Working with Diabetes (Not T1 Exclusive)

Joeprep4820 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-20-2009, 06:30 PM

This topic has been touched upon before, but never directly. How many of you tell those with whom you work, including disclosing to your employer, that you have Diabetes? If so or if not so, why?

Personally, nobody that works in my office building knows I have Diabetes, nor anyone in any of the embassies I visit so often. I feel that it is not a need to know condition, and I feel that it could keep my from excelling. I know that legally I cannot be kept from promotion due to Diabetes, but that does not mean my employer can prevent me from promotion using something else as an excuse. Also, since my occupation includes lots of travel between countries in different time zones, having Diabetes can be considered a liability and therefore would ground me, when I would much rather be traveling.

foxl · #2 (**permalink**) 11-20-2009, 07:05 PM

I work in a medical library, a colleague is an RN. If my testing before lunch were not obvious enough ... then something would be wrong.

So ... I am an open book. Never thought of being any other way till reading about it afterward. But ... I would not have felt comfortable trying to hide it, either.

Granny Shanny · #3 (**permalink**) 11-20-2009, 07:18 PM

Being open has been my practice - and it relates to my entire life, not just the diabetes part - because I don't want to be constantly on guard. I do not want to have to watch every move I make and every word I speak, lest something slip out and be noticed by ones who aren't supposed to know.

foxl · #4 (**permalink**) 11-20-2009, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Granny Shanny

Being open has been my practice - and it relates to my entire life, not just the diabetes part - because I don't want to be constantly on guard. I do not want to have to watch every move I make and every word I speak, lest something slip out and be noticed by ones who aren't supposed to know.

Yup -- and with me at least, it would not take long ...

Funnygrl · #5 (**permalink**) 11-20-2009, 08:38 PM

I didn't tell anyone for awhile, then after like 6 months on my job started letting a few hints drop here and there. We had a patient who had a pump get admitted and everyone was talking about how stupid the pump was and if I knew what one was. That was it- pretty much no one didn't know I was diabetic after that. Shortly there after someone spotted my pump and instantly identified it and started asking me about it. Went more smoothly than I anticipated.

ramon · #6 (**permalink**) 11-20-2009, 10:28 PM

Then again due to human nature people are prejudiced, although I met a Vice Consul (American) who was blind. Anyway knowing Uncle Sam the probably already know.

dbaratta · #7 (**permalink**) 11-21-2009, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeprep4820

Also, since my occupation includes lots of travel between countries in different time zones, having Diabetes can be considered a liability and therefore would ground me, when I would much rather be traveling.

I have told everyone I work with. For me it is a matter of needing assistnace at times and I don't want to have to hide my needles and insluin. I told my supervisor so he will work with me when I have to see the doc or I am having a really bad day. He has to know it takes me longer to get over illnesses as well. He has been very good with me. But that is me, you are worried about being a liability? I don't think it is legal and sounds like discrimination?

livelong · #8 (**permalink**) 11-21-2009, 05:41 AM

Everyone in my workgroup knows each other well so when I found out I had Diabetes I told them. Others outside my direct work group noticed the weight loss when I learned to eat properly and ask why. I shared with them but I do not advertise or test in front of people I am not close to.

If I was taking insulin I would let people close to me know what to do if I went low.

Joeprep4820 · #9 (**permalink**) 11-21-2009, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbaratta

I have told everyone I work with. For me it is a matter of needing assistnace at times and I don't want to have to hide my needles and insluin. I told my supervisor so he will work with me when I have to see the doc or I am having a really bad day. He has to know it takes me longer to get over illnesses as well. He has been very good with me. But that is me, you are worried about being a liability? I don't think it is legal and sounds like discrimination?

If they told me having Diabetes is a liability, then yes, it would be discrimination, but they can come up with thousands of other reasons. Would it be discrimination? Yes, but it would be incredibly difficult, if impossible, to prove. I also work in a highly competitive environment so any slight weakness could put me out of the running for a promotion.

DanG · #10 (**permalink**) 11-21-2009, 11:17 AM

Everyone's environment is competitive - some moreso than others.

I do not let people know, ever.
However, after one day last week - everyone knows.

There I was, making phone calls one day after lunch - trying to get information about some equipment to specify. I got loud, I got incoherent - somewhere the news was known and everyone knows now. OOPS. I am not young, so no real fear about competition, but fear of not being gainfully employed. I don't want to join the ranks of the 10+ percent unemployed. Government unemployment compensation is not an option in my mind. So, as much as I tried to keep it secret - I let the cat out of the bag, inadvertently.

jenb · #11 (**permalink**) 11-21-2009, 11:47 AM

I'm really open about my diabetes. How can you not be when you're on MDI?

I left the Big Business world a long time ago in favor of my own bookkeeping practice, so I don't really have the workplace issues that others might. My clients were fantastic right after I was diagnosed - I had many shoulders to cry on when the frustration and confusion of those first few weeks got the better of me. Now the finger sticks and shots are old hat to all of us. One of the great benefits of striking out on one's own is the truly personal relationships that develop with your clients. They become part of your support network, and you theirs.

There are many reasons to stick it out in the Corporate world (not the least of which is insurance), but for me, I'll take the comeraderie and open nature of my micro-business any day!

Jen

jer.lawrence · #12 (**permalink**) 11-21-2009, 12:02 PM

Everyone I work with knows as well. I work for a small consulting company (maybe 14 people) and so we're all a pretty close knit group. They all knew right away. It makes it much easier for me to say "no thank you" when we get a cake for people's birthdays or something like that. I never really considered hiding it from anyone. I don't go out of my way to let everyone know I've got it, but I don't hide it. I don't test in front of anyone -- I typically step into the restroom or out to my car or something.. that's about it.

jenet · #13 (**permalink**) 11-21-2009, 12:55 PM

I tell my immediate co-workers. I also tell them that I will check my BG if they ask because they think I am really spacey or otherwise out of it. A couple of times over the years I have been asked to check, because my face looked really pale. Turns out my BG was way out of whack, and I was completely unaware of any problem.

I don't hide it anywhere, and I expect most of the folks I work with find out sooner or later, if only because they walk in on me doing a check at my desk, notice a bottle of glucose tabs on my bookcase, or see me pull out my pump to bolus for lunch.

The only time it has ever caused any concern is with a new boss. After 6 months, it wasn't an issue at all, as he knew my work performance.

strack350 · #14 (**permalink**) 11-21-2009, 01:01 PM

People I work with every day know, People I travel with on business trips know. Other than that some guy across the shop has no idea. I also don't make it a habit of "shooting up" or testing in a very public areas so everyone can see. I don't think it is good taste. There are a couple type 2 diabetics I work with that take injections of insulin, and I see them walking around with needles in their mouth, or behind their ears and get a sense of disgust and I'm diabetic, just imagine what others think.

ant hill · #15 (**permalink**) 11-21-2009, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strack350

There are a couple type 2 diabetics I work with that take injections of insulin, and I see them walking around with needles in their mouth, or behind their ears and get a sense of disgust and I'm diabetic, just imagine what others think.

Yes being a Diabetic Cow Boy is not in good taste. But I don't be ashamed when I have lunch in a public space.
With going for interviews I do state that I am unfortunately have diabetes and on many occasions get denied the job and I see that they don't blame on liability to diabetes. In the back of my mind I see people are frightened about diabetes as they don't understand or they don't want to understand.