A large part of your life you will spend at school, whether you like it or not. And diabetes is also part of it. Sometimes you must check your blood sugar level or you’ll have to inject one or more times if you don’t have an insulin pump. At certain moments, you’ll have to eat something, and maybe you’ll have to use the bathroom more often. And what happens when you get a hypo?

Tell it right away?

Some kids like to inform their school and classmates of their diabetes right away. Others prefer to keep it to themselves. That’s a personal choice. If you’d rather not tell everyone right away, it might be smart to inform your tutor, so that they know what should happen when you suffer from a hypo.
If you do want to tell, it’s best to be as open as possible. Tell your new classmates or teachers about checking your diabetes, injecting insulin and that you sometimes must eat something when you suffer from a hypo. Your friends and classmates might already know it, but sometimes it is good to remind them as well.

Prevent hypos

Make sure to always bring enough food. If you have to eat something in class just do it! Don’t be shy, a hypo in class is much worse for you than for your classmates.
If you didn’t bring anything, quickly ask someone near you to get some sugar cubes, dextrose or something else with sugar (like a fruit juice or lemonade) and ask someone else to keep an eye on you.

Extra time

When suffering from a hypo, you can’t think straight. Make sure that everyone is aware you sometimes need to eat something. Do you get a hypo anyway? Make sure that your symptoms are solved before you continue. Ask for extra time during your exams or tests and if that’s not possible, ask for a second chance. You can always ask your paediatrician or diabetes nurse to write a note to your school explaining what happened.

Exam stress

Nobody likes exams: they make you really nervous. This can have consequences for your blood sugar levels. The anxiety can cause a hyper and stress can lead to hypos. Talk about it with your diabetes nurse so they can help you regulate your insulin dosage during your exams.

Field trips

Of course, you can join field trips with diabetes. The only thing you need to do is prepare for your trip. Be sure to pack your diabetes supplies and enough to eat.

Snack regularly to prevent a hypo

If you go on a camping trip, it’s good to have an itinerary beforehand so you can consult your diabetes nurse. They can help you with modifications and useful suggestions. Be sure to tell the people in charge.

Useful suggestions

Bring some extra food (a snack) or dextrose (glucose) if you cycle to school or have a PE class. Keep a spare blood sugar meter and rapid-acting insulin in your locker at school. That way you don’t have to remember to bring it with you every day. If you have an insulin pump keep some spare supplies in your locker as well.