Low Blood Sugar before College Exam...words of advice/encouragement?

Type 1 and LADA
1

So today I had an Exam (our first one, school started the 23rd) in my Nursing class. I’m new to college her e and still kinda getting everything figured out because I’m out of my home state; the weather is different etc.

Well I hadn’t gotten a lot of sleep this week due to a speech I had, some other hw, and just I’m usually a night owl with a weird schedule.

I got two hours of sleep last night and the rest I stayed up practicing a speech I had this morning. All went well with that and I went to my lab exam after that and I was fine. Well two hours before this class I took a power nap I was just so lethargic.

But I had bolused 1.5 units (pump) for a peanut butter sandwich, juice, and some chips. I’m only recently diagnosed, still hasn’t been a full year, and so my blood sugars are way out of wack because sometimes I still produce a normal amount of insulin. But I thought 1.5 units was fine because that isn’t that much for everything I ate.

I woke up at 1:35 for my class at 2:00 and felt so off: dizzy, lethargic, barely keep my eyes open etc.

I tested because I had a feeling I was low and it said 92 so I just started walking to class (I live on campus). Well, I started to really feel it hit me on the way to class and it was factored with my little sleep and I felt like I was about to pass out. I could just feel that my face was sheet white.

I got to the lecture hall for my exam and immediately the teacher walked up to me as I was walking to her and I told her my BG was low and she had me sit down outside.

Well, 1 juice and some crackers and 15 minutes later I was 71 so it must have hit really fast and dropped so hard my meter didn’t even catch it.

I was planning on taking the test just like 15 min or so later after I started to feel better.

I was trying to make sure to differentiate my feelings: tired and low. Because I didn’t want to make the decision to take the exam on a later date due to being tired. But I was still feeling low 45 minutes later (I think the adrenaline rush kicked in: there was a nurse professor that was sitting with me and then all the students in my class were giving me funny looks) and on top of my exhaustion it was just a recipe for disaster so I just told my teacher I was going to my room and asked if I could take it tomorrow and she didn’t have a problem.

Anyway, my question is: can anyone give any words of wisdom? I’m kinda having my first diabetes pity party (not like me at all). I’ve never really had it impact my school like this before and it was just something that really upset me. I started crying when the nurse professor asked about my pump.

I wonder if I wasn’t so tired would I have felt low for so long? Maybe then I wouldn’t have had to take the exam tomorrow…I don’t want anymore special treatment than I need and I’m warring with myself about these thoughts constantly because I know there are times where I have to ask for help but its just in the situation I was just all around crappy.

I don’t know, I’m upset because I got out of class and went to my room and I worry others are going to assume things. I shouldn’t care but I just don’t want people to view me or my diabetes as something Its not.

Does any of this even make sense?

Advice is appreciated :frowning:

2

I am currently in school for radiology. I worked with my schools office of student disablities to make my testing easier. I have low blood sugars frequently so testing can be tricky. I actually never take tesst in class because i get extended test time if my blood sugar goes low. They also will allow me to go to the restroom or take care of a bad infusion set if that comes up during tests. This has made my life easier. You might want to look into that options if avaliable at your campus. I did have to provide them medical records to get my accomidation but has made my transition into college much easier.

I have had Diabetes for many years and i don’t look at my accomidations as special treatment. College is competitive and i need the accomidations to help me have the same chance as everyones else has to get the best grades.

3

I actually did sign up through them and get accommodation but I did it more like “if I need this I can have this…” for examples low or high blood sugars before or during exam kinda thing. However she was perfectly accepting to what I needed, didn’t even question me, but I just felt weird. Still weird for me to say “I have diabetes.” Guess I’m just going to have to get used to being an outside in some situations…

Glad to know there’s others out there. I’m at a small private college, wish there were more diabetics in my school so I could have some people to relate to!

4

It makes sense to me…I’ve dealt with similar things before at college, it can be so frustrating! For me, what I have done in regards to feeling like I am going low before an exam, I check my BG, and if it is something around or below the 90s I eat at least a little snack. The feeling of being low can (not always) be my quickest indicator that I will be low soon–so prevention is good. Though of course it is especially hard when it can be confused with sleep deprivation! My remedy for that, is another prevention strategy: I try to allow myself to get a full nights sleep, even if I am not ‘finished’ with studying (am I ever?!). Personally I don’t think school should be a reason to keep us from sleeping and healing our bodies and minds, and if that affects my grades so be it–because sleep is essential for healthy living. Plus I have learned that even if I do study less, and sleep more, in return I am able to learn and recall things much easier because my brain got to absorb and rest. I’m not sure how it can affect blood sugar levels, but it would make since that it could, for example if there is a lot of mental stress involved.



Also, I recommend journaling after something like this occurs–which you already have done–great job! It sounds like you are expressing yourself too, and i think that is important. Why do you think you cried when the professor asked about your pump? Your feeling are totally valid and natural. People might and might not assume things about you and I, but that doesn’t make it true, and we don’t have to believe that story of the percieved assumptions people may have. I think part of it for me is just accepting that people will judge me in a way that is not how I would want to be viewed, and being comfortable with that. Easier said than done though! :wink: Sometimes it can be helpful to just express to one person in the class what happened, how you felt, and how they felt about it–and clear up misunderstandings if needed–and maybe make a friend in the process.

5

Thanks so much for the post and it brings back a LOT of memories!!! My gut feeling is that when things happen and it gets to be, Oh My God “That Public” something very significant happened. Been there, got the T shirt (yech). What’s great is that you seemed to be aware of your surroundings, this would appear to eliminate any signs of hypoglycemic unawareness. The more lows you get hit with, the more succeptible you are to this phenomonon. If this is the case PLEASE RUN A LITTLE BIT HIGHER for six weeks or so and your brain/body will reset your level of awarenes.



The fact that people are drawn to you when you are in trouble is fantastic. It is also a wake up call that we CANNOT DO THIS ALONE!!! Again I apologize for the repitition however this Feb. I will celebrate two anniversaries. Fifty years of age, and thirty eight years insulin dependant with no eye damage (whew). That means if those tiny blood vessels are intact, this is a great sign. The eyes are the windows to the soul, and many parts of our body.



Quite often people will say “You should run better sugars” and although they are correct, they have no idea how difficult it is to “stay” anywhere. Even people with a working pancreas can’t do that, they just don’t realize it. I think it is great that you came forward in this manner and thanks so very much for doing so because you and I know somewhere, some place this is happening again and again. It is part of the management and at least you were not too high. Balance is tricky for all of us, especially for diabetics and we MUST let people know (thanks Manny)!!!"



The other great thing is about degrees of embarassment. If that is the only thing that went wrong fine, kiss it, in two years it is a distant memory and get ready it may happen again. Another positive is now people in your circle(s) have a deeper understanding to the level(s) of help you may require from time to time. This and the fact that you are O.K. make everything in your life somewhat easier. A teaching moment if you will.



Yes Danielle all of the above makes perfect sense. It would seem (and I hope I’m wrong) that the cornerstone for human beings is denial, and diabetic humans are no different. I swear we would pretend that we didn’t go to the bathroom if we could however, oops my bladder is full anhd I will see you in five (ha ha). Thanks again for the post, I hope it helps.



Love Always

Anonymous Diabetic.

6

I will reply to both these replies individually (have to run to campus bookstore) but I just wanted to add that I also teared up JUST saying to the teacher I was low. This isn’t the first time. Anytime I’m in a public situation and go low and have to inform someone I tear up. I think it may be embarrassment…but…I was then embarrassed for crying.

I guess I just don’t want to be judged. It stems to the fact of just wanting to be normal…if only for one college exam.

7

My son is 17…he says… that being low can make you emotional… that having it get in the way of something like taking an exam… just makes you more emotional. That that is “normal”. He understands. I just told him what your post was about and asked his opinion. I said to him… “any advice for her?”… He says… “I would have felt the same thing…if I was her”.
It can be hard…but you have to move on…and be proud that you did. When you take that exam…you have earned that grade even more than anyone else in that room. You will be stronger then them… you will have a better understanding of your patients needs than them… you will be an AWESOME nurse… you will probably make a big difference in many people’s lives… because you have known what it is like to do it and overcome obsticles… Good luck tomorrow.

8

My freshman year in college I went low walking to class. I have no idea how low I was but as I was walking I fell flat on my face. Somehow (don’t ask me how) I managed to get back on my feet and stumble my way to a soda machine. I’m sure everyone thought I was drunk. I called it a day and skipped the rest of my classes. Just a learning lesson.

9

Don’t beat yourself up,I can be emotional when I’m really low,not to the point I cry but close.

I get what you mean.I don’t want to be asking for things I don’t need,but to be on the safe side,use all the help you can get.College professors have seen it all so they won’t cave in to students’ whims.I remember the first exam I had after diagnosis -one week after-was math and I was in the 40s when I got out,I’m always beating myself over that memory,for not excusing myself or at least telling the teacher.

And for those who judge,they’re not worth your attention.It’s a medical condition and they should get over themselves.

Good luck with your studies,I just stated college my myself :slight_smile:

10

I’m not sure about that theory. I had 4 other diabetics at work (out of an office of 30) and could not relate to them at all, the stuff they ate blew my mind. Do you usually manage when you eat stuff like sandwiches, juice, and chips? I think if I had been in your situation I might have tried to eat lower carb things that would help me stabilize my blood sugar a bit better.

11

A few tips I learned at College (or wish I would have learned). Try sticking to more of a schedule, especially sleeping and somewhat with meals. I had a horrible sleep schedule like what you are describing my 1st year and it makes college much more difficult. If you can get 6+ hours of sleep a night your life will be much easier. A (somewhat) set meal time and possibly meals will help you keep your BG much more level which will make your life easier by eliminating some highs and lows.



I always tried to run a little bit high for big exams, maybe 180. I thought it got my neurons firing a little faster and a tough, long exam can drop your BG more than you might expect.



Always carry way to many hypo treatments with you (lifesavers). College is exciting times with many unknowns like a spur of the minute touch football game or last second trip to a movie during normal dinner time. Extra candy is a very good thing.



As for asking for help and feeling different. You have 2 choices: treat yourself and do the best you can do (my approach in school) or ask for help and possibly be noticed by others. I wish I would have been more willing to ask/accept help in school. Truth is (especially during an exam) students are worried about themselves and acing the exam. Not the girl who excuses herself into the hallway. If you do ask for help you have to accept what may come of it. If someone gave me a tough time after I gave them an explanation I would screw them. Especially if they are studying nursing too.



Be extra careful if you drink. Drinking and diabetes can ruin a weekend if you are not careful.

12

Since I’m producing so much insulin still and i’m on a pump if I don’t I’m low all the time. So I eat a pretty normal balance diet. Fruits, veggies, breads, occasional junk food, etc.

13

Yeah it was because for some reason I have noticed I sleep ALL the time. I don’t know why, even if I get a full nights sleep, I still will fall asleep during the day. Like I did today. But that day I had fallen asleep and didnt wake up from my alarm and woke up right before I had to leave for class but I just grabbed a juice on my way to class and figured I would drink it on the way, and I did, but I was clearly lower than I thought!

Some of my friends texted me later and asked me how I was and I told them how I felt and they totally brushed it off and told me I had every right to take the exam on a later day, so I felt a lot better about it.

I think I just get emotional when I get really low…

14

Thanks so much! I loved your post!

15

Thank you so much! It makes me feel better that your son would have felt the same way, since he’s only 4 years younger than me :slight_smile:

16

Next time I know I will tell the teacher I won’t take the test that day. I sat there for 45-an hour just waiting for the feeling to go away so I could take the test.

17

Yeah I’d rather do something about it than take an exam or whatever and fail because I didn’t do something about my bloodsugar and couldn’t concentrate.

I’m a junior but was diagnosed in October so I’m right there with ya!

18

I usually run low-regular blood sugars. Only every once in a while am I above 160. Its because I’m still producing insulin in my body and I have my pump so Its hard to guess when to bolus and what.

I actually was a lot lower than 70, I had test after I drank a whole juice (20 carbs) and had a handful of saltene crackers. So I was probably in the 30s range before. I just dropped so fast that I never got it on my meter if that makes sense :slight_smile:

My Insulin to carb ratio is 1:15. But everything is really off for me, because like I said, still producing insulin. And yes, its a lot different because my ratio was way different when I was on shots!

My endo has switched. I was with Dr. William at VM but didn’t like it there and went to Dr. George Moore but he never even looked at my BG numbers although he was a great guy. I have an appointment with Shannon Hertrietter (something along those lines) at The Poly Clinic on first I think, when I come home in December. I’m in North Dakota for college right now.

The pump has literally changed my life. I couldn’t have asked for a better solution. Seriously, I tell everyone that I love it. Never had a pod fail on me except when I was filling one it randomly started beeping because I would fill it too fast and I just called and then over-nighted me a new one even though I had a whole box still left. LOVE my omnipod!!!

http://www.myomnipod.com/

I forget I’m wearing it constantly. I wear it on the back of my arms and the side of my thighs up near where jean pockets would be. Looks like a cell phone. Seriously its so convienent. I should be a sales rep, when people ask me how I like it I can’t stop raving about how awesome it is!!

19

Thanks! I try to sleep well but somethings off, I’m tired ALL the time, like today I got 8 hours of sleep last night and only had one class and the make up test to do and for some reason I got back to my room and just laid down and fell asleep for 5 hours! Worries me because these were symptoms I got when I was diagnosed but my a1c and blood sugars are amazing. 6.0 a1c and usually never run above 160.

I had juice on me and always carry a juice and fruit snack :slight_smile:

I don’t drink usually ever. I had a nisenfundiplication for GERD when I was a baby and it prevents me from burping or vomitting so that on top of my diabetes is too much of a risk to drink. Plus, its just not my thing. I don’t want to get my stomach pumped at the hospital for something as dumb as that. I have to do that anytime I have to seriously vomit.

20

Danielle,
No faculty is going to think twice about having problems about giving accommodations to you. As your classmates grow in their understandings, they will become interested in your problems and probably ask questions of you to become more educated, if they have time. So consider yourself an educator of them all.
Lighten up, take a deep breath! It’s OK to have stayed up all night and nailed the speech! And now you should laugh about it all.
Have you considered a CGM? It’s just an idea that might help you get ahead of the problem.
You did everything right in giving yourself a bolus, eating. And you couldn’t have known you were going to take a dive. The walk across campus probably did its bit to lower you. As will all walks to class.
One of the things that happens as the body becomes more used to evenness of insulin intake with a pump is that it gives you more lows.
You may want to think about lowering basal if you’re riding between 70 and 90 since the dips are no fun. They creep on you with unawareness due to riding low. You’re into a higher amount of exercise getting to classes than you have been. Riding higher - 110, even 120, would ease your concerns a little. Keeping it up there, eating glucose half tab with every walk to class, and getting your sleep a bit more evenly will help you to look back at this with a smile.
Best wishes with your career! You can take on the world!