University

[hlarkin]

Hi,
I've been diabetic for 30 years but always struggled with hypoglycaemic seizures. I started university last year as a mature student and unfortunately became very unwell towards the end of the first year. I had a 6 hour seizure where I could not move or shout for help, I was eventually found by my house mate when I fell out of my bed. As a result I decided to move home with my parents and transferred to a local university. The new university were aware of my health problems and stayed they would support me if required. However I have been sad to find the support to be appalling, I was not given a personal tutor, was unable to access the electronic learning resources and was ignored. I have also been attending a placement and the full time timetable of study as my placement was late to start. This stress has contributed to more hypoglycaemic episodes including collapsing in a supermarket and another seizure this weekend. My mum called the university who were extremely condescending to her and asked that I call to report my own absence in the future by a different number as this line was for emergencies only, adding that they understood that I was my mums "little baby girl".
I am really ****** off now and feel at risk of not being able to complete my degree because of oppressive professionals who are unsupportive and ignorant.
Has any one else experienced similar, and what did you do?
Thanks,
Holly x

 

[CarbsRok]

The top priority is to find out why you have such unpredictable control. Do you have a hospital team that you are under, if so what have they done to help?
Do you carb count have you tried different insulin's or asked for a pump?

 

[hlarkin]

They have been dragging their feet about sending me to see a hospital team because my hba1c is in a good range, I've got an appointment in March

 

[noblehead]

They have been dragging their feet about sending me to see a hospital team because my hba1c is in a good range, I've got an appointment in March

Whether you have good control or not going hypo (which results in seizures) needs urgent attention, so if your gp surgery isn't able to address these issues then demand that you are referred to a hospital diabetes clinic, they are more adapt at dealing with type 1 issues such as the ones you are experiencing.

As for the University you attend, is there another reason why you need a personal tutor as type 1 diabetes doesn't stop you from learning within a group, however if you do want to make a formal complaint then do so in writing to the principle of the University.

Best wishes.

 

[Snapsy]

It will be an amazing day when all HCPs would just think to look a little deeper than the HbA1c!


@hlarkin I'd recommend asking for an earlier appointment - as @noblehead has said, urgent attention is needed for hypos which lead to seizures.

Wishing you well.

 

[zoze_j]

Hi,
I've been diabetic for 30 years but always struggled with hypoglycaemic seizures. I started university last year as a mature student and unfortunately became very unwell towards the end of the first year. I had a 6 hour seizure where I could not move or shout for help, I was eventually found by my house mate when I fell out of my bed. As a result I decided to move home with my parents and transferred to a local university. The new university were aware of my health problems and stayed they would support me if required. However I have been sad to find the support to be appalling, I was not given a personal tutor, was unable to access the electronic learning resources and was ignored. I have also been attending a placement and the full time timetable of study as my placement was late to start. This stress has contributed to more hypoglycaemic episodes including collapsing in a supermarket and another seizure this weekend. My mum called the university who were extremely condescending to her and asked that I call to report my own absence in the future by a different number as this line was for emergencies only, adding that they understood that I was my mums "little baby girl".
I am really ****** off now and feel at risk of not being able to complete my degree because of oppressive professionals who are unsupportive and ignorant.
Has any one else experienced similar, and what did you do?
Thanks,
Holly x

Hi Holly.

Going to uni is a stressful thing in itself - during my first fortnight, I'd had several hypos, one of which resulted in me keeling over outside my halls & my friendsringing an ambulance (not how I wanted to start my uni experience!).
So I started testing my blood sugars like a crazy lady - literally every half an hour all day, my poor fingers! But it really did help - I was able to spot any changes super early & do something about it. I also carried about 8 packets of glucos tablets with me everywhere!

When you say personal tutor, do you mean the sort that everyone gets? I.e. when I was at uni every person got assigned a personal tutor who was responsible for that student. I think I saw mine twice in three years!
As for your E-resources, again, whenever any of us had issues we just spoke to the IT department & they sorted it staright away - have you tried contacting them directly?

As for them being condescendingn to your mum, I do kinda see their point - it's kinda like the work place, you're expected to phone in for yourself except in circumstances where you're physically incapable. Though I know how....abrupt admin staff at unis can be, so I imagine the conversation went (our department administrator was so bad, we called her Grendel!!).

What is your degree? Maybe speak to your head of department?

 

[novorapidboi26]

Is there an chance the seizures could be unrelated to diabetes......I mean 6 hours.....how did that happen?

there may be some other underlying issue somewhere....

sorry I have no experience of useful advice

 

[hlarkin]

Yes the personal tutor is one that every student gets. The course is social work and it was not admin that I spoke to it was the course director for the masters in social work. My mum had made her aware that I was not able to speak as I was disorientated and struggling with memory loss, seeing as social work aims to be anti oppressive I don't really feel it is appropriate for a lead in education to be so clumsy with her language and non empathetic.

 

[hlarkin]

Regarding other causes, no I've had brain scans etc, I just seem to have very adverse reactions to insulin, usually hormones don't help. I've had serious seizures from the age of two when I was first diagnosed, I found a few articles by diabetics who use animal insulin who had a theory that some people's bodies really struggle with the chemical kind but don't know how much truth there is in it?

 

[mrspuddleduck]

Hi @hlarkin. Firstly I agree with everyone else, your health has to be priority!! Saying that the stress of the problems you are having with the uni situation is not going to help you diabetes! So there are a couple of things that maybe helpful - Firstly, the University is not allowed to discuss you in anyway with your mother unless they have written permission from yourself. This is a legal requirement which is designed to protect your interests not theirs (although it does not excuse their attitude).
Secondly social work is one if the subject/professions that have exemptions under employment law (sorry I'm about out if date so can't give you specifics) and because of the nature if the professional role can consider health issues as part if their suitably criteria (but it is rarely a problem, its more about safeguarding vulnerable people you may work with)
What you need to do is get a medical 'sick' certificate to your course tutor (or better still the university occupational health department as I think they normally cover social work students). Then contact the Equality Office at the Uni who can advice you about who is the member of staff who deals with students who have specific needs. All unis have some version if this process where there are identified staff who can confidentially talk to you and advise you how to best proceed with the minimum disruption to your studies. They can also liaise with your course tutors on your behalf. They should also negotiate a support action plan with you detailing the processes they can offer to support you in both uni and i n practice, with exams and assessment processes. Good luck.

 

[CarbsRok]

Regarding other causes, no I've had brain scans etc, I just seem to have very adverse reactions to insulin, usually hormones don't help. I've had serious seizures from the age of two when I was first diagnosed, I found a few articles by diabetics who use animal insulin who had a theory that some people's bodies really struggle with the chemical kind but don't know how much truth there is in it?

Then perhaps try animal insulin again and see if that helps your situation.

 

[nmr1991]

From experience, universities aren't known to keep in contact or know about illnesses, disabilities or chronic conditions, I had a mental health councillor but it wasn't for diabetes, they knew I had it and the only people who would help me was the diabetic specialist nurse at a hospital 10 miles away and the local GP at the university practice. University, well if you live in halls of residence, expects you to be independent and monitor your health condition very carefully because most times if you have no immediate friends and they are out studying or whatever, best you can do is stay around people in public areas - especially if you are that paranoid that you will have a seizure at some random time.

I avoided low blood glucose most of the time just incase because theres no one to help you when everyone's asleep, and when I did feel like I was feeling complications such as racing heartbeat, severe chest pain, loss of consciousness, everyone was asleep, halls security staff were at home I had to dial the emergency number because I hadn't felt this before and no one was around to help or give advice on what to do. Suffice to say it was just dehydration rather than DKA, but it might have been the early warning signs of DKA, which I ultimately avoided hospital and just got dropped off at the late night surgery, confirming that I was well enough to walk back home.