34 Comments
How much does T1D impact your ability to participate fully in work or school?
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I’m retired.
The only concerns are to keep my levels from doing to low at the worst times. Otherwise I tell folks it’s just a wee little part of me messed up.
I answered not at all because it hasn’t, but I just remembered one time right after diagnosis that I went really low while in a patient room (I’m a nurse diagnosed as an adult) and someone had to take over for me while I recovered. However, that was my second week back after being diagnosed and DKA- I had no clue what I was doing.
The sudden changes in blood sugar that are part of LADA led to my retirement. They also impact my ability to grocery shop and clean house.
I said not at all because I Check often with CGM. Does a little bit if I go low. Takes a minute to bring it up but doesn’t really interfere with what I’m doing. I’m a nurse so am active all day
I said a little, just because I might have to (or should) take a time out to treat a low
I’m T1 LADA, dx’d at 67, mis-dx’d T2 at 58, and now retired. I previously worked in high stress national operation center positions, working rotating 24/7 9 and 12 hour shifts. I don’t think going thru the process of getting set on insulin types and doses initially with MDI and changing over to a pump would have been doable. It certainly would have taken longer with the revolving shift work, meal structures, and lousy fast-food available food sources, if it would have been doable. I actually think the jobs I had probably contributed to T1 LADA onset, though other jobs might not have stopped it.
That was a cruel vicious work schedule. No one should have to put up with that sh*t. Stress from intensive classes & homework definitely was a factor in my T1D age 15. Since then I’ve met 2 Vietnam Vets who developed T1D in stressful Vietnam war. I met another guy who had a schedule like yours working for Starbucks. He was already taking pills to stimulate his pancreas to squirt insulin for his meals, plus raising 4 teenagers. In less than a year his pancreas was exhausted and he became a T1D. Someone should warn the T2Ds about the risks of becoming T1D while over-using oral agents.
I’m retired. But it does frequently impact my ability to do my workouts. I imagine that will be a question at some point.
Usually not at all. Occasionally, when we have a social event with alcohol, I wouldn’t mind having a drink or beer. But it’s too hard to bolus for, so I don’t. Not really a hardship, it doesn’t bother me.
I answered a lot. Not so much because of t1d’s direct effects, more so due to health issues brought on by a hyperglycemic coma. Prior to the coma I was undiagnosed.
Note: LADA dx just prior to 61st birthday.
I said a little- but very little. I am retired it do volunteer work which can be physically challenging. I watch by bg and take carbs as needed without much interruption in my task at hand.
I answered some, I am now retired but have been T1 most of my life. As others said, going low and needing time to bring BG up was the challenge.
My son experiences migraines due to high blood sugar levels periodically.
I do as well nearly all the time that I’m above 250 for a prolonged amount of time.
I worked for 20 years as a T1D. Tresciba is relatively new, maybe the last 10 years? It reduced the number of critical lows and stabilized me enough so I could lose 25 lbs. when I worked, I always carried a snack. Retirement has been physically easier because the last ten years have included Tresciba and a CGM.
I’m retired!
When I was not, it did effect me some.
I marked not at all because that applied to my working years. Even though I had to drink oj at times while at work. I don’t think it interfered with my job. I’m now retired.
I said a little…but need to explain why. T1D has neve impacted my ability to do my job (turns out my attendance records are far better than many of my colleagues, I have the benefit of my Tandem X2 pump with Dexcom integration), However, the stigma and/or bad reputation that the general public – including employers – have towards people with diabetes has impacted my career. Statements such as “she shouldn’t be prooted, she’s irresponsible” When challenged on that statement a dept head said that I obviously wasn’t responsible, after all “she has diabetes. If she can’t be relied on to take care of her health, she can’t be relied on to …whatever” diabetes”
meant to say “shouldn’t be promoted”
Have you considered legal action? Maybe JDRF or ADA could recommend an attorney? Do you have disability rights organization in your state? (Even though T1 diabetes is not considered a “disability”. ) Your rights have been violated.
Seems like it only affects life when it’s an inconvenience
I put “not at all” because that was my work experience. I am now retired.
I answered not at all. Over the years I have had to take off a day here & there because I had a serious overnight low, but I was entitled to days off so it didn’t matter why I took them. It’s not like I was calling out every week or even every month. I have also had a few bad lows while at work but I have always worked for small, family owned businesses and it was not a problem. I actually had my second bad low at work one day and my co-worker told me that I had to see a specialist because my doctor wasn’t helping me. At the time, I only saw a PCP. She stood over me while I looked up an endo on the insurance site and waited while I made the call. It was a gift, because I found the greatest endo and got on a pump. That was 17 years ago and that endo has just retired which makes me so sad.
In retrospect, I now recognize the impact of diabetes in my life, but for years and years I pretended I had it all under control and it was all fine.
Because of diabetes I always avoided jobs where I had to attend long meetings since there was no way to tell my sugar levels other than pricking my fingers. I also avoided going out with others to lunch unless they were people I feel very comfortable with because I had to give myself a shot before eating .
On the other hand, I always, worked, and took classes, travel, and did whatever life required from me. On the good side diabetes taught me to take care of my health, to eat moderately, to exercise, and to be responsible and strong in life. So it had pros and cons.
I put n/a as i no longer work and school is very far behind me. When I was working, however, it impacted my work a little bit. I had difficulty recovering from major lows experienced in the wee hours. I’m sure if I were still working (it’s been about 15 years) it would have more impact cause everything is more impactful as I age.
I was lucky to have a long, active career that was rarely, if ever, constrained by my diabetes. However, I’m still avoiding travel and face-to-face meetings when many of my colleagues have resumed these pre-pandemic activities after being vaccinated. Due to my age and my diabetes, I think I’ll continue to feel vulnerable to severe COVID until effective antivirals are readily available.
Not at all. Having classes or not seeing without classes is far more limiting and annoying in some activities.
Never in my T1D 55 years has it gotten in the way of anything. I even did seven (7) Sky dive Jumps with no problems!
I marked “a little” to account for the rare extreme blood sugars that can distract. However, reading the other comments and question again perhaps I should have selected not at all. I work more than 70 hrs a week, so participate more than fully in work.
I am retired now, but having had a physically demanding job in the past, there were times I had to ingest carbs and sit down for awhile to let my sugar rise. Since I felt terrible not holding up my end of the workload, I must admit I worked through some lows (not sitting down but drinking juice to raise my blood sugar).
For the most part T1D did not interfere with my work or classes except for one brief period at age 19. If I was low at work, I just ate sugar or candy and muscled my way thru it. I’ve done some physically demanding jobs including loading trucks at a frenetic pace. I was surprised when a friend suggested I get a pilot’s license. He knew I had Type 1 but said it would not be a problem. I was astonished. This was before pumps.
I am retired. However T1D still impacts my ability to fully participate in work around the house and other outside activities. It has had less of an impact with my isolation over the past two years because of covid. I think I would have answered either a little or some.