Should I tell my students about my medical condition?
Teachers often weigh the appropriateness of sharing personal disabilities against the risk of unexpected medical emergencies happening in front of a class. This uncertainty creates a dilemma between student preparedness and professional privacy, complicated by worries over how parents might react.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Keeping medical information completely private and considering it none of the students' business
- 2Selectively sharing with specific struggling students rather than announcing it to the whole class
- 3Keeping emergency supplies and glucose tabs in the classroom
- 4Informing only admin, HR, the school nurse, and nearby coworkers instead of parents
- 5Using a CGM and smartwatch to monitor blood sugar discreetly
- 6Setting up an emergency classroom protocol with students and staff
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I didn’t know if it would be appropriate to let students know about my disabilities.”source ↗
“My only worry is what if I do end up passing out in class because of POTS and the students have no idea what’s happening and an ambulance is called when in reality it’s nothing that big”source ↗
“I would hesitate to tell students. Even if it goes over well with them, it might not with their parents.”source ↗
“something I’m a little worried about is how I handle being a diabetic with parents and admin. Is this something anyone has ran into and how do you disclose specifically to parents.”source ↗
“I’ve been a diabetic for about 13 years so I know my body well. I’m fairly well managed I just can forget sometimes and will have rough lows after running around and not eating so I’m worried about that happening.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 3Should I tell other parents if their kids broke rules at our house?
- 2Should I give my kids a letter from their absent father?
- 4Why do I have to confess my mistakes at work?
- 2Should I file a homeowner's insurance claim or pay out of pocket?
- 2How to talk to students about a sudden national crisis
- 2Should I put an upcoming internship on my resume?