Type 1 diabetes and college: How to tell your roommate(s) about your T1D

Living away from home for the first time can be exciting and rewarding. You're suddenly in charge of where you go, what you eat, when you go to bed and how you approach daily life. While heading off to college can feel liberating, when you're on your own, you need to give even more thought to your type 1 diabetes (T1D) management.

Balancing type 1 diabetes and college requires some preplanning. Not only will you have to monitor your own levels and create new routines, you'll have to share space with a roommate — and let them know about your specific health needs.

If you're wondering how to approach the conversation about T1D with your new roommate(s), rest assured there is no need to worry! You're not alone in this. Getting to know your roommate is part of the move-in process, and your T1D journey is one of the many things they'll learn about you.

Start with the basics

When it comes to talking about diabetes, everyone's comfort level is different. There's a wide spectrum of options regarding just how much to share — and when — but it is important to cover the bare minimum early on in your relationship.

Think about how you want to present the topic of T1D in advance of meeting your roommate. Once you know what you want to share, you can make some notes or even write a letter to your roommate. The information you include will act as a guide they can reference long after your conversation. Your T1D is just one aspect of who you are — so it makes sense to contextualize how your diabetes fits into the other pieces of your life.

At the very least, your roommate should know that you have T1D, understand the things you routinely have to do to care for your diabetes and know how they can lend a helping hand when need be. Your methods of diabetes management may seem foreign to someone who has no past experience with it (like checking blood glucose or giving injections) so go slow and allow them to ask questions. As they become more comfortable, make sure they are knowledgeable enough to help you in an emergency situation.

Cooperatively make a plan

You and your roommate will be living together and be working as a team for the year, so it's a good idea to get comfortable collaborating with them. Here are a couple of things you can do to make a plan for living together and managing your T1D needs:

• Gauge your roommates' previous experience with T1D. Based on their experience level, you can educate them on the basics of your condition, set straight any misinformation they may have heard about diabetes and cover the basics about what they may see or experience as you manage your T1D in the room.
  
• Answer any questions they may have. During your discussions, let your roommate know that T1D is not contagious, inform them of the signs of high and low blood sugar and share a heads up about any device noises (continuous glucose monitor, insulin pump, etc.) they might hear from your side of the room. Understand it may take some time for this information to sink in and give them the opportunity to ask questions along the way, so they can be supportive of you.
  
• Ask for what you need. If you are concerned that your roommate might treat you differently because you have diabetes, address that with them in advance so you can start off on the same page. Let your roommate know what food and drinks are off-limits because they are your "medicine" for low blood sugar and other diabetes-related concerns. You may also want to share where you keep your supplies if you want them to be able to grab things for you. Finally, make sure that they are confident in recognizing when you may need their assistance and how to assist, including administering glucagon and when to call 911.

Your roommate should also be aware of how to support you if you choose to drink alcohol. With an understanding of the steps you need to take to be safe while drinking with T1D, they can keep an eye out for your safety when you are out together or when you return back to the room after a night out. And, while discussing drinking and T1D, it's a good idea to highlight how symptoms of low blood sugar can appear like drunken behavior — so your roommate will know how to get you appropriate help in a timely manner, should you need it.

Bring them to the next level

If you feel comfortable sharing more about your life with T1D, and your roommate is interested in offering more support for you in this area, consider where else their involvement may be welcome. Here are a couple of ways you can bring your roommate to the next level of diabetes management:

• Connect your support network. With the permission and participation of everyone involved, give your roommate the contact information for your parents/guardians and/or other trusted loved ones in case of an emergency.
  
• Tech it out. If you both feel comfortable, you can add your roommate as a follower on your CGM data. It can be helpful to have an extra eye on your numbers, especially during or after a night out.

It is likely that your "T1D talk" with your roommate will actually be a series of conversations over time. Even if you and your roommate do not become close friends, ideally they will still be receptive to your needs and willing to assist when needed.

A piece of advice for all aspects of living with a roommate, including but not limited to dealing with T1D: Keep the lines of communication open so you both feel comfortable in your living situation and have the ability to make small changes before resentment or conflict occurs. As you step into the next phase of your life and navigate type 1 diabetes and college, be confident in knowing that your support network — including your new roommate(s) — have your back!

Want to learn more about the ins and outs of life with T1D? Explore the Edgepark website to access the informative guides and information around living with diabetes.