Diabetes vs. High School
Well, I registered my oldest for high school today. What a process!!! How is it that education can change that much in 24 years? Whew…and today was just registration!
I started thinking, as my stress level soared today…. if I had the opportunity to give up diabetes for a “do-over’ in high school would I? Heck no!!!! NO NO NO Then my thoughts were turned to the brave kids that don’t have that choice. I applaud those precious kids. Surviving the expectations of high school while managing great control of blood sugars is an amazing accomplishment. Consider the consequences of letting those sugars get out of control. I know full well that when my sugars are high, I don’t think well….that would never do in AP Biology now would it? I’m not even going to touch the social aspects of high school. I thank God that He waited until after high school to bless me with the Type 1 challenge – my high school days were difficult enough. Kudos to all the kids who are going into high school with the Type 1 challenge – there is a special place in my heart for you. I’m cheering you on.
They are special. School is hard enough let alone something that makes you different and it is important that the people around you know what to look for. Which is not something kids want people to know. It’s always a game I say. Always have to be aware and on the lookout!
My heart goes out to all of you with Type 1.
Hi, I was diagnosed in 5th grade in 1972. It was extremely hard to return to school with the new responsibilities of Type 1. My mother told my teacher who then told the class. The class was told about my snack supply in the closet and that I must be excused for testing and snacks without question at certain times of the day. I was very surprised to see how cooperative my classmates where. One time I got severely low before lunch but I managed to cope until I was able to eat. The next summer my parents sent me to a diabetic summer camp which was very helpful to see that I was not alone with this problem, even the entire staff and the couselors were diabetic. They taught me how to manage it. Until then, my mom had to give me my shots.
There were no pumps or blood testing monitors back then, we had to pee on a strip of test paper and if it turned purple sugar was high, green was mid=level and yellow was slightly high. High school was difficult but by then I was used to the proceedures. In college I was taking a test, my sugar dropped, I began to sweat and I failed the test. I told my teacher and he said he thought something was up because he knew I was a good student …. he let me take the test over. There were many days in school that I know I could have done better w/o diabetes …. but as you know, you have to play the hand you are delt.
37 years @ 4 shots a day = 54,020. I feel like a pin cushion
I have recently been laid off from work and I lost my health insurance. I hope I can find something soon! Having type 1 for 37 years without health insurance is not a good place to be. I have no complications yet, but we need a cure and health insurance reform.