Scared by complaints

[FelicityG]

Hello all! I feel sad and a bit scared too. Our child was diagnosed with type 1 several years ago. At first everything was fine, honeymoon, normal sugars, school agreed to look after her. Everything changed a year ago.

Honeymoon was over. Puberty began. Sugars started jumping. And school manager started calling our team complaining that our child has high sugar! Low sugar! Why is it happening? Do something! Educate her and her parents!

No matter what I say about diabetes - they smile, nod and keep on sending her home. They complain. The point is we have normal HbA1c. We do our best to avoid highs and lows. And our team warned us long ago that puberty makes sugars go out of control. But from school point of view it seems like it is only our fault and I’m scared.

 

[kaylz91]

So sorry to read this

Could your team not have a stern few words with them pointing out that it is in no way easy to flick a switch and have perfect control all of the time?
xx

 

[ert]

I'm sorry you are having a tough time. My GP doesn't want to manage my type 1 diabetes and I am under the care of a specialist team at the hospital, so it's not surprising teaching staff, without any medical training, can't manage it.
Can you monitor your child's blood sugars remotely with technology? Does your child have a pump that you can programme in advance of the school day?

 

[ert]

So sorry to read this

Could your team not have a stern few words with them pointing out that it is in no way easy to flick a switch and have perfect control all of the time?
xx

It depends on what symptoms are being seen and how they affect the child.

 

[Antje77]

they smile, nod and keep on sending her home.

Why are they sending her home? How is her diabetes team reacting to this?
I know I've recently read something informative on diabetes in school, I'll see if I can find it again.

 

[FelicityG]

So sorry to read this

Could your team not have a stern few words with them pointing out that it is in no way easy to flick a switch and have perfect control all of the time?
xx

Our team last time said oh, it’s understandable, they feel nervous... but they make us so nervous too! I’ll talk to our team soon again, we will see... because I have a feeling that our school is up to something. If they don’t want our child - why not saying it, why smiling and complaining?

 

[FelicityG]

I'm sorry you are having a tough time. My GP doesn't want to manage my type 1 diabetes and I am under the care of a specialist team at the hospital, so it's not surprising teaching staff, without any medical training, can't manage it.
Can you monitor your child's blood sugars remotely with technology? Does your child have a pump that you can programme in advance of the school day?

Pity your GO is like that but being under a specialist care is great!
yep, we have a CGM but at school they don’t trust it and make her prick her fingers. They had a meeting with our team long ago but I guess they just don’t want to accept that honeymoon is over. I understand that. But that’s life. It’s tough. Our child is 13, she is clever, she tries her best, but every single time she has high (14, 16) they make such a fuss like it’s terrible (I agree), oh my, you are pale, you are sick, go home.

 

[FelicityG]

Why are they sending her home? How is her diabetes team reacting to this?
I know I've recently read something informative on diabetes in school, I'll see if I can find it again.

Thank you ! they are afraid of responsibility I guess. Honestly, they could leave everything to her, she is a smart child, she can manage. But when she has high sugar, or low sugar, they call me and say - oh, she is pale, she is sick, collect her. We go home and she says - mum, I’m always pale, don’t they see? I hate when sugar is out of control, I do my best to help her manage it but sometimes it’s just unpredictable and with lockdown basal dose became bigger, she gained some weight and that also causes her stress. Watching how school reacts makes her feel like she is an outsider with her condition too.

 

[Antje77]

Honestly, they could leave everything to her, she is a smart child, she can manage.

What does her diabetes team think about this? If her doctor says it's up to her, and not the school, wouldn't this be the case?
Mind, I don't have children and I don't live in the UK, so I may well be wrong because there are different rules in different countries.

 

[FelicityG]

It depends on what symptoms are being seen and how they affect the child.

They always say the same - she looks pale and shaky. I come to collect her and she looks scared and surprised like - mum, I’m fine, why are they sending me home? They look so terribly worried, always, that I’m afraid she will begin copying them. When she has same high sugar at home, she just doesn’t insulin and feels and looks fine. Yes, she can be grumpy though.

 

[ert]

They always say the same - she looks pale and shaky. I come to collect her and she looks scared and surprised like - mum, I’m fine, why are they sending me home? They look so terribly worried, always, that I’m afraid she will begin copying them. When she has same high sugar at home, she just doesn’t insulin and feels and looks fine. Yes, she can be grumpy though.

I'm sorry to hear that she appears to have been sent home wrongly. They are reacting to the numbers they are seeing on her finger pricks which are perfectly normal if you eat carbohydrates. Insulin follows a fixed curve so does not match the foods you eat. It's normal to spike. As long as you are returning to the same as before you are eating five hours later then ignore the spikes. You will have to have a meeting with the school.
My heart goes out to her for her managing at school. Hopefully, in time, it will fade into the background and managing is something she will just do automatically without it being a big deal.

 

[Jaylee]

Hi @FelicityG ,

Welcome to the forum.

Highs can be corrected. Lows can be treated too.. All can be dealt with in situ.
In the real world we deal with this stuff in the workplace too. Blimey i can have myself up & running again in 20 minutes?

I was once a pale child with the school "care package" in his own bag.

As much as i understand that the staff at your daughter's school are covering their backs..
It sounds to me your kid is on the ball at a tricky time for her bloods whilst things get relatively stabilised?
She should be allowed to deal with her condition herself, & make her own decision if/when well enough to continue the day at school.

There needs to be allowed "reasonable adjustments" for your child's education.
There is an equalities act in the workplace. I'm pretty sure it covers education too.

Here are some links that may help you determine how best to tackle the teaching staff.

Here.https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-at-school.html
Here. https://jdrf.org.uk/for-professionals/school-pack/schools-e-learning-module/
Here. https://www.diabetes.org.uk/resources-s3/2018-11/Make The Grade Schools Pack.pdf
& Here? https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/your-child-and-diabetes/schools

Best wishes.

 

[EllieM]

She should be allowed to deal with her condition herself, & make her own decision if/when well enough to continue the day at school.

This times 1000. Sounds like you need your diabetic team to have a word with the school. She's not going to fall down dead through having an occasional blood sugar of 16 and the school should be able to help if she gets into trouble with a low. Is she competent to apply her own correction doses as necessary?

Teen years are stressful for diabetics and non diabetics alike, your school's attitude needs modification so that they support your daughter rather than stress her. Sometimes I am glad that I was a teenager before glucometers were invented. I am sure that my levels were sky high at times but I didn't have to worry about them and though my school knew about my diabetes they didn't have to make any special arrangements for me (or at least none that I was aware of). Virtual hugs for you and your daughter. Consider phoning the diabetes.org helpline for advice about the school.

 

[Maco]

Why are your daughters school becoming so involved in her situation? It sounds like they are wanting to sit down with her and check her BG then complain it’s high/low. Personally I don’t think it’s got anything to do with them unless your daughter decided to go to a teacher and say she felt unwell. I’d be arranging a meeting with the headteacher to discuss how to move forward.

I was 13/14 when diagnosed, I’m 26 now so not too long since I was in school. I honestly can’t remember a day when a teacher asked how I felt, what my levels where etc etc. I was given a card saying I was diabetic & could go to the toilet whenever I needed and that was it. None of the teachers knew how to control my diabetes, didn’t understand carb ratios etc & I’m guessing your daughters don’t either.

She should be allowed to take care of it herself without them interfering!

 

[FelicityG]

What does her diabetes team think about this? If her doctor says it's up to her, and not the school, wouldn't this be the case?
Mind, I don't have children and I don't live in the UK, so I may well be wrong because there are different rules in different countries.

we didn’t see our team for quite a time, then lockdown, we will see them this month and hopefully they will do something and help us. Because school staff creates a really disturbing atmosphere around our child, it’s plain scary already.

 

[FelicityG]

I'm sorry to hear that she appears to have been sent home wrongly. They are reacting to the numbers they are seeing on her finger pricks which are perfectly normal if you eat carbohydrates. Insulin follows a fixed curve so does not match the foods you eat. It's normal to spike. As long as you are returning to the same as before you are eating five hours later then ignore the spikes. You will have to have a meeting with the school.
My heart goes out to her for her managing at school. Hopefully, in time, it will fade into the background and managing is something she will just do automatically without it being a big deal.

Thank you! We really do our best. Also lunches at school are not the healthiest one. We just try to keep her optimistic about her condition, and they make us feel like her condition is a nightmare. She is stressed. And I don’t even ask them to support us - just not to ruin our efforts to show her she can live a normal life.

 

[FelicityG]

Hi @FelicityG ,

Welcome to the forum.

Highs can be corrected. Lows can be treated too.. All can be dealt with in situ.
In the real world we deal with this stuff in the workplace too. Blimey i can have myself up & running again in 20 minutes?

I was once a pale child with the school "care package" in his own bag.

As much as i understand that the staff at your daughter's school are covering their backs..
It sounds to me your kid is on the ball at a tricky time for her bloods whilst things get relatively stabilised?
She should be allowed to deal with her condition herself, & make her own decision if/when well enough to continue the day at school.

There needs to be allowed "reasonable adjustments" for your child's education.
There is an equalities act in the workplace. I'm pretty sure it covers education too.

Here are some links that may help you determine how best to tackle the teaching staff.

Here.https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-at-school.html
Here. https://jdrf.org.uk/for-professionals/school-pack/schools-e-learning-module/
Here. https://www.diabetes.org.uk/resources-s3/2018-11/Make The Grade Schools Pack.pdf
& Here? https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/your-child-and-diabetes/schools

Best wishes.

Thank you!!! Every time she has high or low they make her contact us. Also for lunch adjustments. And every time she suggests to do what I would suggest. She knows what to do (apart from times she tries to nibble on something sweet and thinks I cants see ). But they take her from lessons till sugars stabilise - can you imagine high sugar stabilise in like 10 minutes? Yes, I see how afraid they are even though she never had ketones, for example.

 

[FelicityG]

This times 1000. Sounds like you need your diabetic team to have a word with the school. She's not going to fall down dead through having an occasional blood sugar of 16 and the school should be able to help if she gets into trouble with a low. Is she competent to apply her own correction doses as necessary?

Teen years are stressful for diabetics and non diabetics alike, your school's attitude needs modification so that they support your daughter rather than stress her. Sometimes I am glad that I was a teenager before glucometers were invented. I am sure that my levels were sky high at times but I didn't have to worry about them and though my school knew about my diabetes they didn't have to make any special arrangements for me (or at least none that I was aware of). Virtual hugs for you and your daughter. Consider phoning the diabetes.org helpline for advice about the school.

thank you! Yes, sometimes Dexcom is a real curse. They make her wait till sugars go back to normal so she misses lessons, and their faces if I have to collect her... it’s like if they say last goodbyes! Just... unbelievable!

 

[FelicityG]

Why are your daughters school becoming so involved in her situation? It sounds like they are wanting to sit down with her and check her BG then complain it’s high/low. Personally I don’t think it’s got anything to do with them unless your daughter decided to go to a teacher and say she felt unwell. I’d be arranging a meeting with the headteacher to discuss how to move forward.

I was 13/14 when diagnosed, I’m 26 now so not too long since I was in school. I honestly can’t remember a day when a teacher asked how I felt, what my levels where etc etc. I was given a card saying I was diabetic & could go to the toilet whenever I needed and that was it. None of the teachers knew how to control my diabetes, didn’t understand carb ratios etc & I’m guessing your daughters don’t either.

She should be allowed to take care of it herself without them interfering!

Thats what I want - I want them to let her manage it herself. And she can. But they hear her CGM beeping and send her to manager straight away. She can’t even go to toilet to do her finger prick or injection - always under supervision. It’s like taking care to such a level you want to run. Maybe they do it on purpose?

 

[Maco]

@FelicityG Sounds like they’ve got major issues & if I was you I’d be taking it further, maybe governing bodies? Making her miss lessons because her bloods aren’t in range is absolutely ridiculous, I thought school set you up for work life? So they are basically saying when you eventually get a job if your bloods aren’t in range you can go and sit in the lunch room for an hour. Their thinking is absolutely shocking, I’m actually annoyed for you!

I’m not being funny here, but if when I was at school they said if your bloods aren’t in range you can’t attend classes I would of been sticking 10 donuts down my neck every morning. Without a doubt take it further, go beyond the school because it’s shocking