At what age did your child start self-testing in the classroom?

[selketine]

Maybe discussed before but I'm curious at what age your child was able to start self-testing in the classroom.

I am assuming that the child can read the number and, most importantly, know how to react to the number? Did they self-treat lows? Did they tell the teacher what the # was? Did the health room keep track of their self-tests?

William is not ready for this yet but it seems to me that the child has to be able to interpret the correct action to take for the number or the self-testing in the classroom is not worthwhile...would you say that is true?

[frizzyrazzy]

yes and no.

We're working on it with Ian. He often feels low after recess and most of the time he's not. So I'm working with him to get him to test in the classroom ONLY during those times. He knows the difference between a high and low and knows that if the meter said 130 that means he's fine and if the meter said 70 he would need glucose tabs, but at this point we're going to allow the nurse to still determine the course of action to take (Ian tells teacher, teacher calls nurse, nurse makes determination)

I think even though he's not fully able to treat himself it still is worthwhile because it allows him to be able to stay in the classroom and allows the teacher to be able to stay in the classroom (rather than have to walk him down to the nurse) and so it saves everyone time. I think it's also worthwhile because it IS getting him one step closer to the time when he's older and will do all his care in the classroom on his own. :)

[momtojess]

Jessi started K when she was 4 ( month before she turned 5). The school nurse walked to her classroom and assisted her testing. About midway through the year, Jess was able to do it herself, but the nurse would still come down to interpret the # and do what ever was needed.

THis year, in 1st grade.. Jess does all the testing, then the teacher decides if the nurse needs to be called or not based on the #.

Even if the child cant interpret what the # means to do (as Jess cant) I still think it is very important in classroom testing for a few reasons. Most importantly the child doesnt have to leave class and miss that vaulable time. Secondly, it gives them a sense of being responsibilty. There is so much of D care they don't have a say in or can't do, and if this is one thing they can do by themselves they should be able to. Third, I am not willing to let my child walk to the nurse, either alone or with a friend. To me there is too much risk, especially if she is going because she feels symptomatic.

[Momof4gr8kids]

Julia was taught to test at dx. Over time she has picked up what her numbers mean, mostly because I'll say "244, better take some insulin" or something to that effect. She's heard, and seen me train our school nurses, and she knows her school ranges. She can do it on her own. I'm just not at the point where I am comfortable with that. I'm not comfortable with that because she isn't yet at the point where she can guess where she'll be, and question it if it's not what she thinks it will be, and since that could be dangerous if she's low, but didn't wash and rinse her hands well enough before testing, or whatever else, but got a high result and even though she's low, she treats for a high.... that of course is probably worse case, and not likely, but I still am not at that point yet. I want a trained adult to help her.

[allisa]

Self testing in classroom is one of the personal and variable decisions.

My son was dxd at age 5....in preschool....and only this year, age 10 in 4th grade does he self test....it was his choice to start and wanted to go to the nurse until this year.

The nurse was completely fine with him self testing....but she wanted to know his numbers....and he was frustrated about having to go see her to report his numbers....so they came up with a system that has worked smoothly....he writes his number on a sticky and leaves it on her door as he goes by to the lunchroom. He can correct lows....and usually writes her a note to tell her that he corrected....but if he is really high he sees her.

The only time he was really high was the morning that I forgot his shot:o

Anyways....I think self-testing can go hand in hand with a nurse and doesn't mean that the child must be compeltely self-sufficient and indepent with his diabets care.

You'll find a good compromise that works for all of you...I'm sure of it !

[zell828]

My SD started to self test about a month into being dx. She knows what range she is suppose to be within, but she still always shows us what the number is and lets us take it from there.

As for school, she doesn't do that yet. I think she could and maybe next school year we will be talking to the teacher about this.

[mathcat]

Other than lunch, Jacob did some in classroom testing within the first couple of weeks of kindergarten at age 5 to now all regular testing is done in the classroom. I send him to school with a detailed daily guide with times and blood sugar ranges with instructions based on those ranges. He does his test, decides what he should do, tells his teacher his results and his response, his teacher then checks the daily guide to confirm that he needs tablets, a snack, nothing, or a trip to the nurse for insulin.

If he is below 50 he first eats some tablets and then is walked to the nurse for further assistance. If he is above a certain number (depending on the time of day) he goes to the nurse for insulin. Since he does his bolus right before lunch he will test and bolus at the nurse's office on the way to lunch. (Above 50 but still low can be completely dealt with in the classroom unless he has a substitute that day)

If he thinks he is low, he immediately test - no matter where he is. Whether he did normally scheduled testing in class or not, I knew from day one that I wanted him to test and at least begin treatment for lows anywhere and everywhere.

It very much is a personal decision. I want Jacob to stay in class as much as possible. Other feel most comfortable with having the nurse being a part of every test.

If you want a slow transition to in class testing, maybe at least consider testing in class for any suspected low. That way, at least treatment could begin on the way to the nurse who could then give whatever further assistance is needed.


Lori
Jacob (age 7)(dx 8-30-04)(pump 3-29-05)

[sarahconnormom]

Connor was just dx in December and he has done all his testing in the classroom since January. He is in first grade. What has helped us is having a teacher willing to take responsibility for overseeing his numbers. If he is low the teacher treats immediately and has him retest in 15 minutes. I work at the school so if he is over 250 she sends for me so I can correct him. Connor is never allowed to leave the classroom when he is high or low. The teacher always sends another student to get me.
If I am out for any reason his teacher would give him his shot when he was on MDI and now she is able to bolus him with his pump if I am unavailable for any reason.

[lotsoftots]

:mad:Samantha's school will not let her test in the class room. She has to go down to the office which isnt that far but still the poor kid looses so much class room time. I tried getting them to let her test in the class (the teacher has her own office) but they said "what if some kid ran in the room and got poked by accident" and that they had nothing to put sharps in...ok when she was first dxd they ran out and ordered 2 new sharp containers. Anyways i gave up the fight since I like the lady in the office better, she takes great care of my dd and my dd loves going in and seeing her 2,3,4 or 5 times a day ;)

[Thoover]

Brittney age 8 when diagnosed in 2007, she tested herself at the nurses office. Then once we realized how much class time she was missing over normal numbers she tested in the classroom. Now she is 9 and test's in the classroom still. They have a lock box for her with her meter and slips that she puts what time she checks and the blood reading on it. Snacks are right on the table near her lock box. If she is low she taps a friend while she is eating and walks to the nurses office with meter in hand and snack. It has worked out great and such an improvement on her report card as she isn't missing class.

[DylansMum]

Dylan has been self testing since day one of diagnosis at age 7. He also could recognise he was going low and he would tell his teacher , then he would go to the school office and test himself. If he was low he knew he would have a juice or glucose tablets. We only prick test him when he is asleep, otherwise he will do it.

[Emma'sDad]

Emma's in Kindergarten and she can self-test herself, but has to be reminded to test. She knows what the number means... But she still has to tell the teacher what the number is and needs permission before she can treat a low or have a snack. She also knows that if the number is below 4.0, that she needs to interrupt whoever she needs for immediate attention.

[wendyc]

We currently are having an issue with Abby having "lows" during certain subjects, so we have instituted in class testing during these times. So, if Abby says she feels low during these times, the teacher has Abby test (her teacher is T1 so very in tune with bg's), and will call the nurse and alert her or the aid. If action needs to be taken, the nurse comes right down. Of course, if she really is low, the teacher will give her a juice or fruit chews to cover the low.

[Mary Lou]

It's interesting to see everyone's responses to this!

Andrew has no interest in testing himself. He's tried it once or twice in the past couple of weeks, and seemed proud of himself, but as a rule he doens't like to.

Brian, now in grade 4, just started testing himself in-class this year. He tests when his alarm goes off (CGMS), tells the teacher the #, teacher calls the nurse and they discuss action. Brian knows what to do and if low will test, treat, then call the nurse, but she likes to supervise his actions. He likes to go to the nurse's office before recess and lunch and dismissal, though (personally, I think he just likes the long walk to her office :D)