Communicate with Others on Campus

Editor’s Note: For more information on managing type 1 diabetes in college, sign up for Beyond Type 1: College Edition, our email series on all things college + type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Educate the People Around You!

As we all probably know by now, not everyone is well versed on the topic of type 1 diabetes. Many of your peers, such as roommates, and even professors/instructors will be unaware of what to do in case of emergency.

Be sure to take a moment to speak to everyone who you will be seeing on a day-to-day basis and let them know what to expect going forward. For instance:

• Explain the difference between “highs” and “lows.” Give them an idea of what you do to monitor your blood sugar, and how your behavior may change in each scenario.
• Let them know what to do in case of emergency (nasal or injectable glucagon, quick sugar and most importantly, just dialing 911 before doing anything drastic!).
• Explain the difference between insulin and glucagon, and when each medication should be used.
• Show your closest friends how to read your continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and access your CGM app on your phone.
• Explain the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes and how you can manage your diet with insulin pens or your pump.

Read the Professor’s Guide to Type 1 Diabetes.