do.

From what you have said it is likely that the only test that might impact on your day, is the two hour after breakfast one. These tests are ones that help you to work out how to adjust your diet, so if you had the same breakfast at the weekends you could find that out then.
If you do your test before lunch (and it just becomes part of getting out your lunch stuff. It as easy as that), you could then do another test at the end of the day as soon as you are able. The evening should not be a problem. If any of these prove to be difficult to do you could just do them at the weekend.

I think that you will find it a lot easier than you anticipate. The friend with T1 had no choice but to test with every meal and snack in order to instruct her pump, and she got round any problems, and she had a good understanding for the pupils that she had who also had T1.

 

[merrymunky]

I

had a friend who had T1 and taught in a special school.
She made sure that:
- she had her test kit accessible. It was in her bag in the cupboard
- had jelly babies with her in a pouch to treat hypos (although this should not be an issue for you on metformin)
- she explained to the TAs she worked with what she needed to do.

From what you have said it is likely that the only test that might impact on your day, is the two hour after breakfast one. These tests are ones that help you to work out how to adjust your diet, so if you had the same breakfast at the weekends you could find that out then.
If you do your test before lunch (and it just becomes part of getting out your lunch stuff. It as easy as that), you could then do another test at the end of the day as soon as you are able. The evening should not be a problem. If any of these prove to be difficult to do you could just do them at the weekend.

I think that you will find it a lot easier than you anticipate. The friend with T1 had no choice but to test with every meal and snack in order to instruct her pump, and she got round any problems, and she had a good understanding for the pupils that she had who also had T1.

Yes her case is definitely more essential than mine. I think the pre-pregnancy consultant just wants me to monotor how my levels are as it could be an issue conceiving. (Already had one late loss) if my levels aren’t under control. I’m very new to all this and only a fortnight into metformin use ao obviously seeing no impact yet. It will certainly be interesting to test BG levels though to see which carbs affect me the most. I’ve already started to reduce the carbs I consume. Not going LCHF though just yet. Concentrating on slimming world with reduced carb content.