i thought i was the only one that didn't have a regular nurse. phew im glad im not.
I have never had a regular school nurse either- at my elementary, middle and, now, high school. We have a district nurse that occasionally checks up on schools once a month or something like that. At my middle school, I was not allowed to carry my testing kit around with me. It had something to do with the blood (since there is so much blood involved)... But now, at my HS I am allowed to bring everything with me. I'm on a pump, and my meter is attached to my pump, so I just check whenever and wherever. All my teachers and friends know about my diabetes, so they don't mind. At lunch, I just check in the hall where all my friends and I eat, and whenever I'm feeling funny, I just check in class.
[quote user="Sarah"]
What does 504 mean?
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I think it is the code for a disability or something. I'm not exactly sure. But my brother has a different medical condition and also has a 504 plan. If you ask a couselor at your school I should think they would know how to get you a 504 plan. Or your school nurse would know too (if you have a school nurse).
[quote user="Batts"]
I have a question... Why do you guys go to the nurse when you're high or low or need to test?
[/quote]"No blood in the classroom". I'm technically not allowed to test in the classroom at all. So if I'm feeling low I never go to the nurse to test, I just eat some glucose tabs. Because I have to miss like 20 minutes of class to go to the nurse, test, wait for it to come up, etc. Usually if I'm feeling low it's before lunch, so I eat glucose tabs and then test for lunch (in the nurse's office) in a bit.
[quote user="Amanda"]
"No blood in the classroom". I'm technically not allowed to test in the classroom at all. So if I'm feeling low I never go to the nurse to test, I just eat some glucose tabs. Because I have to miss like 20 minutes of class to go to the nurse, test, wait for it to come up, etc. Usually if I'm feeling low it's before lunch, so I eat glucose tabs and then test for lunch (in the nurse's office) in a bit.
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Ahh. I donno if we had that rule or not..I always did it under my desk and no one noticed except for the noise my poker mades. But yeah..i thought that was a little strange..taking that much time to go to the nurse, when you don't NEED them to do anything... o.O
[quote user="Sarah"]
I have never had a regular school nurse either- at my elementary, middle and, now, high school. We have a district nurse that occasionally checks up on schools once a month or something like that. At my middle school, I was not allowed to carry my testing kit around with me. It had something to do with the blood (since there is so much blood involved)... But now, at my HS I am allowed to bring everything with me. I'm on a pump, and my meter is attached to my pump, so I just check whenever and wherever. All my teachers and friends know about my diabetes, so they don't mind. At lunch, I just check in the hall where all my friends and I eat, and whenever I'm feeling funny, I just check in class.
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yeah it was the same when i was in school..the district shares a nurse..and she was mostly around just to do the sexED talks and such. I think they had a pager for her, if they really needed her they could get her to come to the school..
I pretty much did whatever I wanted when it came to my diabetes in class for both Junior High and Highschool. No one every questioned it.
I just signed on to this REALLY cool place for people dealing with type 1.... love it!!! Our son was dx'd Thanksgiving 2007 and he is now seven. His teacher has done many unbelievable things this school year. Just to name one.. she told me she felt bad for the kids in the class b/c they were watching him eat his snack before recess, etc. It's not like the snacks he eats are poptarts... grrrr!! I had a long talk with her. We have a 504.. if you don't have one I suggest one, I feel the school takes it more seriously!! Good luck=-)
[quote user="Batts"]
Ahh. I donno if we had that rule or not..I always did it under my desk and no one noticed except for the noise my poker mades. But yeah..i thought that was a little strange..taking that much time to go to the nurse, when you don't NEED them to do anything... o.O
[/quote]Not only the time taken to do so... but really... what about the effort? In my school, we had a nurse (at least when I was in the primary grades, I think they downsized her) and if I had to take the time to walk from the primary wing of the school to the main office where the nurse was located, I'd be unconscious by the time I got there. If I'm having a low blood sugar episode, moving somewhere else is a BAD IDEA.
[quote user="Trevor"]
[quote user="Batts"]
Ahh. I donno if we had that rule or not..I always did it under my desk and no one noticed except for the noise my poker mades. But yeah..i thought that was a little strange..taking that much time to go to the nurse, when you don't NEED them to do anything... o.O
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Not only the time taken to do so... but really... what about the effort? In my school, we had a nurse (at least when I was in the primary grades, I think they downsized her) and if I had to take the time to walk from the primary wing of the school to the main office where the nurse was located, I'd be unconscious by the time I got there. If I'm having a low blood sugar episode, moving somewhere else is a BAD IDEA.
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Haha yeah, whenever I get low I'm more like "I'm gonna sit here..and YOU'RE gonna go get me a can of coke and some crackers or cookies..cuz I can't walk..." (well..depending on how low I've let myself go without noticing or taking the time to deal with it).
I have a friend going back to college - and one of her courses is during lunch time. Her teacher will not let her eat any food during his class - and said that if she gets low - she has to go to the corner and suck on her juice box quietly. That teacher needs to be taught a lesson about diabetes!!!! Not sure if it's a man or woman teacher - but if it's a dude - he is living in the Caveman days of diabetes!!!!
Thats a good idea!
[quote user="FatCatAnna"]
I have a friend going back to college - and one of her courses is during lunch time. Her teacher will not let her eat any food during his class - and said that if she gets low - she has to go to the corner and suck on her juice box quietly. That teacher needs to be taught a lesson about diabetes!!!! Not sure if it's a man or woman teacher - but if it's a dude - he is living in the Caveman days of diabetes!!!!
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Can your friend not eat before the class? When I was taking my admin course at a private college..I was working 915-1pm in the box office followed by jumping on a bus and getting to class for 115pm(tho it started at 1pm, i was allowed to be late on the days I worked) and the class would run until 3pm, followed by a 5min break to get to the next class from 3-5pm(which was usually followed by work from 6pm until 11pm or 12am most days as well ushering). I would just eat earlier, when I had my break at work instead of trying to eat on the bus before class. It's not that hard to do.
The only thing the teacher needs to get straightened out, is that if she needs to leave..she needs to leave and can. I usually treated my lows in class anyways and as long as you aren't being disruptive..there's no reason why your friend can't either. If she's really concerned about not being allowed to leave, take the advice that has been given and let your friend know she can get a 504.
I"m a teacher and I have to say that teachers are human and just as ignorant as most other people about type 1 diabetes. My son was diagnosed last summer. This year he is in third grade. His teacher is great. She has been very receptive to diabetes education. However our school counceler told Christopher to put his snack away during his lesson. I found out about it later. Boy was I furious!!!! If I hadn't been a teacher at the school I would have had a huge fit. But since I have to work with this person, I let the classroom teacher deal with the problem.
My son has a 504 in place. It is a legally binding document protecting the rights of a person with a disability. Any school that receives federal money has to comply with the plan.
My mom was thinking about setting up a 504 but we havnt looked over it a lot yet.
I know 504 plans are a specific reference to American laws. I'm not sure what (if anything) the Canadian equivalent is. I know IEP (Individual Education Plan) is tossed around, but I'm not sure if it's an alternate American plan, or if it is specifically Canadian, or better yet, is not country-based.
I've just never heard of them before coming here. 20 years ago when it was an issue for me, we just duked it out with the teachers on a personal level, and rarely had any direct issues.
I was almost put into a 504 but i kinda rejected it cuz i did not like that idea much... don't ask why... But it comes in handy when you need to do something like check...
I posted on another thread about how my 5th grade gym teacher would not let me run the mile in gym class, which annoyed me to no end since running was one of the things I was really good at. My mom found out and raised a storm with everyone in that school (Hell hath no fury like my mother when someone is trying to limit one of her kids!). I got to run and was the 4th fastest in my class of more than 30 kids!
[quote user="Ben Brennan"]
I posted on another thread about how my 5th grade gym teacher would not let me run the mile in gym class, which annoyed me to no end since running was one of the things I was really good at. My mom found out and raised a storm with everyone in that school (Hell hath no fury like my mother when someone is trying to limit one of her kids!). I got to run and was the 4th fastest in my class of more than 30 kids!
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That is awesome!! I was usually the 2-7 person to finish the mile. Sometimes teachers think that we are weaker and defenseless. Some of us are stronger and in better shape that most kids a school. Isint that funny? :)
A lot of people just don't understand the concept of being a diabetic, but I know that since I entered high school, it was been much much easier on me. We have eight classes, four a day, and all my teachers are very aware of my diabetes and it's nice, because some teachers ask me if I'm okay because I start to go pale, which normally happens when I'm dropping. And the 504 is really nice because it allows me to test in class and not have to walk to C-Hall to the nurse's clinic. That's just a pain to do!
The only reason I will go to the nurse is to get a snack if I'm out of glucose tablets. That's about it. Or if I'm really high and need to grab some ketone sticks from the diabetic's cabinet.
As I think was previously mentions (and you may already have one) create a 504 plan or some other form of accommodation plan that all teachers can have access to. 504's can be a life saver in these situations because if their is some sort of misunderstanding your daughter can can tell the teacher that she has a 504 plan that allows for x, y and z. I used a 504 for MCAS, SAT, and I still have a similar plan now that I'm in college. It has really made things alot easier for me and it's also a great way to get to know your professors.