Type 1.5 How to prepare for college?

[DaftThoughts]

Sooo I'm turning 30 in March, but I never finished a college education due to my mental health issues. I've been accepted into a college program designed for people with disabilities (physical and mental), which means I'm finally going to get my hands on a web development diploma!!

I have 4 months to prepare for this as I don't start until January 2018, but my diabetes is obviously going to be different to manage. I'm home almost all the time right now which makes it easy, but not only will I be out and about 4 days a week next year, I will also be biking to and back from school (totaling around 80-90 minutes a day just to travel back and forth). I won't be moving as it's only a city over so no issues there either.

I'm sure other people will have experiences with diabetes management in school and might know a thing or two I didn't think of. I talked with the school contact about managing my diabetes and it's not going to be an issue to inject or eat in the classroom if needed (other students will be made aware and we can compromise, no problem, if necessary. I'm not being banished to the bathroom thank god!) so that's settled. I'll be looking into whether or not I can keep a stash of glucose, a pen and needles in the school somewhere just in case I forget my supplies or run low. I already keep glucose in my saddle bags just in case as well, so I have glucose on me even if I forget my supplies.

I asked about the people working there if they have experience with diabetics and hypoglycemia and they said they do, so I'm not worried about that either!

Are there any tips anyone has for me? Tricks or hacks?

 

[EllsKBells]

@DaftThoughts one thing that I wish I had figured out sooner was how much difference a voice recorder can make - for any student, but particularly as diabetics with misbehaving blood sugar, sometimes you just can't fully engage with the lecture, so being able to listen back to it when things are a little more in line can be helpful.

Make sure you get permission to take your meter and glucose supplies into any exams/assesssed sessions.

Don't be afraid to advocate for yourself - if you have had a nightmare with control and just haven't been able to get a piece of work finished, ask for an extension.

It might also be worth making some of the people who will be around you aware of your hypo symptoms, as occasionally when you're concentrating, at least for me I sometimes develop a bad case of denial!

Most importantly, enjoy it - I've just finished my undergraduate degree, and it has been incredibly hard work, and it would be lying to say that diabetes hasn't complicated it, but it was amazing, and I will never forget the feeling of walking on that stage, wearing the gown, and collecting my certificate.

 

[Deleted Account]

Congratulations. The college course sounds amazing.

Sounds as if you have most things covered. A few thoughts that spring to mind
- don't be embarrassed to inject in front of your class mates. Some may not like it but if you explain they can look away if they don't like it.
- if you get the chance, I would practice the cycle ride a few times before the course to get an idea how your body reacts to the exercise. If you can do it on consecutive days, even better because this may show a cumulative affect.
- it's a good idea to keep supplies at college if you can. But be careful with insulin as it has a "best before date". If you only use your back up supplies occasionally, it may have expired when you need it.
- i keep all my supplies in one bag which follows me around. I hang it on the bed post at night, I hang it on my chair when I eat, it goes in my handbag when I leave the house, it goes in my paniers when I cycle, ... I never had a spare set of supplies at work and only forgot my diabetes kit once.
- remember to take a BG reading before you set off and one once you arrive in case your BG has dropped in the cycle ride.
- expect your BG to be awry when you start. The excitement and stress of the course could do all sorts of things to your levels. Don't worry about it and enjoy college.

 

[DaftThoughts]

one thing that I wish I had figured out sooner was how much difference a voice recorder can make - for any student, but particularly as diabetics with misbehaving blood sugar, sometimes you just can't fully engage with the lecture, so being able to listen back to it when things are a little more in line can be helpful.

Make sure you get permission to take your meter and glucose supplies into any exams/assesssed sessions.

Thank you! This college doesn't do lectures, it's very atypical in the way that each student has a customized curriculum, so every student works in a classroom independently (in small groups of around 6) and will be able to engage with the teacher for clarifications and assistance. However, I do really like the idea of recordings in the events that I need to listen back to specific instructions or explanations, so that comes in very handy!

Not sure yet on how they do their tests, but with how small the classes are and how personalized the education there is, I think it won't be an issue. Good to check beforehand though!

Don't be afraid to advocate for yourself - if you have had a nightmare with control and just haven't been able to get a piece of work finished, ask for an extension.

It might also be worth making some of the people who will be around you aware of your hypo symptoms, as occasionally when you're concentrating, at least for me I sometimes develop a bad case of denial!

Most importantly, enjoy it - I've just finished my undergraduate degree, and it has been incredibly hard work, and it would be lying to say that diabetes hasn't complicated it, but it was amazing, and I will never forget the feeling of walking on that stage, wearing the gown, and collecting my certificate.

I definitely will! Again, lots of close and personalized education here, I will have an in-school counselor who will be keeping tabs on my health and progress. They're used to assisting people with medication and other special needs due to the fact everyone in this school has a disability in one way or another.

I was told I will be doing a class introduction and we'll determine a good way of telling everyone about my diabetes and what it entails so that nobody is caught off guard, but I'll definitely bring it up again and inform teachers of potential symptoms. Maybe I can make little cards with my symptoms that I'll hand out?

I'm planning hard on enjoying this. Regular education has always been a nightmare for me, not because I'm not smart, but I have unique ways of learning and communicating my needs that made everything super hard for me before. I'm extremely happy to have this opportunity and to get an education in such an amazing environment!

Congratulations. The college course sounds amazing.

Sounds as if you have most things covered. A few thoughts that spring to mind
- don't be embarrassed to inject in front of your class mates. Some may not like it but if you explain they can look away if they don't like it.
- if you get the chance, I would practice the cycle ride a few times before the course to get an idea how your body reacts to the exercise. If you can do it on consecutive days, even better because this may show a cumulative affect.
- it's a good idea to keep supplies at college if you can. But be careful with insulin as it has a "best before date". If you only use your back up supplies occasionally, it may have expired when you need it.
- i keep all my supplies in one bag which follows me around. I hang it on the bed post at night, I hang it on my chair when I eat, it goes in my handbag when I leave the house, it goes in my paniers when I cycle, ... I never had a spare set of supplies at work and only forgot my diabetes kit once.
- remember to take a BG reading before you set off and one once you arrive in case your BG has dropped in the cycle ride.
- expect your BG to be awry when you start. The excitement and stress of the course could do all sorts of things to your levels. Don't worry about it and enjoy college.

Thank you!! I've got several of these things down by default (testing before and after bike rides etc.) but I didn't think to factor stress and excitement in. I'll have to keep an eye on those.

I already have my diabetes bag with me at all times but I just know there will be tired groggy mornings where I'll run out without something crucial. I might set a reminder on my phone calendar for the expiration date of the supplies so I can swap them in time, if I have to keep spares at the school. I hadn't fully considered that yet.