Rant: Ignorance at school

[Lily123]

Hi, I’ve never had any comments from teachers or from other students referring directly to me having T1 but today at school I was sat in the middle of two boys being really mean to one another and one of them said to the other “you’ll get diabetes from eating that many sweets”. I corrected him and said how offensive I found that and he apologised I also told the teacher (cover teacher) and she just asked If he apologised and if he had learnt his lesson and to not say that again (I could tell he hadn’t learnt his lesson) and nothing more was mentioned. When I told my mum she said I was being over sensitive and over reacting and she said I shouldn’t fill in an incident form (when something happens you have to fill in a form which goes to head of year kind of person) but I think that I should fill in a form as the boy who said it shouldn’t have been so horrible (he had no idea I was T1 but still)
What do you guys think? Sorry for the rant

 

[Robin]

It sounds like this boy made an ignorant comment to his friend, unfortunately the sort of thing he’s probably picked up from the press. In front of you, but he didn’t know that you had Diabetes. You put him right. He apologised.
I'd have advised my kids to leave it there. If he carries on making comments like that in front of you, (or even not in front of you, but then you wouldn’t know) having had it explained to him, or he makes direct comments to you, then that’s a different matter, and yes, it should be reported, because he now knows what he’s saying.

 

[Lily123]

It sounds like this boy made an ignorant comment to his friend, unfortunately the sort of thing he’s probably picked up from the press. In front of you, but he didn’t know that you had Diabetes. You put him right. He apologised.
I'd have advised my kids to leave it there. If he carries on making comments like that in front of you, (or even not in front of you, but then you wouldn’t know) having had it explained to him, or he makes direct comments to you, then that’s a different matter, and yes, it should be reported, because he now knows what he’s saying.

Thanks, I’m thinking of still filling in an incident form tommorrow just so if he does say anything else then theres already a record of it

 

[nonethewiser]

Leave it be, lad has apologised end of, why make enemies for simple misunderstanding, that's all it is.

 

[Lily123]

Leave it be, lad has apologised end of, why make enemies for simple misunderstanding, that's all it is.

Thanks

 

[trophywench]

I think you did the right thing - but I am going to ask you a question. Why do you expect random people in the world to know anything whatsoever about diabetes? None of us can expect anyone else to have the slightest clue about there even being several types of diabetes, let alone being born with genes that make it more likely to become afflicted with either some auto-immune disease or any other medical condition.

Personally, unless the person is involved in my life, I swiftly concluded nearly 50 years ago that I didn't have the time energy or patience to educate them.

I don't think you should try and take it further either so I agree with your mom.

At least he had a vague idea it probably wasn't healthy!

 

[Lily123]

I think you did the right thing - but I am going to ask you a question. Why do you expect random people in the world to know anything whatsoever about diabetes? None of us can expect anyone else to have the slightest clue about there even being several types of diabetes, let alone being born with genes that make it more likely to become afflicted with either some auto-immune disease or any other medical condition.

Personally, unless the person is involved in my life, I swiftly concluded nearly 50 years ago that I didn't have the time energy or patience to educate them.

I don't think you should try and take it further either so I agree with your mom.

At least he had a vague idea it probably wasn't healthy!

I didn’t expect him to know anything about diabetes- but thinking that he knows enough to say something like that and I have to sit next to this person every English lesson so educating them on why they shouldn’t say that seemed better than leaving the ignorance. It just got to me so much because of the stereotyping

 

[Inka]

It sounds like the boy just didn’t know much about Type 1. If you can record the incident that might be a good idea, but I wouldn’t record it as an incident of this boy being horrible. He’s more than likely part of a wider problem and won’t be the only one who doesn’t understand or thinks it’s funny to make jokes like that. I doubt there was any malice behind what he said.

However, you - or rather your school - could use it to educate people to stop saying things like that, and labelling foods as #diabetes as described in this news story from a while ago:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-36924362

Perhaps this boy has heard others say silly things like that and honestly doesn’t know enough to understand why it’s incorrect and why it’s thoughtless.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

I didn’t expect him to know anything about diabetes- but thinking that he knows enough to say something like that and I have to sit next to this person every English lesson so educating them on why they shouldn’t say that seemed better than leaving the ignorance. It just got to me so much because of the stereotyping

Ah but you must remember the boy has seen all the comments (ignorant) on TV and other media.

You also have to look back and think if you weren't diabetic would you have known any different? 🙂

 

[Lily123]

It sounds like the boy just didn’t know much about Type 1. If you can record the incident that might be a good idea, but I wouldn’t record it as an incident of this boy being horrible. He’s more than likely part of a wider problem and won’t be the only one who doesn’t understand or thinks it’s funny to make jokes like that. I doubt there was any malice behind what he said.

However, you - or rather your school - could use it to educate people to stop saying things like that, and labelling foods as #diabetes as described in this news story from a while ago:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-36924362

Perhaps this boy has heard others say silly things like that and honestly doesn’t know enough to understand why it’s incorrect and why it’s thoughtless.

Thanks for the link that is a good thing to hear about people changing peoples views on social media - it wasn’t Type 1 he made the comment about it was diabetes in general. As someone who also has a Type 2 in the family and another relative who is prediabetic I feel I can see what they do day to day to manage and there’s wasn’t caused by diet. I think I may mention this to the head of year instead of filling in an incident form (filling out a form for something that has upset me is quite dehumanising)

 

[Lily123]

Ah but you must remember the boy has seen all the comments (ignorant) on TV and other media.

You also have to look back and think if you weren't diabetic would you have known any different? 🙂

The comments on TV do explain the ignorance - the irony is the lesson was English Media. I was 7 when I was diagnosed so didn’t have a clue about many medical conditions

 

[Pumper_Sue]

The comments on TV do explain the ignorance - the irony is the lesson was English Media. I was 7 when I was diagnosed so didn’t have a clue about many medical conditions

Fair enough but my point was and is that, you are 14 years old and have type1 diabetes so at 14 if you didn't have diabetes would you have known anything about it?

Many adults come on the forum and know nothing what so ever about any type of diabetes.🙂

Life's far to short let it go and give the lad a break 🙂

 

[Lily123]

Fair enough but my point was and is that, you are 14 years old and have type1 diabetes so at 14 if you didn't have diabetes would you have known anything about it?

Many adults come on the forum and know nothing what so ever about any type of diabetes.🙂

Life's far to short let it go and give the lad a break 🙂

You’re right If I didn’t have Type 1 I wouldn’t know anything about diabetes.

 

[Inka]

Thanks for the link that is a good thing to hear about people changing peoples views on social media - it wasn’t Type 1 he made the comment about it was diabetes in general. As someone who also has a Type 2 in the family and another relative who is prediabetic I feel I can see what they do day to day to manage and there’s wasn’t caused by diet. I think I may mention this to the head of year instead of filling in an incident form (filling out a form for something that has upset me is quite dehumanising)

Then an opportunity for education🙂 You can use what the boy said as an example, but I don’t think you should complain about him by name. He probably just voiced what many others would say too because they don’t know any better.

 

[Lily123]

Then an opportunity for education🙂 You can use what the boy said as an example, but I don’t think you should complain about him by name. He probably just voiced what many others would say too because they don’t know any better.

I’ll say something at school tomorrow and won’t mention him by name. The unfortunate thing was a few people sat on the seats around know I have Type 1 so now will have an awful opinion although I corrected the boy on what he said - there is another Type 1 in the school but I haven’t met them

 

[C6H12O6]

Do you have a form tutor you could mention it too. I hope it doesn't carry on but if it does it means you've got the Head of Year as a next step to escalate it if needs be. Have you started doing any speaking activities in English yet? For GCSE you will have to prepare a speech on a topic of you choice. If you get the chance why don't you do something on diabetes?

 

[Lily123]

Do you have a form tutor you could mention it too. I hope it doesn't carry on but if it does it means you've got the Head of Year as a next step to escalate it if needs be. Have you started doing any speaking activities in English yet? For GCSE you will have to prepare a speech on a topic of you choice. If you get the chance why don't you do something on diabetes?

I have a form tutor I could speak to but the last time something diabetes related happened I think my tutor may have forgotten to pass the message on (someone threw an apple at me and it caught the edge of the Libre and hit the exact spot I had my covid jab the day before) and I haven’t started doing any speaking activities in English yet but in GCSE it may be worth doing something on diabetes

 

[helli]

I understand your frustration @Lily123.
I wonder if there is a more positive approach to this rather than complaining that there is ignorance around diabetes in your school ... as there is in society in general.
We are here to share our rants and frustrations and we know where you are coming from. But most people switch off and don't hear so they need a way to make it something that they will want to listen to.

Does your school have any form of fund raising and, if so, could you ask to make Diabetes UK a recipient of some of the money raised? Then you can use the fund raising as a way to educate your fellow pupils. Maybe find out if there is a local Diabetes UK group who you could invite to talk at the school assembly? My advice would be not to make it something personal and about you but something that could affect any of them either directly or through a close relative.

 

[Lily123]

I understand your frustration @Lily123.
I wonder if there is a more positive approach to this rather than complaining that there is ignorance around diabetes in your school ... as there is in society in general.
We are here to share our rants and frustrations and we know where you are coming from. But most people switch off and don't hear so they need a way to make it something that they will want to listen to.

Does your school have any form of fund raising and, if so, could you ask to make Diabetes UK a recipient of some of the money raised? Then you can use the fund raising as a way to educate your fellow pupils. Maybe find out if there is a local Diabetes UK group who you could invite to talk at the school assembly? My advice would be not to make it something personal and about you but something that could affect any of them either directly or through a close relative.

That’s a good idea. Their is a charity fair coming up the day before half term at school and all money made goes to a charity of their choice so I could run a stool and raise money for Diabetes UK - only trouble is I’m not very good at being that organised. I have just looked at local support groups and turns out the nearest one is 6 miles away

 

[helli]

That’s a good idea. Their is a charity fair coming up the day before half term at school and all money made goes to a charity of their choice so I could run a stool and raise money for Diabetes UK - only trouble is I’m not very good at being that organised. I have just looked at local support groups and turns out the nearest one is 6 miles away

If they have a car, 6 miles is not far for someone to travel to support you and Diabetes UK. It may be worth contacting them and asking.