Embarrassed by my diabetes!

[andi140373]

For the first time in 27 years my diabetes managed to embarrass me yesterday. I use an Aviva pump and was at work, about to teach a particularly difficult Y9 group (13/14yr olds). I managed to get them silent, sat against the edge of the front desk and there was a sudden, and continuous vibrating noise and beeping coming from my groin! My pump, situated low down against my hip, had run out of insulin and was alerting me to this. Needless to say, I turned bright red, my students found it extremely amusing (among other responses) and I had to leave the room rather quickly. There was another adult in the room, whose face was one of utter shock so quickly explained the issue and went to 'reload'. Put the band around my waist this time and returned to the lesson to try and explain to the group what had happened.
Not sure how long it will take for this story to be forgotten by them

 

[himtoo]

not sure what subject you teach but can you somehow add it to the planning curriculum and plan a lesson around it ?

 

[mrspuddleduck]

Oh @andie140373, turn it on its head! You now have a class of teenagers who are more diabetic aware than most, and your pump has probably elevated you to 'cool'. A win win in my books!!! Sue xxx

 

[andi140373]

Oh @andie140373, turn it on its head! You now have a class of teenagers who are more diabetic aware than most, and your pump has probably elevated you to 'cool'. A win win in my books!!! Sue xxx

I used to clip it to my shoulder and they called me the bionic woman!

 

[mrspuddleduck]

I used to clip it to my shoulder and they called me the bionic woman!

We need more teachers like you!!! Xxx

 

[Robbity]

I think I'd probably have hidden under my desk and not come out till after the bell went!! But as a type 2 I'm a bit less encumbered by diabetic paraphernalia, and was never a teacher anyway...

But hopefully they've learned something about diabetes and diabetics (and will remember!) from your experience. @Scandichic's another diabetic teacher, and as far as I can remember she discussed her need to eat at certain times during class with her pupils - she may have some useful advice to share.

Robbity

 

[andi140373]

I think I'd probably have hidden under my desk and not come out till after the bell went!! But as a type 2 I'm a bit less encumbered by diabetic paraphernalia, and was never a teacher anyway...

But hopefully they've learned something about diabetes and diabetics (and will remember!) from your experience. @Scandichic's another diabetic teacher, and as far as I can remember she discussed her need to eat at certain times during class with her pupils - she may have some useful advice to share.

Robbity

I'm completely open about it, but as a secondary teacher I have 800 pupils over the course of a year. I teach DT so have new groups every 6 weeks. Even knowing I was diabetic, I don't think they would equate a vibration in my groin with an insulin pump!

 

[tim2000s]

Lol. That's an amusing story. Great opportunity to educate people!

On a slightly different note, why did it run out in the middle of a lesson? Don't you do a change over in the morning that you know you will need a refill?

 

[Robbity]

Even knowing I was diabetic, I don't think they would equate a vibration in my groin with an insulin pump!

That was why I would have been under my desk!! (But apologies for making a bit light of an embarrasing experience...)

Robbity

 

[andi140373]

Lol. That's an amusing story. Great opportunity to educate people!

On a slightly different note, why did it run out in the middle of a lesson? Don't you do a change over in the morning that you know you will need a refill?

Because I'm an idiot!!
I used to clip it to my clothes at shoulder level so could always see how much was left. In recent months I've been wearing it in a waist pouch under my clothes so can't see how much is left without removing it. It beeped to warn there were only 20 units left at about 2am so supressed the beep, vibration and OH's moaning and planned to change it in the morning but forgot.
Luckily I keep spares of everything in school.