How to get brain working again after hypo?

[MeanMom]

In a crowded vehicle, I make sure I have a muesli bar and tiny zip lock bag of jelly sweets in my pocket, so I can eat discretely, even if I can't get to my bag. Does she have any pockets in school uniform? If not already there, it might be possible to sew a small pocket into waistband of trousers or skirt.

While I'm not shy about diabetes, there are still situations where NOT making a fuss is the best approach, so don't think too bad of K to want to keep things hidden.

Thank you Copepod - she has pockets but she also has a 12 year olds memory ( and before you say it - I check myself every morning but she only keeps one snack in her blazer pocket and if she eats it in the morning instead of one from her bag - where she has several - then unless she remembers to transfer one over ... 🙄)


Sue I meant others have to ask permission so she feels if she starts to eat the teacher will tell her off for not asking as they will have forgotten she is allowed amd then she will either be in trouble or have to remind them in front of the class neither of which she wants to do.
I cannot have 'a word' with all her Teachers -she is at a large high school and and there are many of them - but they are briefed at the start of each term and reminded of those with particular needs. I talk to her head of year most weeks too.

And it is not me who thinks badly of K - quite the reverse I am very proud of how she deals with things- she is very very very hard on herself

 

[Robster65]

It's one of the worst things about schools. If you have a reason to bypass the rules that apply to everyone else, you are singled out and not part of the group.

I was lucky that I had a couple of really supportive friends and rarely felt unable to eat/drink. But times are different.

Can only sympathise but wish I could think of a solution, other than educating everyone or allowing them all to have the freedom to eat and drink as required.

There are still times when I feel awkward (meetings, etc) but at least I have developed social skills and know I'm dealing with (mostly) adults.

And I doubt the school would be able to find a solution. In my experience, they're not too hot on avoiding/undertsanding embarassment.🙄

Rob

 

[MeanMom]

Thank you Rob, as ever, for your support😱

Seem to have strayed off my original question (about recovery from hypos) to another round of 'poor me' - apolgies to everyone - Diabetes fairy is most certainly not my friend but cannot imagine even now what it must be like for all of you that actually have diabetes yourselves. Just feel do helpless sometimes

 

[Robster65]

Strange, because I think it's harder for you and all other parents/carers who have to guess at how to help without feeling the symptoms.

Just keep doing what you're doing and if you're not sure, ask us and we'll happily tell you how we feel so you can gauge for yourself.

And it's not 'poor me'. It's for k who is in a bit of a pickle and you want to do your best. 🙂

Rob

 

[AlisonM]

If my BGs are under 4 but over 2 I can usually recover quite quickly. The lower they go under that limit though the longer it takes me to recover and if I get down into the 1s it can take days.

 

[Monica]

Strange, because I think it's harder for you and all other parents/carers who have to guess at how to help without feeling the symptoms.

Just keep doing what you're doing and if you're not sure, ask us and we'll happily tell you how we feel so you can gauge for yourself.

And it's not 'poor me'. It's for k who is in a bit of a pickle and you want to do your best. 🙂

Rob

You took the words right out of my mouth Rob.

MM- you are trying your best, but you will never know what K's hypos feel like. Like I'll never know Carol's hypos.

I can't think of any good advice for K either So I'm just sending you and K a biiiiig HUG instead.

(I didn't know about the 45 minute bit. I was told it could take 2 hours or more to feel "unhypo" normal again)

 

[MeanMom]

Thanks Monica - (((hug back to you)))

If C goes hypo after school what do you do about Homework? Or do you just give up like we did (and no school today either )

 

[Copepod]

You're doing fine, Meanmom and so is K - being 12 is tough enough without extra reasons to look different. Sorry, I didn't mean that it was you being hard on K, more that the situation is tough all round. Most teenagers I know seem oblivious even to feeling very cold to remind them to put on some clothes - or think ahead to bring extra clothes - so transferring sweets between pockets is probably expecting too much. But she will eventually come to realise that being organised is the key to not standing out due to diabetes.

Hoowever short the task, does homework have to be done on the night it's given, or is there a bit of leeway, so can be done on a different night if the child isn't well or is busy with an after school activity?

 

[elaine1969]

Hi Meanmom,

I do not know about recovery from hypos, Kate sometimes recovers in less than a minute, other times it has take hours to get her blood sugar back above 4. Sometimes she feels fine afterwards, other times she is wiped out for a couple of hours and there doesn't seem to be a pattern.

As far as hypo treatments we had to stop using the tablets, she had a spell of sudden large drops in blood sugar and nearly choked on them once or twice. I came across some little sachets called HYPOFIT, they are syrup and so I presume would be faster acting then tablets and come in different flavours. The are really convenient as they fit into your purse or jeans pocket un-noticed (important when you are 14!!). I spoke to our DSN and she arranged for them to be on repeat prescription.

Kate is always looking for an excuse not to do her homework anyway so can't help you with that one I'm afraid🙂

 

[MeanMom]

Thank you Elaine I think we will give those a try.

 

[Monica]

Thanks Monica - (((hug back to you)))

If C goes hypo after school what do you do about Homework? Or do you just give up like we did (and no school today either )

Hmmmm, good question that 😱 Carol hasnt' been hypo coming home from school for ages (if ever), but as she's now almost 15, she just disappears upstairs and I only see her for dinner. I don't even know when Carol is having after effects from hypos unless it's a night time one. Then she'll have a "hangover", with tummy ache and feeling weird. On those days she usually goes to school late (around 11am).

As copepod asked, was the homework due for today? If not, leave it for the next day. If K doesn't feel well, there's no point in doing the homework, because it won't represent what she really can do.

I'm sorry that K doesn't feel she should speak up for herself at school. She would be given leeway, if she couldn't do the homework because of the hypo.

Carol is doing the GCSEs this and next year. She has an exam protocol in place which says that if she has a hypo during the exam and can't finish it, she won't have to re-sit. It will be marked on what she's done. They will make allowances for all that.

RE: Hypofit - I got some on prescripton for Carol. She had a few when she first went on the pump, as she was hypo nearly every night until we got the basal right. But later on she told me she doesn't really like it. BTW there are 3 flavours, orange, tropical and mint.

 

[katetoxo]

hello 'meanmom' i like your username lol! although by this i am sure you're not a mean mum! i get hypos quite often... luckily mine aren't too bad. if i get one when i get home from school but i need to do homework for the next daay, i always do it after dinner x but if u cant do it after dinner but you're still hypo then you'll just have to explain to teachers.. :/ getting over a hypo i have orange juice and then a biscuit 🙂 soz if my advice wasnt very helpful but thats wat i do anyways...x

 

[MeanMom]

Thank you Kate- my forum name is MeanMom as a lot of people used to think I was too strict with my K before she was Dx as she didn't eat sweets or chocolate much, or drink fizzy drinks - ironic really🙄

Thank you for your tips - it is good to get the ideas of someone close to K's age

 

[katetoxo]

oh, that's a bit harsh? :/ maybe she ate them whilst you weren't looking 😉 and its kinda good she didnt eat lots of sweet stuff before so now 'K' is diabetic she doesn't have to stop eating sweets so much? does that makes sense....