College + Newly Diagnosed

[u/superdupercass69]

Hello! I’ve been “officially” type 1 for about a year now from being 1.5. I just started school again to be an engineer and was wondering if anyone told their professors that they’re t1d and if so how did you go about it? Our disability office highly encourages me to tell my profs as does my mom. I was thinking of making a little note card w some information just in Casies. I have an Omnipod + Dexcom and my main concern if if my pod runs out or expires while in class and makes that annoying ass noise until I deactivate it or if Dex yells at me for going low (as we know it just gets louder). This quarter my teachers seem relaxed and don’t have a no food/drink policy that they’ve mentioned but in the future if they’re strict my school (disability department) can intervene if I don’t feel comfortable telling my profs or they refuse to let me have food in class.

[u/xohpea]

I went up to my professors on the first day of classes and told them I was a type 1 diabetic so if they saw me fidgeting with my PDM they wouldn't think I was playing on my phone. I also explained my dexcom app so if they DID see me on my phone that'd be the reason why.

I haven't had an issue during my 4 years and I was fortunate enough to have professors that would accommodate my needs without causing a fuss.

[u/igotzthesugah]

Go to office hours or have a quick word after class. A quick “I have T1 and it might make noise or require food/drink or me looking at my phone. I don’t anticipate it being an issue but it might be. Just giving you a heads up as a courtesy in case I need to actively play pancreas while in class. Happy to discuss more if you’d like.” They’ve surely had a disability convo with students before.

[u/HoneyDewMae]

Sometimes when it comes to “big kid shit”—swallow that shame and do whatcha gotta do! Dont let shyness or embarrassment stop u from vocalizing ur needs and literal life saving necessities.

Some classes i emailed my teacher prior to the class even starting yet- but most of the others i just went down after class and talked to them straight up. It helps if u want to type up and print out a “this is what i need/may happen during class” list so they are informed, and even offer to email it to them if they need a digital copy❤️ theres nothing wrong or shameful about diabetes, walk with confidence and ignore ignorant idiots who wanna say/do otherwise towards u. This is important things u need to have situated with ur classes! Be as thorough as u can with ur information. and if shit happens during class (highs/lows) no worries and dont sweat it :) handle it as u would at home. And if someone looks at u sideways, ignore or look back at them as u shove food in ur mouth or change out insulins😂

This is literally a life changing disability- no one can say otherwise. And if they try to make it difficult for u, u have every single right to take it to higher authorities (if it ever got to that point- i doubt it). Ur not the first and only diabetic on campus i promise u that❤️ ur going to be just fine and im excited for u starting this new journey in ur life!! U got this! 🎉

[u/superdupercass69 → u/HoneyDewMae]

I love you. This means SO much to me. I’m the only diabetic in my family and it was all of a sudden. I’m thankful for all my family (especially my mom who works in the medical field) but this is what I needed to hear, you have no idea. I was going to tell my drafting teacher today after class but I got in my own head and decided against it. Was also a little discouraged about my campuses disability dept because who I talked to didn’t seem very versed in it and I’d have to do a whole application to be eligible for any “assistance”. Maybe I’ll draft an email about it to them

[u/HoneyDewMae → u/superdupercass69]

Ah darling!😭❤️ love u too!! I definitely get being the only diabetic in the family (on both sides for me) only thing is i was diagnosed at 4, so i basically grew up with it. Ig thats why my approach to it is so “nonchalant”. So i cant even imagine how hard it is to handle when it happens smack in the middle of ur life like that💔

And tbh campus disability depts SUCK sadly... u just have to try ur best to do ur part and stay on their asses about stuff until its taken care of. Draft an email and if u want u can dm it to me (if thatll help u)!

Personally i struggle with speaking up for myself and such, so i find writing out letters or personal “scripts” helps mentally prep me for when i need to :) and then when i finally do it- the relief is so crazy it makes me wonder why i was so stressed out about it in the first place😭

edit: u also have to remember- ppl arent going to know anything about u or ur conditions until u tell them about it. Learn to be comfortable with the uncomfortable❤️

[u/FuckThisMolecule]

I got my diagnosis during graduate school, so I get all the concerns! Honestly, it’s not that big of a deal for the most part when it comes to higher education, at least not compared to K-12 schooling where there are so many restrictions and rules. I’ve never had anyone fuss about anything — though it did become a running joke to tell me to “die quieter” when my alarms would go off during lab meeting (there were a lot of false lows with the early G7).

Personally, I just told professors in person when it was convenient if I thought it would be necessary. Something like, “Hey, just wanted to let you know, I’m diabetic and my insulin pump and glucose monitor are controlled by my phone. You might see me using it on occasion during class.” I also sometimes would add something like “I have candy/juice/low treatments/whatever with me to treat my blood sugars when they go low.” — usually I only mentioned this in lab settings because that was the only time having food was ever an issue. If you’re concerned about having someone in the room that could help you in an emergency, you could let them know enter it keep your glucagon or snacks.

[u/SyraxMireme]

"Prof if you hear a weird noise it's me, I have diabetes" And during exams "Prof I have diabetes can I lower my alarms but keep them on?" Obviously just to warn them if I beep

[u/HedgehogDifferent388]

I never had professors negatively react to pump alarms or anything (just stepped out and handled as needed), but it was immensely helpful to disclose my T1D to my university's disability/accommodations office so that they could advocate on my behalf if needed. You need to have access to food/drink/devices, and the disability office can be very helpful in securing those accommodations for you so you don't have to go through the hassle of explaining and negotiating with new profs all the time.

[u/spudsmokinbud]

Check out if the diabetes link has a chapter in your school !

[u/DaemonAnguis]

Stay on top of it during university, one of my biggest mistakes wasn't doing so.

[u/Zealousideal_Knee469]

Fellow college student here. I always inform my Professors before/after our first class. I quickly go up and say “Hi. My name’s NAME. I’m super excited to be in this class. Just to let you know I am diabetic. I’ve never had any issues in classes, and hopefully won’t, but if I did try to die here, I’ve got a glucagon/baqsimi in my backpack.” Followed by a demonstration of where it is and how to use it. I’ve found the super up-beat tone and crude wording of ‘die in here’ to be very effective. I also use a Dexcom and say my phone will be out to monitor, but it might occasionally alarm, and apologize for the disruption (not the cause!) in advance. My pump (tslim) can’t be silenced when empty, so I always try to carry an extra set of supplies, but if all else fails, it’s honestly not that bad to tell them. Mine died one day during a test 🤦‍♀️ poor planning on my part but all good in the end. Every professor I’ve had has been very understanding and easy to work with.

[u/Putertutor]

As a college instructor, I have a clause in my syllabus that addresses medical conditions. I tell my students that if they have any kind of medical condition that might affect them in class (seizures, diabetes, etc.) to please discuss it with me privately so I can keep an eye on them if something looks "off." (I blame the mother in me for that!) I emphasize that it's strictly confidential between me and the student and they don't *have* to tell me. But if they want to, they can. This would also cover what you are describing for yourself. The note idea is an excellent idea, along with a conversation with the prof. As an aside, maybe carry some hard candies or glucose tablets that you can quickly pop in your mouth in the event that your glucose goes low. I can't imagine a teacher having a problem with that any more than having a problem with a student popping a cough drop in their mouth to quell their coughing.

My husband, who also taught as an adjunct, had the same policy and he had a student come up to him after the first day of class and tell him that she suffered from seizures. She told him what it looks like and what to do and not do. The very next class, she had a grand maul seizure in class. Because she had given my husband the heads up, he knew what to do for her. He dismissed the class and called campus medics. He was so thankful that she had told him about it. He said that was what kept him calm.