Browse other subcategories:
Rate this question:
(0 votes)
Letting roommates know
What's a good way to let roommates know about my juvenile diabetes condition?
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Answers given by HOH Advisors:
Rate this anwser:
(0 votes)
Name:
macky5
Gender:
Female
Age:
20
Living In:
el currido
RE: Letting roommates know
You should get to know them a little before delving into personal life. You do not need to wait an entire semester, but a couple of weeks, maybe until you feel comfortable sitting them down and explaining to them what it means. It can't hurt to go over everything, like what it means if you need sugar or why you might not feel good one day.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Rate this anwser:
(0 votes)
Name:
AKnursewriter
Gender:
Female
Age:
47
Living In:
Farmingdale
RE: Letting roommates know
Hi this was my biggest fear to face. I told my room mate right away becuase I was concerned she would come into our dorm room while I was taking my shot - I didn't want her to think I was a junkie! Seriously I didn't want to frighten her. When I told her she was actually excited, she was also a nursing student and asked me if she could give me my shots for practice; all that worry for nothing.
The most important thing here is to make sure someone who is in your dorm hall knows what to do if your sugar drops- hypoglycemia happens to even the most stringent of us so you need to prepare to avoid the fatal consequences of an unattended hypoglycemic episode.
If you don't want to disclose your diabetes to anyone, you must at least inform your RA. And you must tell your roomie to get the RA immediately if you "seem funny". Explain what "funny" is by examples of your symptoms of hypoglycemia.
I informed my RA prior to going to orientation - my book explains the important things to avoid what all of us diabetics fear: a severe hypoglycemic episode - we fear embarassment and of course brain damage or death if our low blood glucose level isn't elevated quickly- glucose drops rapidly- those around you need to know to give you a Pepsi (that alwyas worked for me)or OJ or glucose tablets, whatever you use
Your RA should have a copy of the ADA Diabetes handbook (I indexed excerpts of what to do when hypo and/or hyoglycemic symptoms)I also gave her a glucagun and taught her how to give it if I was hypo to the point of unconsciousness- fortunately she never used it-The preparation inhibited the chance. Besides I gained many friends over those Pepsis :) AKehoe, Diabetes College Handbook.
Thursday, November 06, 2008