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uni support thoughts

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Well, yes. I suppose it's just my opinion, but frankly I see the idea that people with diabetes are in control of their lives, are no different from anyone else and can do whatever they want with their lives regardless of their condition as, well, a positive. Don't you?
 
Just my own personal veiw, But when I did exams at university, I had a hypo or two, and they affect me in the samer way as they do now. I dont make a big deal of them, I go low, I treat and Im usually OK physically within 10 minutes. However. I lose focus for a good half hour to an hour after. And I can remember at uni going low during an exam, I took some dextrose and sat there reading the same paragraph 50 tiems overs because It wouldnt go in. I honestly couldnt focus. Its the same at work 7 years on. If I go low. I stuggle to be fully efficient for an hour afterwards even though my strngth has fully returned. Id of appreciated a little extra time, in the pot to b called upon in this situation. But to be honest I didnt realise it could have been available.

On the other hand I went through university, just as any non - diabetic did.
 
Northerner apologies in advance if I'm saying the wrong thing but Deus this is a forum to SUPPORT other diabetics not for implying that if they need help or have problems that they are doing something wrong. We are here to provide help and advice, not judge others which you seem to do. Just for information I am not blind, I can walk and I do have a PhD but because of problems with diabetes control I now need to have extra time for exams etc and I wish that I had asked for similar help when I was younger rather than keeping my BGs higher to ensure that I could get through three hour exams without risking a hypo. We should be glad that there is help available.
 
Bennyg 70, my hypos are like yours; I can treat them quickly, but I loose focus for a good half an hour, re-reading the same thing over and over again. I haven't hypoed in an exam as of yet (*touch wood*), but it's nice knowing the extra time is there if I need it.

Vicki 🙂
 
Persil said:
Bennyg 70, my hypos are like yours; I can treat them quickly, but I loose focus for a good half an hour, re-reading the same thing over and over again. I haven't hypoed in an exam as of yet (*touch wood*), but it's nice knowing the extra time is there if I need it.

Vicki 🙂
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The worst thing is, if im high, it effects my focus in the same way!!! So the obvious answer is to make sure nice and balanced before you go in - Which during uni life is hard enough - Now add on top of that The stress and worrying about an exam... Youll have done well to go into an exam in the zone!
 
Deus this is a forum to SUPPORT other diabetics not for implying that if they need help or have problems that they are doing something wrong. We are here to provide help and advice, not judge others which you seem to do.
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That's not what I implied at all. Everyone needs help with diabetes, my point was that if you want to sort your diabetes out, you'll need to take the action yourself. Giving extra time for people in exams isn't supporting them - it's just reinforcing a stereotype that we're delicate and incapable of being equal to everyone else.

I think it'd be far more supportive to provide information on what to eat and how to bolus to avoid blood sugar extremes in exams, tips and tricks for meal scheduling and selection during convoluted exam schedules, the quickest options for resolving a hypo, how a hit of potassium can actually remove the 'hypo hangover' very quickly. Practical stuff that'll actually help get someone the best results.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not at all against support for people with diabetes at uni - god knows, there's so many things where a bit of useful advice would go miles and yes, things like free fridges should absolutely be on the agenda.

I just personally feel that 'support' should be more about giving people the tools to support themselves (particularly when those people are in the transition period to becoming independent adults who will have to manage their condition themselves for the rest of their lives), rather than there being an expectation that everyone else has to make accommodations.
 
DeusXM said:
That's not what I implied at all. Everyone needs help with diabetes, my point was that if you want to sort your diabetes out, you'll need to take the action yourself. Giving extra time for people in exams isn't supporting them - it's just reinforcing a stereotype that we're delicate and incapable of being equal to everyone else.
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Hmm.. perhaps you inhabit some sort of alternate reality where simply knowing what you should do to achieve perfect control under all circumstances will make it so. And it's not about taking responsibility either - people may take their diabetes very seriously but still be detrimentally affected by unexpected or unexplained lows or highs, or may simply lack the experience with the condition to be able to head off any problems.
 
perhaps you inhabit some sort of alternate reality where simply knowing what you should do to achieve perfect control under all circumstances will make it so.
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No, I just think having the attitude that controlling your diabetes is on you and then arming yourself to the teeth with as much info and advice as possible will mean you're far more likely to get your diabetes well controlled.

people may take their diabetes very seriously but still be detrimentally affected by unexpected or unexplained lows or highs
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Yes, but you can minimise the frequency by which these happen by taking responsibility and psychologically, get over these far quicker. What's better for your control and your state of mind - having a hypo and then going "oh gosh, I don't know why that happened and I don't know what I can possibly do to stop it happening again", or thinking "Right, why did this happen and what's my strategy for stopping it happening again?"

Taking diabetes seriously, and taking responsibility for your diabetes control, are also two completely different things.
 
Hi delb t, fwiw whilst there wasn't much support at uni when I was there, I would have appreciated the option of extra time in case of an unexpected hypo had that been an option, so I think your lad is sensible to ask about it.

There have been several comments about taking responsibilty, growing up & the work place, but I'd just add that in my experience life doesn't always run smoothly & being prepared is the way to go. I once had to give a technical presentation to a very prestigious customer on an emotive safety issue - despitd all my best efforts to have good control murphy's law of diabetic stress kicked in & my levels plummeted...it took a few mins to twig that thd shakes weren't just adrenalin but a hypo, & although it was quite embarressing initially I just said I had to check my sugar level, & did so & guzzled the can of coke that's always close at hand just in case. The customer was very understanding, we had abit of a break for the coke to hit (the caffeine helps!) & resumed. So whilst I would never claim to be a delicate flower (rofl), and of course prevention is better than cure etc etc, things do go awry sometimes & a back up plan is sensible - there's no saying your son would use the extra time after all. I can't comment re the finance side of things as I'm not sure what the other posters were going to ask for support with, but I'm sure there would be rigorous criteria & there's nothing wrong in asking i guess.

All the best, Twitchy x
 
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When I was at uni- over 15 years ago, I remember running hideously high levels to avoid a hypo- probably in high teens or 20s. This does not affect my concentration the same way as a hypo and in exceptional circumstances such as exams I suppose one could argue ("what's the harm")- although I know some people can't concentrate when they are high and I supposed there is the risk of DKA/
Anyway it was older insulins, not being as knowledgable re diabetes control and a bit of hypophobia/ paranoia kicking in- but I never asked for extra time etc etc
I think purely asking for special consideration due to diabetes probably shouldn't be necessary but may be justified if the person is having - or likely to have specific problems
I think employment presents a far greater problem for people with diabetes as this is a daily issue-in too many circumstances the patient has either not availed themselves of the tools/ knowledge to control it or have been denied these ( suitable insulin regimen, adequate monitoring supplies), or the reception they receive is hostile- for wanting to manage their condition ( injecting, monitoring, treating the odd hypo), or they are terrified of even having an occasional minor hypo that they can treat themselves and be better in 5 minutes in case they receive critiscism- and hence run far too high.
It takes a fair amount of self worth and determination to manage one's diabetes when other people are going about their daily business without givign a thought about their health, activity and stress levels, climate , what they are eating etc etc, even without them being obstructive/ hostile/ whatever, to the person with diabetes
 
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