I Taught College Math For 34 Years

[Richard157]

I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1945 when I was 6. I had wonderful parents who took very good care of me even though very little was known about diabetes at that time. I was a college student 1957-1963. I started teaching math and statistics in the fall of 1963. I taught f0r 34 years. In the early years students would not identify themselves as being diabetic. In the 1980's a few came forward and told me about their diabetes. They probably did so because I had begun announcing that I was diabetic during the first class meeting. They wanted to be sure I would allow them to snack in class when necessary. I was very lenient about their needs. In the later 1980's the diabetic students entering as freshmen went to the college nurse with a letter from their doctors. The nurse would call the doctors or parentsto confirm their diabetes. A special form was prepared for each diabetic student listing the things they might require during class. They were to be permitted to test their blood sugar, eat snacks and even be allowed to take a make-up test if they had very low blood sugar at the time a test was given. I was very lenient with them because none of my teachers had ever allowed me make-up tests. I took a test in college when my vision was so blurred from low blood sugar that I could not read the test. My teacher would not give me a make-up. I know some diabetic students may have taken advantage of me and were not having a low during a test. I was perhaps too lenient at times because of my own background.

Send your diabetic sons and daughters to the college nurse when they enter college. They can find out about the college's way of handling their diabetes. You could even inquire about the college's policies before accepting the invitation to attend the college. In this day and time the teachers and staff at all colleges are much better informed about the needs of diabetic students. Be sure your sons and daughters are treated well so they will have an enjoyable college experience.

Richard

[susanH]

thanks for sharing richard! my son's a sophomore in college and just finished calculus with a c and alot of tutoring.

i really get a sick feeling:( when i think of all the tests he's taken (13 years worth!) with a low, or high, and done poorly because of it, he's never said a word about it, just tolerated it i suppose. thanks for your understanding attitude with your students; we'd have loved to have had a teacher who really really knew what it was all about.

he's taking stats next semester:eek:

[OSUMom]

Yes, thank you Richard for your post. My son never has said anything to his professors, and I know he has been affected by his BG with nothing to treat himself at times also. :eek:

[Brensdad]

Richard, thanks for your post. I also teach undergraduate business classes, and I always tell my students that "that thing on my hip" is my insulin pump, because from experience I've learned that people wonder what it is for weeks without asking. I also allow snacks and eating in class (but no cell phones :D)

[Lee]

Are you this Richard ?
http://www.diabetesdaily.com/forum/blogs/richard157/

I love reading your stuff!

[twodoor2]

Do you find that being a math/stats professional helps you with managing your diabetes? Just curious if and what you use to help manage it if you do use statistics. Sorry to hijack the thread.

[Richard157]

Yes Becky, I am that Richard. I have written my life story on that other site in series of chapters. I have about two or three more to write. Thanks!

Richard

[Richard157]

Yes Marsha my math/statistics background has been very useful to me in my diabetes management, especially in my pumping. I like to keep track of the standard deviation of my blood sugar test results. Not many people take standard deviations into account in their mnagement routine. Thanks for your reply.

Richard

[twodoor2]

Yes Marsha my math/statistics background has been very useful to me in my diabetes management, especially in my pumping. I like to keep track of the standard deviation of my blood sugar test results. Not many people take standard deviations into account in their mnagement routine. Thanks for your reply.

Richard

I do the same exact thing!! I think standard deviation is very important, and not well known. Studies have shown that the standard deviation can be key to long term health in diabetes management.

[CC'sMom]

Richard! Thank you for your wonderful blog!! I'm sorry to hear there will only be a few more chapters. I look everyday for a new one! Hearing about your life has helped me feel better about my daughters diagnosis.

[susanH]

Yes Marsha my math/statistics background has been very useful to me in my diabetes management, especially in my pumping. I like to keep track of the standard deviation of my blood sugar test results. Not many people take standard deviations into account in their mnagement routine. Thanks for your reply.

Richard


well then, it's official....stats will be a good thing for my college guy! :D

[Richard157]

Thanks so much for your message Holly! Your saying that encourages me to write more blogs. I hope your daughter will live a long, healthy life like I have.

Richard

[Ashti]

Hi Richard,

Do you know of any "standard deviation of bg wrt diabetes" articles that I could read?

Thanks, Ashti :)

[twodoor2]

Ashti,
I'm wondering about your question as well. BTW, here is an interesting thread on glucose variability and standard deviation

http://forums.childrenwithdiabetes.com/showthread.php?t=11621&highlight=glucose+variability

[Richard157]

I hope it is OK for me to post a thread from another diabetes site. Scroll to the bottom of the opening page and read the posts from the bottom to the top.

http://www.diabetesdaily.com/forum/testing-blood-sugar/6356-what-standard-deviation-your-blood-glucose-numbers-2

http://www.diabetesdaily.com/forum/articles/8577-standard-deviation

[twodoor2]

I read the threads, and I do capture standard deviation for the 8+ blood tests we conduct a day. Since we've started pumping, it has dropped, and that's probably because we use two variable basals, a higher one during the day, and a lower one at night (she doesn't need as much insulin during sleeptime). It is important, I think, that just because a standard deviation is low, that is not a true indication of good blood sugars. The blood sugar could be in the 300's all day long, and yet the SD could be low.

I'm a self-professed math geek, and my degree is in mathematics. I just love doing analysis with as much math as I can, it's been very helpful to me in controlling my child's diabetes. In particular duration of insulin action and the computations for the IOB function that the pump recreates (I have recreated the formula in my spreadsheet log). However, SD is highly overlooked by many people. The fact of the matter is that you don't have to be a "math person" to use SD - many applications will give you the value.

Walsh indicates that an SD < 65 is what to strive for. Since we've been pumping, her SD has been below 65. That is subjective because I only have about 8 to 10 tests a day, and I think CGMS is really important to get accurate SD's. However, based on the same sample size from day to day, her SD has dropped.

[Abby-Dabby-Doo]

Richard~
I just wanted to let you know I'm reading your blogs and LOVE it very much!!!!
Please keep writing (faster:D)!!!

[Richard157]

Thanks Lanae, I am pleased that you are getting something out of my story.

Richard

[toriajj]

thank you richard for your encouraging and kind words. my son has been diabetic for almost 15 months now. he is almost 18 and ready to graduate high school in may. i hope his college profs are as astute as you are. now i need to check out your blog...
all the best to you