I'm going to start applying for colleges in the fall, what do I need to know in terms of handling diabetes in college before I apply? Are there certain services I should make sure the colleges I want to go to have? and what do I need to do with a disability office?
Hi KWeber,
Personally I would say that it shouldn't matter where you go to college. When I went to school, I made sure that I knew where the nurse was located in case something happened. I also let my professors know that I was diabetic and that I wore an insulin pump, all my professors were very understanding with it, I even ate in class sometimes. If you decide to live in the dorms, I would let your resident advisor and roommate know that you are diabetic and what to do in case of emergency. HonesItly, when I applied to schools, it didn't even cross my mind to think about my diabetes as a deciding factor, I knew what I wanted to do and I applied to the schools I wanted to.
I hope this helps!
Talk to you later
Amanda
Hi KWeber,
I agree with Amanda, I always let my professors know that I have diabetes and wear a pump (not a phone) and I always tell my roommates and RA about my diabetes too. If you live in a single room, find a friend or a person in your class that you see each morning and have them check in on you if you're not in class or at the dining hall. I went to the disability services office at my school and found that they are accomodating however their accomdations were mostly for people with learning disabilities. Make sure you have extra supplies too, because I have run out of sites and strips at school but luckily I was going home the next day, so I streched what I had.
Hopes this helps :)
Sarah
KWeber,
I have type 1, recently graduated from college, and work at a university Wellness Center, so I'm pretty versed in how things go! While you can go to college anywhere, you MAY find that larger universities are more accommodating. At many universities, the Disability Resource Center may be able to provide you with official accomodations, so if you are low/high during an exam time, etc. you are able to reschedule the exam without penalty. Other universities may have policies where you must visit the Disability center in order to be able to bring drinks, food, or testing supplies into an exam. It all depends on the university.
The link to the American Diabetes Association "College" page that is below is an awesome resource:
www.diabetes.org/.../post-secondary-education.html
It provides checklists of things students may forget, as well as how the Americans with Disabilities Act applies to diabetes in the college setting.
Hope this helps!
Alex
I agree with everything that's been said. As far as what you need to do with the office at your particular school, I can only comment on mine and would think it would vary. I would contact the offices of the schools you are applying to and inquire about what accommodations you would be given and what paperwork would need to be filled out. The information might also be on the schools' websites. That would be worth checking out. At my school, you have to supply them with the appropriate documentation (they'll tell you what they need). Then they contact the professors online. Badabing badaboom. It used to be on paper. So you might have to personally take forms to teachers, get signatures, return completed forms to the office. But like I said, it varies. I also agree that you should build yourself some kind of support network, i.e., a group of friends, administrators (at the office), your RA, and maybe a faculty member with whom you develop a close relationship (trust me, it might come in handy).
Thanks! That was all extremely helpful, I'll make sure to contact the disability services when I'm accepted and deciding then just to see which schools have easier processes.
I was diagnosed two weeks ago and started back in my second semester this week. Get in contact with the student services usually they have a food bank where you can go to get a pick me up when you are having a low. They also have contacts with hospitals and know what to do in an emergency and how to get you to a hospital safely. One thing which is crucial is a medical bracelet so people know what is going on if anything happens. It's best to inform all your teachers as well so if you do have to run out of their class they know the reason.
It may seem scary about going to college with it but within a week you're fine and used to it, hope all goes well :)
Kitty