Mum of new T1 teen

[Mausar]

My son who is studying for GCSEs exams has just been diagnosed. We are all in shock as discovered via random eye test.
Any wisdom on exam stress and T1

 

[Inka]

Welcome @Mausar 🙂 There’s a very recent thread here from someone whose child is in a similar position:

Newly diagnosed Type1 at 16

Hi, apologies in advance if this all is a bit muddled but I’m feeling quite muddled myself. My daughter was diagnosed type1 about 3 weeks ago. We’ve got no history of Diabetes either side so it’s come as a huge shock and she has been/is so poorly with it it was touch and go for the first...

forum.diabetes.org.uk

You’ll see that your son will have adjustments made for him. As regards stress, it tends to push blood sugar up, but can also, occasionally push it low. Does your son have a Libre or other CGM? What insulins does he take? Did he lose weight before diagnosis? If so, he might be feeling quite weak and need a little time to get back to full strength as his body recovers now it has the insulin it needs.

There’s some general exam information here too:

Exams and diabetes management at school

Under equality laws across the UK, every school has to make reasonable adjustments to help any child who might have a disability, which includes type 1 diabetes, from not getting the grades they deserve because of it. Although parents and children might not consider diabetes as a disability...

www.diabetes.org.uk

.

 

[SimonP]

You’ll see that your son will have adjustments made for him. As regards stress, it tends to push blood sugar up, but can also, occasionally push it low. Does your son have a Libre or other CGM? What insulins does he take? Did he lose weight before diagnosis? If so, he might be feeling quite weak and need a little time to get back to full strength as his body recovers now it has the insulin it needs.

Different sources of stress can do different things though, I always ran low doing exams, though for things like job interviews I'd run high. Even nowadays the stress of going shopping will make me run low while the stress of setting out on a long and never-ridden ride will force it high. So, it depends. With all that said I'm sure he'll be fine, I managed to get through without any problems back in the days of one injection a day and finger prick only tests - lots of chocolate bars with wrappers that don't make noise when being unwrapped (which is quite important as exams are very quiet!)

 

[Thebearcametoo]

Hi and welcome. It’s a lot to adjust to and the timing with the exams is difficult. Take the pressure off as much as you can. What does he want to do after his GCSEs? If he only needs 5 GCSEs to get there then it may be worth not trying too hard in some of the exams or even not sitting them. He should be allowed breaks etc and if he has a hypo during an exam will need a long break. If he’s going to college then he can resist in October whilst having started his course if he doesn’t get the grades he wants. If he’s doing A Levels then they may accept him based off his predicted grades from his mocks along with a medical letter. GCSEs have a lot of expectation on them but really they don’t count for much in the long run so try to think of options for if he doesn’t want to sit them or doesn’t do very well in them so that he knows it’s not the end of the world. He will feel a lot of pressure from school and his peers as everyone is in exam mode but at home you can go easy.

 

[SimonP]

I've got to say I don't think it should be all that hard to deal with once you work out how - the fail-safe method is simply to run a bit high for the exams, it's 2h30 which is not the end of the world. I agree that running low in an exam isn't great, I've been there and done that, though I think more on the order of 10min is enough time to be back up and running, but everyone's different and it depends what you're doing.

I was diagnosed at 7, I've sat GCSEs, A-Levels, Uni exams. Same approach for them all. It's a minor inconvenience, I don't think it should get in the way and cause major problems.

With that said, everyone responds differently, but I'd look on the optimistic side as life only gets harder, resilience and working out how to deal with these things is a good thing.

 

[rebrascora]

I was diagnosed at 7, I've sat GCSEs, A-Levels, Uni exams. Same approach for them all. It's a minor inconvenience, I don't think it should get in the way and cause major problems.

I think there is the big difference here and one you are not taking into consideration. This diagnosis is happening right before the exams. You had 8 years to get your head around it before you got to this stage. It takes months to get into the swing of managing diabetes with insulin, plus the diagnosis has come during teenage years which are physically and emotionally challenging in themselves without getting this dumped in your lap right before your main exams. It is a lot to take on board as well as swatting for exams and the sheer pressure of those exams.

 

[SimonP]

Yes, you're right, my apologies.

 

[trophywench]

Plus it VERY much depends on the individual hypo. If BG ever goes under 3.3, then it definitely affects performance of the brain whatever you me or anyone else may think it does. You need to get BG back up above 4 and stay there for the next 45 minutes minimum to be sure that Mr Brain will perform properly again. End of message!

Because of course they still teach that 4 is the floor, they now say 3.5 is the point at which the brain function is affected but having read the actual originally published international (ie European for such things, not worldwide) research paper years ago on DSF (- one that Terry G found, he was really excellent at finding any published things because of the field in which he worked) that defo said 3.3.
Anyway - the most important thing is that you contact the school and find out what arrangements they will be making for your son for the exams. They don't have a choice 'whether we do that or not' by the way - they have to! I imagine it will be under the heading of SEND, since 'us lot' are the D!

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

There’s some general exam information here too:

Exams and diabetes management at school

Under equality laws across the UK, every school has to make reasonable adjustments to help any child who might have a disability, which includes type 1 diabetes, from not getting the grades they deserve because of it. Although parents and children might not consider diabetes as a disability...

www.diabetes.org.uk

Welcome to the forum @Mausar

I can only sympathise with your son’s situation - I was diagnosed in the final year of my arts degree (I’d put some of the emerging symptoms down to stress, and put off going to the campus GP for far too long)

It wasn’t ideal timing, but I managed to get through it all OK (from Feb of my final year through to degree show and final major project), and had a result I was happy with. I’ll never know if my result may have been different without T1 sticking its oar in - but to be honest my experience since has mostly been that each of these ‘pieces of paper’ are only really tokens to get you through to the next thing. And once you are through that doorway they fade away to be of little importance.

Do have a dig about on the main DUK site to learn what additional support, and ‘reasonable adjustments’ he is eligible to receive. You may also want to call the Helpline (number at the top of the page) 9-6 Mon-Fri to ask their advice, and make sure the school is up to speed on how best to support him 🙂