Managing diabetes at school is not an easy task. Things like school lunches and carb counts or PE with insulin on board can make it quite tricky. Today we get a glimpse into the life of a fourth grade student with type 1 diabetes, and what it’s like for him at school.
DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT
Q: Do you remember your diagnosis at age 3? If so, what do you remember about it?
A: I don’t remember much, but I do remember meeting Carlos Martinez of the Cardinals at Children’s Hospital and watching the fireworks from the balcony.
Q: Why did you get to meet Carlos Martinez at Children’s?
A: He was doing a meet and greet for some of the kids. My mom and dad were in a meeting learning how to care for me, and he came in. He gave me a baseball glove that he signed. We were also on tv for a lead up prior to a Cardinal’s game.
Q: How do you manage diabetes?
A: I use a T slim pump and I have a Dexcom CGM. I like it much better than giving myself shots.
Q: How long have you had a pump and CGM?
A: I got a CGM six months after I was diagnosed, so I was 4 years old. The pump came about a year later at the age of 5 when I was in preschool. I finally was able to eat snacks in the middle of the day then, because I never wanted to take extra shots of insulin for snacks before.
DIABETES AND SCHOOL
Q: What’s your favorite thing about school?
A: My favorite part of school is dismissal 🙂 but I also like seeing my friends every day.
Q: Are there any other accommodations made for you at school?
A: While I am at the nurse I get to watch or play on my phone! And if I need extra time to eat at lunch, I can stay to finish.
Q: What’s the most annoying thing about diabetes when you’re at school?
A: Definitely getting pulled out of PE to treat a low.
MANAGING DIABETES WITH THE SCHOOL NURSE
Q: How is your school nurse helpful to you?
A: She is very, very, very, very helpful because she helps watch my numbers, especially while I’m at recess and PE.
Q: How do you handle lunch while you’re at school?
A: Before lunch, I go down to see the school nurse about 5-10 min early. She helps me manage diabetes at school. We have a notebook with the carbs I’m eating for the day. (This notebook is how my mom communicates to the nurse.) The nurse watches me punch in the carbs to the pump, and once it does its final beep I head down to eat.
Q: What happens if you have a low blood sugar in class?
A: I go down to see the nurse to eat. Usually, she gives me a Danimal or a Go-Gurt out of the refrigerator. But next year I hope to have a mini fridge in the classroom so I can stay with my classmates more.
Q: How do you handle recess and PE with your blood sugars and exercise?
A: My recess is usually right after lunch, so I tend to go low. Mom and the nurse decided to start giving me a Go-Gurt with my lunch and not dose for it to help give me some extra carbs to hopefully keep me from missing recess. This trick usually works. In PE I am usually okay for the most part. If I do go low, the nurse radios to the teachers outside for me to meet her at the door to eat some carbs and sit down. Usually, I can’t return to recess before it’s over, so we try to avoid this by eating more carbs or dosing less.
WHAT OTHERS SAY
Q: What do you wish other kids knew about diabetes?
A: I would like for kids to know what my pump is because they always think it’s a phone, and they tattle on me that I have a phone as well because they don’t understand the technology that I must have. They also ask a lot of questions about my Dexcom that is on my arm, and sometimes they touch it. It just gets tiring continuing to tell everyone about it all the time.
Q: How do your friends who understand what your pump and Dexcom are handle it?
A: My friends that do know about my Dexcom don’t even notice and don’t try to touch it. My pump beeps a lot and my friends at school just know that if I don’t feel good they are to find a teacher if I can’t. That has never happened. They also know not to give me their food or candy. If there is an extra treat at school, I usually just bring it home. And now they don’t allow outside food in for parties, so that is actually better for me.
Louis is a very fun-loving, witty, and energetic fourth grader. He enjoys swimming, playing video games, and tennis. He has an older sister, two dogs, and a cat. And he frequently asks for a baby sister and more animals. Louis was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 3.5. His attitude regarding diabetes has always been optimistic and rarely gets him down. He hopes and prays for a cure, but until then he lives his life as normal as possible.
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