[WiseWords]

Originally posted by TShelton
I'm sure that a lot of you have seen my post about
discrimination in the military torward diabetics.
I am still fighting to get into the military. But I am a
criminal justice major at the University of GA.
If the military thing doesn't work out, I am going to persue
a career in law enforcement. If a police department
discriminates, I most definitely think I could win a fight against
that. As I've said I am more than qualified and I most definitely
can meet the physical requirements of a police officer. I have
very tight control and VERY RARELY have low blood sugars.
When I do have them, it comes in the middle of the night during sleep.
So what are your thoughts on this one people?

I think you sound like a 13 year old kid who's upset because
he can't have it his way !
You certainly don't sound like the kind of police officer I would
prefer to deal with, although many of those macho cops have
attitudes like your's. But that is just my personal opinion.

The facts are that you would be putting the live's of fellow
officers, and the public at large, at risk from your diabetic condition.
It is true that a diabetic can do anything that anyone else can do,
but there is also the need for common sense.
While someone with diabetes can climb the tallest mountain,
if they want to, it is pretty much a one-time thing.
I am not at all sure that a job involving mountain rescue
during a winter snowstorm would be the best thing for
a diabetic to do. Likewise for being a policeman.

Three jobs that are unsuited for people with diabetes are
those of a policeman, fireman, or paramedic.
I am sure that ZooKeeper will also have some comments on
this subject. She especially, has expressed complaints about
controlling her BG and not knowing when she gets low.
I know that I would not want to be in a position to have
to depend on a paramedic who might have a low blood sugar
when my life is at stake !

Those three jobs, in particular, consist of haphazard
schedules with the possibility of extra physical activity
at any time. Don't you think that could risk the lives of
those you are trying to serve or work with?
It doesn't really matter whether you can tell when
you get low or if you usually do not get low during
the day. Point is, you could get low at a critical time.
Suppose you are chasing a criminal on foot through
the streets or neighbor's backyards. Are you going to
shoot at him if you are low, or not make it over a
six to ten foot high fence because you got low?
Is he going to get away, or are you going to shoot a gun
while you might be low?
Your body would be producing adrenalin during a chase,
and that, along with the extra exercise from running,
could cause you to get low without immediately being
aware of it. Even if you were aware of it, what are you
going to do? Stop and have some glucose !

Of course, that is a hypothetical, and it is difficult to
discuss hypothetical situations. But, I do not think that
you are looking at the situation in a rational manner.

As you are a criminal justice major, go for a job as a lawyer.
At least it has more pay, and less risk to the victim, client.

You have no way of knowing if you may develop
hypoglycemic unawareness, although you admit that
you presently have some problems during sleep.

What if you were on a lunch or dinner break and
had to respond to an emergency which prevented you
from finishing your meal ?
Think you might get low then ?

Better alternatives, if being a lawyer is not appealing,
would be running your own security company, or,
your own company as a private investigator.
That doesn't mean being a security guard if you have
your own company. But in either case, you could be
involved in law enforcement, which is your field of study.
The advantage of being in business for yourself,
is that you can take a break to check your BG and
have some source of carbs, if needed, whenever you want.
That would be my advice.