Type 1 and Teaching

[ET6]

Newly fitted with CGM on the 19th Dec after a Type 1 diagnosis. I’m a teacher and in the hols, having my phone on me for monitoring is fine but for the new term I’m thinking I’ll need some sort of pouch - and of course to be allowed to have phone on me as normally we’re not allowed.
Any Type 1 teachers out there with any tips of how to manage the monitoring and not having your phone going off with lost connection!

 

[SimonP]

I'm not a teacher, but I do teach from time to time at University. There's no issue for me with a phone, which I keep it in my back pocket anyway, but I also have a Garmin watch which shows my BG locally and also displays/allows me to cancel alarms, etc. I could leave my phone in a bag by the front desk and it would still talk to the watch. This approach might remove one of your concerns.

I think the bigger issue, at least for me, is running low while teaching - my sessions tend to be on the order of 2h at a go and run all day (and indeed all week - teaching people to program from scratch). It took me some practice to work out how to dose for lunch, etc., to avoid going low mid-afternoon (and the next time I do it it will likely all have changed again, as is the usual way).

It might be easier with 1h long lessons, though even then you need to get the carbs in early enough that you don't drop too much as it makes life very very hard answering any questions from the students or indeed making any sense at all at that point! I always have some fast acting carbs handy (skittles in my case) which I can munch on if I feel I'm dropping before we have a break at which point I can have something with some long acting carbs.

When I've done this I have a cohorts for a full week so I tend to just tell them at the start of the week that I'm diabetic and may need to eat something (due to the quality and difficulty of their amazing questions 😉), but I'm teaching young adults (and I equally don't mind if they decide they need some brain food during these marathon sessions.) I can imagine that may not work so well when dealing with school children.

 

[mashedupmatt]

I did teach many moons ago, but not now - You shouldn't have any problems being able to keep your phone on you because if denied this could be classed as disability discrimination - In terms of alarms, I've always had my signal loss one turned off, and if you use an app like Juggluco to manage the other alarms, you can set it to vibrate, rather that going off like a fog horn (that's what I use) - and like @SimonP I have CGM Readings on my smartwatch too so can keep an eye on levels at a glance

 

[Robin]

@SB2015 used to teach whilst Type 1, now retired, but probably has plenty of tips.(including getting her maths class to work out her carb count, I think!)

 

[ET6]

I'm not a teacher, but I do teach from time to time at University. There's no issue for me with a phone, which I keep it in my back pocket anyway, but I also have a Garmin watch which shows my BG locally and also displays/allows me to cancel alarms, etc. I could leave my phone in a bag by the front desk and it would still talk to the watch. This approach might remove one of your concerns.

I think the bigger issue, at least for me, is running low while teaching - my sessions tend to be on the order of 2h at a go and run all day (and indeed all week - teaching people to program from scratch). It took me some practice to work out how to dose for lunch, etc., to avoid going low mid-afternoon (and the next time I do it it will likely all have changed again, as is the usual way).

It might be easier with 1h long lessons, though even then you need to get the carbs in early enough that you don't drop too much as it makes life very very hard answering any questions from the students or indeed making any sense at all at that point! I always have some fast acting carbs handy (skittles in my case) which I can munch on if I feel I'm dropping before we have a break at which point I can have something with some long acting carbs.

When I've done this I have a cohorts for a full week so I tend to just tell them at the start of the week that I'm diabetic and may need to eat something (due to the quality and difficulty of their amazing questions 😉), but I'm teaching young adults (and I equally don't mind if they decide they need some brain food during these marathon sessions.) I can imagine that may not work so well when dealing with school children.

Thanks! I’ll look into the phone idea. I think low BG may also be an issue across a morning session as end of morning so tend to drop. I’ll just have to think carefully about my snack and when I have it.
I don’t think children will mind an extra opportunity for a snack too

 

[ET6]

I did teach many moons ago, but not now - You shouldn't have any problems being able to keep your phone on you because if denied this could be classed as disability discrimination - In terms of alarms, I've always had my signal loss one turned off, and if you use an app like Juggluco to manage the other alarms, you can set it to vibrate, rather that going off like a fog horn (that's what I use) - and like @SimonP I have CGM Readings on my smartwatch too so can keep an eye on levels at a glance

Good idea about the signal loss one being turned off and I’ll look into Juggluco
Thanks!

 

[Inka]

I have mine in a tiny bag, always on me. It’s not a problem as it’s a necessity @ET6 I also have emergency Dextrose in my bag too.

 

[Tdm]

If the phone (presumably cos if the camera) is a problem then you could get a receiver for your cgm. They are a good backup too, if there is an issue with cgms not working after upgrades...we had a spot of bother with libres a little while ago.

Or, as mentioned, getting a display on a smart watch.

Do you do PE/sport teaching ? Physical excercise can cause sugars to plummet, as you probably already know

 

[SB2015]

Newly fitted with CGM on the 19th Dec after a Type 1 diagnosis. I’m a teacher and in the hols, having my phone on me for monitoring is fine but for the new term I’m thinking I’ll need some sort of pouch - and of course to be allowed to have phone on me as normally we’re not allowed.
Any Type 1 teachers out there with any tips of how to manage the monitoring and not having your phone going off with lost connection!

Hi @ET6 there were no sensors when I was teaching, so I can’t advise on that, but you should definitely be an able to keep your phone with you to monitor your levels.

I am guessing that you are using a Libre, and I am aware of someone on here who as TA (can’t remember who) got round the no phone policy in her school by using the reader in place of the phone. The disadvantage is you then don’t get alarms and need to swipe to get the values. For the students’ safety I think I would push to have you phone with you so that you can have the alarms available. Any employer needs to make reasonable adjustments, and this one makes sense. Most issues can be overcome by chatting to your LM, if you think that this would be an issue.

I was teaching in a secondary school, which was quite big. I had my own room, well stocked with hypo treatments. I was in the honeymoon period and I got caught out at the other end of school, a long way from my JB stash. We sorted that out by having a supply available to me in each block.

I was given an office in which I could go and do my injections, but soon switched to just doing them wherever I needed to. As I learnt the importance of pre bolusing this needed to be in my classroom before the lunch break. I was teaching Maths so I used calculating my insulin dose as part of the lesson before lunch, and raised awareness of T1. Others on here had cover for them to go and test and prebolus before lunch. Again it is sorting out what works for you with your LM.

There was an office down the corridor from me and someone was in there during lessons. They were the emergency point if I had a hypo in the lesson and needed help. Never used them. I knew my students and they were able to continue with their work whilst I treated a hypo if necessary. They sometimes prompted me to test if they spotted my behaviour changing. An early versions of a ‘sensor’. However it was good to know that there was help available if needed. Another chat with LM to come up with a plan that suits you.

As I was in the Honeymoon Period (as you will be) things were not always as predictable as I would have liked them to be. We had an emergency plan (never used) in case of a severe hypo.

My main advice would be, if in secondary school, to be honest about what you need to do for your diabetes, and this may change as you get more used to managing it. Have hypo treatments everywhere. Work out when you need to bolus for your lunch and ask for support in enabling you to do this.

Let us know how you get on.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @ET6

I think @Ivostas66 also is/was a teacher, and may have some tips?

Hope you are able to find a way to get CGM/alarms to work for you. I’d set the low alarm nice and high (maybe mid-5s) and have a ready supply of small fast carb ‘nudges’ (eg a single Jelly Baby) to get a nice earlywarning if things are drifting towards the bottom of your range, and just give it a little bump, rather than only being alerted once your warning signs are already kicking in.

 

[Inka]

Am I remembering incorrectly? I used to use the Libre plus reader and I got alarms from the reader. Is this a new thing that you can’t get them? Anyway, with permission, my phone is fine to keep with me. Just think about it @ET6 - if you were looping, you’d need your phone anyway.

 

[SimonP]

You won't be able to use a reader to provide alarms unless you started the sensor with it, and while the reader is connected whatever app you run on the phone to provide data to a smartwatch won't work afaiu. I'd push for the phone simply to make life easier for the rest of the time (rather than faffing with carrying around the reader, which also goes flat in no time)

 

[rebrascora]

Not a teacher, so can't comment on that but I use a reader with my Libre, rather than my phone and I love it. Small, simple to use and easy to scan. Yes, it does have alarms and many of us just turn the annoying "Out of Range" alarm off and just keep the high and low alarms on. I find the reader far more reliable than the phone app which I tried twice for 3 months and found I preferred the simplicity and reliability of the reader. You can use the phone app with the reader but you have to start the sensor with the reader in order to use the reader and then only the reader gets alarms and you don't have the full CGM on the phone and have to scan to get readings on the phone and the reader.
I find my reader battery far better than my phone. I charge the reader about once a week but my phone needs charging almost every night.

 

[Lucyr]

Am I remembering incorrectly? I used to use the Libre plus reader and I got alarms from the reader.

No it’s just people spreading misinformation. If you start a sensor with the reader you won’t get CGM functionality but will get alarms on the reader. You won’t be able to use your phone at all if started with the reader.

Getting permission to use the phone would be best though as the phone gives CGM capability. It could be worn in a runners belt around the waist or in a pocket, set to silent you’d feel it vibrate and could just get it out when alarm goes off or between classes. Or could get a smartwatch to monitor readings on additionally.

 

[rebrascora]

You won’t be able to use your phone at all if started with the reader.

You CAN use your phone if you start a sensor with the reader, but you just have the ability to scan with it to get readings. You don't get alarms on the phone or CGM. Just alarms on the reader, but both will scan. If you start a sensor with the phone, then you can't use the reader at all.... well other than as a BG meter.

I think it is a bit harsh to suggest someone is spreading misinformation.

 

[SimonP]

You won’t be able to use your phone at all if started with the reader.

Just to add that if you use e.g. Juggluco you can start with the reader (or the official app if you so desire) and then switch to Juggluco for both CGM readings and alarms. I always start using the reader then switch to Juggluco + XDrip+ for the latter's display, prediction trend line and much much better set of alarm options.

It's odd that Abbott have introduced what seems like an artificial limitation in switching freely between their reader and their app, but functionally neither of them is any good compared to 3rd party offerings imo unless and until you need to do a return and need to supply them with log data.

 

[Lucyr]

Just to add that if you use e.g. Juggluco you can start with the reader (or the official app if you so desire) and then switch to Juggluco for both CGM readings and alarms.

You’d have to fingerprick or scan with reader for driving though

 

[Proud to be erratic]

Well, if you think a little laterally, both the Dexcom One+ and G7 have Receivers (the same, but better device, that Abbott call Readers) which work wholly independently from the same sensor. This will provide a solution that removes the dependence on just a phone. I haven't seen a One+ receiver, but since it is newer into service than G7, I would be most surprised if it isn't lighter than the dated and relatively bulky Libra Reader. I find my G7 Receiver way superior to my former Libre Reader, in so many ways.

Since Dexcom One+ sits in the same NHS cost bracket as Libre 2 all GPs are able to prescribe either, with no remit to seek cost authorisation. The G7 is more expensive, so a business case would probably need to be made to the regional Integrated Care Board (ICB).

@ET6 do consider this straightforward workaround that give you phone and reader/receiver independence without the messy hassle of starting devices in the correct sequence. I'm in no doubt that a smart phone and app is overall more helpful than just a reader/receiver. But a Dexcom receiver provides braces for the belt, when software upgrades periodically bring about chaos to those who are totally phone dependent.

 

[Tdm]

Dexcom g6 has receiver too

 

[Proud to be erratic]

Dexcom g6 has receiver too

Certainly, but I can't see any benefit for MDI in having the older 2 part G6 rather than the much newer one piece G7. Possibly an older smart phone might not be compatible with G7 and phone compatibility is something that should be checked out anyway. G6 is in the same cost bracket for the NHS, as G7.