Teachers with T1

[SB2015]

I wondered whether it would be useful if any teachers who themselves have T1 might like to add some tips for others.

My background is in Secondary and retired a little while now. However for me it was making sure I had stashes of Jelly Babies everywhere. I had them in my bag, in the department office, school office, a friend on each floor of the school tower block, …. I had got caught out doing cover and was nowhere near my JBs as I did not get a proper break and then realised I was doing cover and then. ….

I also had spare pens in school. I certainly didn’t want to miss lunch If I forgot to take my NR in and didn’t want to go home to take my basal if I realised that I had forgotten that.

A lot of these apply to any job. There are also ways in which we can support student that are in school who have T1.
Any tips on this very welcome too.

 

[Inka]

My biggest tip would be to stand up for yourself and your needs. There’s a huge amount of ignorance about Type 1 and I experienced bullying and prejudice. I wish I’d been firmer.

 

[SB2015]

My biggest tip would be to stand up for yourself and your needs. There’s a huge amount of ignorance about Type 1 and I experienced bullying and prejudice. I wish I’d been firmer.

Thanks Inka
We will be doing a workshop with parents at a Family Weekend so these bits of feedback are very helpful.

 

[freesia]

Hi @SB2015. I'm a TA in a primary school. When i was diagnosed i made everyone aware of the fact and let them know the symptoms of a hypo and hyper, where my hypo stash was etc. I also pinned up in the staffroom an information leaflet about diabetes and referred other staff to it. I have JBs and glucose in my bag and the staff i work closest with know where it is. If i do have a hypo i go and treat it and other staff come to check on me until i get back. I hope i would have no hesitation in standing up for myself if needed.

I agree with @Inka in that there is ignorance about diabetes, particularly Type 1. I have been told by someone that "your diabetes isn't very well controlled is it, because your levels are always up and down"!!

 

[SB2015]

Thanks @freesia . It is good to read the different strategies that are used in different schools.

 

[Ivostas66]

Only just seen this thread, but I have had a really mixed bag in terms of responses and reactions to my diagnosis 4 years ago at work. The main issue is ignorance. Members of my team who still do not get it (my line manager said that someone in my department wanted time for a conversation, where he proceeded to tell me how my illness had negatively impacted him and the rest of the department "you're supposed to be leading us, yet it's been 4 years of this, 4 YEARS!" is the lovely heartfelt statement he ended with). Thankfully my line manager caught me after the meeting and apologised, asked how I was and I said it was pretty much water off a ducks back given the ridiculous behaviours from colleagues I have had to put up with.

Previous headteacher was fairly understanding as her best friend growing up was type 1 and understood my issues. New headteacher does not understand and I was called into a meeting where she discussed support strategies (going part time, relinquishing my role as a senior member of staff etc). I proceeded to explain that it was not my diabetes causing the issues, but work causing issues with my diabetes control/ health. For example, school reduced the length of the day this year due to COVID and lunch was just 20 minutes long; therefore I saw seriously high post prandial spikes. I had to fight tooth an nail for them to cover the end of period 3 when I had a lesson so that I could check levels, inject and eat. I gave her the list of the 42 things that cause cause BG levels to spike or fall and asked her to read it. She seemed flabbergasted and even asked me if it was scientifically researched, as she clearly thinks that illness linked to diabetes is all down to errors in my management of the condition.

HR can be a nightmare in schools. One of my best friends if HR manager at a large multinational and one of the leading experts in her field. She was initially shocked at how appalling HR is in schools and then less so when she saw the salary of HR managers and the limited training that they have. Knowing your rights is paramount as we all know that there is an expectation in schools for teachers to do a great deal more than their contract stipulates and to also ignore any union advice.

1. Know the law as best you can, sadly I know of lots of teachers who regularly have to remind HR and SLT of what they can or cannot reasonably expect from us.
2. Make sure you are union savvy and speak to them if something does not sound right.
3. Stand your ground and be prepared to say 'no' - something I always tell the SCITTs across the county that I train.
4. Listen to your body. If it is telling you that things aren't right, you need to put your health before work. The vast majority of people will be understanding and supportive.
5. I have a member of staff who is a close friend whom my wife refers to as my 'nurse in school' as she is so supportive and attentive (quietly asking me how I am doing etc and also responding to 'ignorant' questions posed by others "should you really be eating that as a diabetic?"
6. If your BG is low during a lesson, send for patrol and treat your hypo, don't try to be a superhero! Speak to your department and know/ ensure that there is someone in the vicinity who can step in or keep an eye on your group whilst you deal with your health.
7. Be honest and open with your students about your illness. Explain what can happen to you so that they know what to look out for. I had a Y10 girl spot a hypo before I realised ("Sir, are you OK, your hand is shaking a bit and you slurred a couple of words just" - turns out I was 3.9 with a downward arrow).

 

[Inka]

Great post @Ivostas66 The ignorance is astounding and can be very upsetting. I was bullied out of my job basically and haven’t taught since. My advice to any other teachers is to nip any cr@p in the bud, stand up for yourself and advocate for yourself politely but very firmly.

 

[freesia]

I read a post on here once about people complaining when the person had to test and inject insulin. Out of interest i asked someone i knew well at work what they thought when i did it (please note i was very discreet but i refuse to use the toilets). I was told they didnt mind but some people did as there was the issue of needle phobias and also blood products!!! I was upset that whoever thought that hadnt spoken to me themselves, when i could have explained the need, and spoke to the head saying i wanted somewhere private where i could inject. I've been given a choice of a couple of places and even the head's office if needs be.
It is definitely all down to ignorance.

 

[SB2015]

I knew absolutely nothing about Diabetes when I was diagnosed, and that was after years of teaching. So I am not surprised by the ignorance, but do understand that it is not until you are confronted by it that you get to know more about it.

I am the same as @freesia and refused to use a toilet to inject. I was offered the deputy Head’s office, which I used initially but then just did what I needed to in the staff room and no one seemed to notice.
As far as I know no one complained, and if they didn’t want to see a needle, they would probably need to be pretty close to spot it as they are so small, and I didn’t exactly wave the pen around. Otherwise they callus just look away.

I did do training sessions for staff in our school, and others around awareness, as in secondary schools so many will come across a student with T1 as they move from class to class.

Sorry that you were driven out of your job @Inka That is just not right, and it is as @Ivostas66 said down to ignorance. It is important for teachers to have support around them from colleagues, friends and I would also say the unions, who can act on your behalf if necessary. With those 42 factors impacting on glucose levels it is such a juggling act.

I also used to include this in the SCITT programme, and supported trainees who had T1 that I came across. I certainly encouraged them to let their students know what can happen with T1, and like @Ivostas66 I found that they often picked up a hypo before I did. I am not sure how easy that would be in primary schools, and would be interested to know what others do in that setting.

I also agree that when responsible for a class of students, you cannot brave out a hypo. It needs treating and you need time to sort it. It may depend on the class. I certainly had a couple where I could just say to them I am having a hypo, and they would let me deal with it, and get on with their work. If I was below 3.5 I would also ask ine of them to let someone know (This was before the creation of Libre so I had no idea which direction levels were going and by that stage probably couldn’t work it out)

As I said before much of this applies to other jobs too, where you have responsibility for the care and safety of others.

 

[freesia]

. I am not sure how easy that would be in primary schools

I'm with 5-7 yr olds so i would think it might be hard for them to understand. If they have asked me about the libre i've explained it as something in my body not working and it helps me to look after myself. The alarm has gone off a few times and i've explained what it is. They just carry on now. The other TAs usually keep an ear out and if it goes off when i'm with a group or class they step in while i scan and check.
I used to inject discreetly in the staff room but that was obviously where people felt uncomfortable

 

[SB2015]

You have already done loads to raise your pupils’ awareness of T1 @freesia , by explaining your alarms. All that we can do will help others and those pupils may react better if/when they come across peers with T1.

 

[Bexlee]

It really is a case of ignorance from many and a total lack of understanding.

My previous head suggested I inject in the toilet and was really discrete about it all and as I was using legs at the time and was a bit nervous about it all still I did for a few weeks then decided to get a bit tougher. It took a while to get some understanding and ultimately a new head who understood a bit more.

Things went well for a while then covid hit and now or last year it was back to square one with a lack of understanding. I’m hoping it’s a bit more settled come next week. There are a few things I need to clarify and re-sort and maybe stamp my feet about !

I do have cover 20 min before lunch for literally 2 min to inject. I do have a place to go if I’m feeling ill - over the other side of the site! I have stash of jelly babies and Harribo in a few places and all the kids I teach know and most colleagues.

I do teach a few diabetic kids and they know where my stashes are too! I always think it’s important to just be normal about everything so the diabetic kids see it (diabetes) isn’t a barrier in later life.

I do sometimes wonder what people actually are thinking with their “helpful” suggestions and just smile whilst visualising thumping them sometimes. I do try and educate people

I love my libre and alarms on libre 2 and it’s a great conversation starter we even play guess the level before break and lunch.

I think it would be wonderful to put something together as school workers for educational set ups to help us get the support we need. A kind of print and hand over type thing !

I hope all returning to schools this week have a good start !