Problems At Work Again.

[JediSurfer]

This seems to be happening to me at least once a week now with one particular pit boss whom refuses to acknowledge how changes in my meal pattern can seriously affect my overall control over the night and for most part of the next day. And with the added misery of slight gastro paresis and the need for domperidone. Its a living nightmare.
I walk to work at 6:15 pm, arrive about 7pm and then have an hour to make sure my BG's are on good form for the nights work from 8pm-5:15am. I have always had my meal at 9pm which I have found works great from me and also have a sandwich and various snacks thought the night.
Now my main problem is the dawn phenomenon, I need quite high basal levels to cover this which can also cause lows before my mealtime but if I eat at the right time its not a problem.
Now this person refuses to give me my meal at the time I need it and I become unwell as a consequence and changes the meal time sporadically. She is the only one whom does this to me everyone else is fine and gives me what I need to survive.
I getting sick of this situation now and the constant rollercoastering it causes on my bg's for up to 48 hours . I just don't understand why this is happening because the rest of the staff are quite able to have meals half an hour or an hour later without effect to health.
grrrrrr:mad:

[Subby]

Sorry to hear this. Sounds like you have an unreasonable boss there. :( I assume there is no reason you should not have a little leeway - or do meal timings interrupt productivity somehow?

How much is she truly aware of how important and valid this issue is for your health? Have you two really sat down to discuss it? If she is hostile, I wonder if there is a way you can stand your ground and insist on this for medical reasons. Or perhaps you can talk about it with one of the other bosses, they may have advice to deal with her or have means to help themselves.

There are so many reasons that say she should help you with your control, not hinder it. And not just ethical or warm-hearted reasons like helping you function with your chronic condition. Try economic reasons like lowered productivity from an ill worker, or even legal reasons like health and safety or possibly even discrimination.

With these serious issues as the background, rather than "your whim" as it could be seen, I wonder if a doctor's certificate with demands to allow flexible eating times may help. Again if she is hostile it may mean "losing face" to her (hmmm... the who cares attitude helps there) but ultimately get her to comply with being fair.

[Jan B]

Subby said it better than I could have. Any chance you can show some concern for this person and maybe get some back?

[mortis505]

Go over her head mate. Pit Bosses have to follow orders from the Shift Manager. If thats not good enough then go to the Casino Manager or even the General Manager. However make sure that you follow the Chain of Command. Go Boss to Boss, and if necessary, get HR(Human Resources)/Admin involved. Its your health and they as employers should be supporting you.

[Jill-O]

As a business owner, I'm sitting here reflecting on the massive liability the company is taking because someone looks to be on a power trip.

[JediSkipdogg]

I'm slightly confused, what hours do you sleep? I do find it unreasonable though that you arrive to work and then within an hour you need to have a break to eat.

[Funnygrl]

It sounds like between your odd work schedule, your gastroparesis, and your dawn phenomenon you need a pump.

[JediSurfer]

I'm slightly confused, what hours do you sleep? I do find it unreasonable though that you arrive to work and then within an hour you need to have a break to eat.

I have always made adjustments to my diabetes care to work around the business not adjustments to my work or the business to suit me. And its only one person whom is doing this to me. I'm not the sort of person whom would report a colleague to the director or management.

I sleep 8am til 2 or 3 pm when working. Only work 3 nights per week. All meals breaks are between 9pm and 10:30 pm thats just how the business works. Working hours are between 3pm and 6 am and I do 8pm til 5am. that is soon to change to 9pm til 6 am .I would prefere my meal break around 12am but thats not possible within the realms of resonable adjustment. I have to have a sandwich on a 10 or 15 minute break later in the evening/morning. I didnt ask for 9pm meal break which is only 30 minutes but thats how its worked out over the last few years so I have made adjustments to my diabetes to work around this time.
Resonable isnt a factor really, if they can do it they have no choice but to do it thats the law here.

Funnygrl, I dont think I would have a chance of getting a pump. My consultant says I have the best control he has ever seen. Whatever that means. I really couldnt work with a pump in day to day life. I'm far too physically active and have a cannula phobia. eeeek. just the thought makes me feel sick unfortunately.

[Subby]

I just don't understand why this is happening because the rest of the staff are quite able to have meals half an hour or an hour later without effect to health.

You are being very unfair on yourself. Surely it is obvious that the reason for this is because they are not diabetics, and more specifically, not you! Why are you downplaying your condition?


I have always made adjustments to my diabetes care to work around the business not adjustments to my work or the business to suit me. And its only one person whom is doing this to me. I'm not the sort of person whom would report a colleague to the director or management.

If you actually do want to improve what you called a "living nightmare" you need to challenge both these convictions you hold. Are you sure they are not too rigid, inflexible, for the situation? Of course, your work situation won't change unless you want it to, and get proactive about solving it. (Or maybe the lady moves on, that'd be good too)... Basically though, if you want to affect the situation, the ball is in your court. :)


Funnygrl, I dont think I would have a chance of getting a pump. My consultant says I have the best control he has ever seen. Whatever that means. I really couldnt work with a pump in day to day life. I'm far too physically active and have a cannula phobia. eeeek. just the thought makes me feel sick unfortunately.

First question: do YOU think your life would improve with better control? If not, then don't worry about it. If so, I recommend you open your mind to the pump, because it has the potential to be a wonderful tool for your control. It may not be available or you may have to fight for it, but chances are you might have the opportunity at some stage.

It's strange you have the idea that a pump does not work for active people. The kind of activity/lifestyle problems you are describing are EXACTLY what a pump is better at dealing with than injections. Have you looked at variable basal rate features of a pump? The pump uses short acting insulin for basals and you can programme your basal rates in 30 minute increments through the day. It would solve your basal dose at night problem. It gives many times more control potential for adjusting insulin around exercise and activity.

I'm not trying to push the pump and I'm not saying this to be argumentative, I'm just saying it would be a shame to write off with misconceptions, something which may at some stage be a tool worth trying.

[JediSurfer]

When I mention the rest of the staff I was meaning that they could easily take my place for the half hour and then I come back and give them their meal break. Its never a problem for any other pitboss just this woman.

Its difficult to describe just how little respect for human life in general this company holds. They constantly break the employment laws, have not paid me statutory sick pay when sick which is law and they will be receiving a visit shortly from the inland revenue.

Also croupier/dealers are promoted with 3 years to inspector, I am not allowed to be promoted and Ive been a dealer for 7 years, The only reason given is because I am diabetic.

To be honest this doesn't bother me. don't work for the money as I dont need it. I work for fun and it gives me something to do when my partner of 8 years( who is an star and the most beautiful woman in the world) is working night shifts.
All I want is a fair share of the pie.

I really don't think a pump would make much improvement for me really. Maybe if the insulin technology gets better over the next few years I would give it a trial. But for the time being I'm more than happy with life and my diabetes.

[JediSkipdogg]

Why do you increase your basal for the dawn phenomenon? The DP only lasts about 1-2 hours and you are increasing a basal insulin that lasts 24 hours to make up for that 1-2? That's one reason you should highly looking into a pump. What you do means you have to eat at certain times and continually eat, if you don't eat you go low. The idea of a basal is to not go low without eating, it's also not to go high, but a short high should be corrected with a bolus insulin.

Have you asked your fellow employees what they think of giving you breaks? Maybe the other pitbosses are bending over backwards for you.

Here we have six sergeants (use to be eight till two were promoted.) All but one of them will let us leave 15 minutes before our shift is over if all of our work is done. Since shifts overlap by 30 minutes that's not a problem. Only one requires us to work the full 8.5 hours and not leave a minute early. So which one is right? Which ones do I like more? The answer is obvious.

I'm on the pump and can and have gone a complete 8.5 hour shift without eating at all. The pump makes that very nice. I'm sure I could do it on shots as well by just giving the right amount of insulin at the right time. Non diabetics can go 12+ hours without food, so in my opinion, a properly controlled diabetic should be able to do the same.

[JediSurfer]

you are having a ****ing laugh.

I can go all day without a bite to eat but diabetic oe not its a bad idea generally.

listern if all you can do is have a pop why don't you not post on my threads if you dont have any valuble advice.

Most infact all endos here in the UK consider pumps the only option when the diabetic person has failed to control there diabetes correctly.

Thank you kindly.

Can a mod please close this thread please as I might say something I wont regret.

[Subby]

Wow are you guys going to go on hunger strikes to prove what method is better? :) There is such variety in diabetic bodies and diabetes approaches that we should all try to respect each other's experience and opinions. I might be wrong but I think JediSkipDogg is mainly enthusiastic about his pump, rather than disparaging of you. Take care.