NBME = mishugas

This is what I've spent the last thirty minutes composing:

February 23, 2011

To Whom It May Concern:

I am medical student at ___ scheduled to take the USMLE step 1 on April 18, 2011 in ___. I was diagnosed with type 1 (insulin dependent) diabetes in 1990. Since 1996 I have been managing my diabetes through continuously wearing an insulin pump. The pump supplies me with a continuous basal rate of insulin necessary for me to function. I can only detach from my pump briefly, as detachment comes with the risk of clotting the infusion sight as well as slipping into diabetic ketoacidosis.

Therefore, I am writing to request that I be allowed to wear my insulin pump for my USMLE exam. Below, as per your request, you will find the model and serial number of my pump, as well as a picture of me and my pump. Included in this e-mail you will also find a letter from my endocrinologist.

Sincerely,

me

Stupid NBME! Why do you waste my time with such silly tasks? Do you really think that I'd use my diabetes and insulin pump as a way to cheat on a standardized exam? How would I even go about doing that?! Also, what if I had just chosen to wear my pump in my bra during the exam and skip this mishugas all together*. Let us just hope I don't have to threaten suit for access to my medical supplies this time like I had to do for the MCATs...

*With my luck, hiding my pump would mean that it would decide to alarm during the exam. Then, how would I explain to the testing center that my chest was alarming without getting in serious trouble?