Substitute teacher punishes an 18-year-old when the student's glucose monitor rings in class, then the diabetic kid storms out of the classroom to tend to their medical emergency: ‘I need to go!’

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  • AITJ for walking out of class when I was having a low blood sugar episode even though the sub told me to stay put?
  • So I (18M) have Type 1 diabetes, and I have an alarm that goes off every two hours to remind me to check my blood sugar.
  • Usually, I go to the bathroom with my little lunch bag that has everything I need — my blood testing thingy, insulin syringe, etc.
  • All my teachers are aware of my condition and understand that it's something I need to do. They don't really care unless it happens during a test, which is fair. My alarm sound is a screaming monkey
  • (yeah, it's annoying, but I can't ignore it this way). My phone is in the lunch bag with all my things, so it takes me a bit to turn it off. To all my classmates - I'm truly sorry for the noise.
  • A few days ago, we had a substitute teacher in math. I didn't know him, and immediately thought, "Oh well, guess I've got some explaining to do." I told him about my diabetes, my alarm,
  • and that I need to leave when it goes off to check my blood sugar. He told me I should get a quieter solution next time because the regular math teacher (who was awesome and super chill about it) had left.
  • I explained that this is the only solution I have ― healthcare in the U.S. sucks, and I can't afford a fancy continuous glucose monitor or pump. His response, and I quote, was: "Then I guess you'll have to die quietly."
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  • Like DUDE. Who says that to someone who literally just told you that if a monkey starts screaming and they don't go check, they could actually be in danger? Also,
  • you try living in NYC with three kids - one diabetic — on a single nurse's salary. (Love ya Mom.) Anyway, later during class, my alarm went off. He told -
  • me to stay put and not disturb his class. I said, "I'm feeling low on blood sugar, I need to go check it." I was really feeling low - my vision started to blur, I felt like I was
  • about to pass out. One of my classmates yelled, "Let him leave, man, he's in danger!" and I just got up and left. Sure enough, when I checked, my blood sugar was low. I went to the nurse's
  • office and took my glucose gel. The nurse knows me too well tbh, and doesn't have a problem with me stopping by when I'm low. After waiting a bit and feeling better, I went back to class.
  • That's when the substitute told me to go wait for him at the principal's office. When he got there with the principal, he started YELLING
  • at me saying I should obey him because he's the authority figure in class, and that I was UNDERMINING HIS AUTHORITY in front of everyone.
  • I told him to wait a minute, called my mom, put her on speaker, and asked her to explain what the dangers are if I can't treat myself for low blood sugar. She explained it and The teacher left looking pissed.
  • The next day, I got an apology letter from him after class and he told me he's sorry for the incident and that hebhad done his research. So yeah, lesson learned: don't mess with me, bitch.
  • Suspicious_Cut3... NTA, but you and your mom are rock stars. I am glad the sub apologized, but the school administration is really at fault.
  • Disastrous-Nail-6... NTJ As a teacher, I'm pissed for you. If I came back and I found out this happened to one of my students, I'd be on a warpath for you. Admin
  • and the office would be hearing about it. HR, who oversees subs, would be hearing about it. I'd be emailing the sub himself a scathing email. Just hell no. In no universe is this acceptable.

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