Diabetic teachers

[Natalie123]

Hi all, It's been a while since I've been here so hello to anyone who remembers me and sorry I've been gone for so long.

I'm planning to start teacher training in September and as a condition of my training offer, I need to complete an occupational health "Fitness to Teach" questionaire. I just wondered if there are any other diabetic teachers on here who could reassure me that I won't get rejected for being diabetic? I do have hypos but I can feel them and have never needed assistance to deal with them.

I also have anxiety / depression but it is well managed now. I have chronic fatigue / post viral syndrome - again, much better than it used to be but I can get tired more quickly than other people but I can't see it affecting my teaching, I might just need to sit down a bit more.

Any experiences or thoughts would be much appreciated! Thanks x

 

[Robin]

We have a few teachers, @SB2015 is a retired teacher, but was definitely teaching after her diagnosis, @Bexlee is also a teacher, I think.

 

[Bloden]

Don’t forget @freesia and @merrymunky. I’m a teacher but TEFL, not mainstream.

 

[SB2015]

Hi all, It's been a while since I've been here so hello to anyone who remembers me and sorry I've been gone for so long.

I'm planning to start teacher training in September and as a condition of my training offer, I need to complete an occupational health "Fitness to Teach" questionaire. I just wondered if there are any other diabetic teachers on here who could reassure me that I won't get rejected for being diabetic? I do have hypos but I can feel them and have never needed assistance to deal with them.

I also have anxiety / depression but it is well managed now. I have chronic fatigue / post viral syndrome - again, much better than it used to be but I can get tired more quickly than other people but I can't see it affecting my teaching, I might just need to sit down a bit more.

Any experiences or thoughts would be much appreciated! Thanks x

Welcome back Natalie.

I was still teaching when I was diagnosed with T1. My diabetes was fairly unstable at the start and the school helped as I learnt to manage.

It is important that you are honest about your medical conditions and the college and schools should make reasonable adjustments, which for T1 are fairly straightforward. They cannot reject your application because of your T1 and there is no reason to do so.

Hypos
Like you I was aware of hypos (and sometimes my students picked them up before I did) and we had a strategy in place if I went too low.
Most of the time I simply tested and had jelly babies then sat down to recover. Students were very good and got on with what I asked them to do, and knew not to ask questions at that time.
If I had gone too low I just asked a pupil to get another member of staff, and those in rooms near me were aware of this possibility. Each of these staff knew the emergency procedure (999 if I had passed out).
I had jelly babies everywhere in a pot at each end of the school,(in case I got caught out doing cover) , in my bag, in the offices, ….

Insulin
I kept spare quick acting insulin in school in the fridge, just in case I forgot my pens and it saved a trip home on one day. (If you forget your pen, and need to use one kept in the fridge, take it out as soon as you realise as it is painful injecting cold insulin)

I was not pre bolusing when I was teaching, it I know that others have made arrangements to enable them to do this before lunch, such as testing and bolusing about 15 minutes before the end of the last lesson in the morning.

I hope this is of some help, and has not been too rambling. I realise that my answers are from a teacher who was well established and working with students that I already knew.

 

[Bexlee]

Hi @Natalie123. I was diagnosed while already teaching. You won’t be “rejected” for being diabetic.

Each school will do things a little differently but you should be able to talk to the school and discuss things and see what can be put into place. You need to clearly explain the signs and how to deal with it all etc.

I have sweets everywhere in case of a hypo and not in my room. Staff are aware most of the children are aware.

I have cover 10-15 min before lunch for literally 2 minutes to nip out and test / inject.

If I have a more severe hypo than just needing a few sweets and carry on there’s a plan in place to get cover and to leave the lesson.

The main issue with teaching and being the only adult in the classroom is the children shouldn’t really be left alone so the plan for you potentially needing to leave needs to be tight and spot on so to speak.

Good luck - despite the odd (alright regular!!) moan it’s a good career / job especially when a kids says oh I get it ! Or actually say thanks for a good lesson ….

 

[Natalie123]

Thanks @SB2015 and @Bexlee. That's really helpful and reassuring. I was worrying that, if I mentioned the possibility of having a hypo during a lesson, they would reject my application. Obviously I want to be honest about it because it is possible and a plan needs to be in place but I don't want them to get the idea that I'm going to be passing out in lessons as that's never happened to me so far! I'm fortunate in that I use a pump and I have libre sensors which alarm when I am going low so I should get a bit of prior warning and should prevent serious hypos. I've done a year as a learning mentor and loved it so I'm hoping that it's going to be a rewarding career.

especially when a kids says oh I get it ! Or actually say thanks for a good lesson ….

This is the best feeling!

 

[freesia]

Hi @Natalie123. I'm a TA in key stage 1, not a teacher, and was diagnosed while i was in the job. Its never been a problem for me.

I was aware of hypos even before i had the libre and just made sure that staff around me were aware of the fact i have diabetes. I put leaflets in the staffroom describing symptoms of hypers and hypos and they know where my insulin, snacks and jelly babies are.

Usually i'm with the teacher so i'll just indicate i need to go and test. Other times if i'm covering the class on my own, i make other staff around aware that i am on my own and there is a system in place for me to send a message for someone to come in. Having the libre 2 has also made it easier as if an alarm goes off, one of the other TAs usually hears it and comes straight in, we do a swap without any issues. The head is really good as well.

I wouldn't have thought it would be a problem for you. Talk to the school and get things put in place. Good luck!

 

[Natalie123]

Hi @Natalie123. I'm a TA in key stage 1, not a teacher, and was diagnosed while i was in the job. Its never been a problem for me.

I was aware of hypos even before i had the libre and just made sure that staff around me were aware of the fact i have diabetes. I put leaflets in the staffroom describing symptoms of hypers and hypos and they know where my insulin, snacks and jelly babies are.

Usually i'm with the teacher so i'll just indicate i need to go and test. Other times if i'm covering the class on my own, i make other staff around aware that i am on my own and there is a system in place for me to send a message for someone to come in. Having the libre 2 has also made it easier as if an alarm goes off, one of the other TAs usually hears it and comes straight in, we do a swap without any issues. The head is really good as well.

I wouldn't have thought it would be a problem for you. Talk to the school and get things put in place. Good luck!

Thanks @freesia it sounds like you've got things well organised there! I'm hoping that we can get a similar system in place when I start training

 

[SB2015]

At your interview it may help that you have some examples of the strategies that we have used, so that they an see that simple strategies can be set up.

Good luck. I loved being in the classroom.