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At your most recent (or current) job, did you tell your coworkers that you have T1D?
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I have a medic alert tatoo on my wrist, so it’s no secret.
I wear a bracelet and as someone who is aware but does go low for a variety of reasons, I tell people so they know what to do. Have never needed intervention except a little being waited on by my spouse, so fortunate. But: I have never felt fearful for my job. I know a lot of people do because of the expense to the company.
I make it a habit to let people I work with (and play with!) know about my diabetes. Even with a CGM with alerts, there are times when my blood glucose can plummet and I need help, like a quick glass of juice. I let my supervisors and my employees know what my low blood sugar behavior looks like and I have been helped many a time and people are glad to help when they understand what kind of help I need. A lot of my colleagues, friends, and family, are much more knowledgeable about Type 1 diabetes now!
I never told anyone at my places of employment as I didn’t want to be judged by my disease instead of my performance. This was probably not going to happen, but just didn’t want to take the chance. I never had incidents where my problem was visible (for example, a low blood sugar reaction).
In my work I educate new employees about the Pharma R&D process, and often use diabetes as an example of how the drug development process works. As a 50-year T1D veteran with few complications, I feel I am a good example of what LIVING with diabetes looks like, and I am proud to advocate for a healthy lifestyle.
I answered “other” because I never tried to hide or display it. I am who/what I am. I may have tried to hide it if I thought it might have jeopardized my job, tho.
As I see fit to inform others, I do, it’s a need to know basis.
I’ve made it a habit with every job I’ve had to let my coworkers know early on that I have T1D. In the event something were to happen to me on the job, I would want people to know about me so that they can then know how to help.
Being a RN, who has worn a pump the majority of my career, it was hard to hide.
I’m retired now but when I was diagnosed I was working in a school kitchen. Luckily it happened in the summer and I almost died so they were told right away. Also I would have had to tell them since before I got Dexcom I would have lows a would have to stop to drink something and sit for a bit, which wasn’t always convenient
I don’t stand up on a desktop and shout it out, but I don’t hide it and have found it’s important to let people know why I’m beeping in meetings…or just in general. It does get really tiring to explain the difference between T1 and T2, but I tell myself I’m educating and try to do it with a smile. I have had to have frank conversations with coworkers about what I eat being my own business. (Can you imagine telling an overweight person that they shouldn’t have a piece of candy? Yet somehow that’s okay for folks to tell us, when we know that sometimes we NEED some sugar to level us out) I also make sure people in my immediate environment know if I’m about to do a finger stick. (rare since I have Dexcom now) But I learned early on that the tiny pin prick of blood that’s so normal to me might cause someone else to feel woozy if they see it unawares.
I didn’t announce it but neither did I hide it. Many people knew.
I have always notified those with whom I work closely, regularly. I don’t hide it, but I don’t make a corporate-wide announcement (several thousand people) either.
It was much more of a concern to me back in the bad old pre-CGM, R/NPH days because you really lived on thin ice all the time, doing your best to organize your life to fit your insulin (NOT the other way around), when the insulin time of action was imprecise at best. So it was important for my co-workers, my boss especially, to know because sometimes you had to deal with something and it was no joke.
I’ve only told my immediate work group (3 others), plus folks in the HR Dept. know. In fact, not too long ago, I left my insulin pen (in its case) in the restroom, and someone from HR brought it back to me.
Wearing an insulin pump even an idiot would notice. I’ve changed jobs several times since diagnosis, it’s never been a problem. Back in “injection days,” I kid about doing drugs over lunch, but I ask if i need to walk away to test my levels (seems everyone is related to a diabetic so that’s not an issue either). Want to be polite after all. Everyone I work with know I’m a “chronically ill weak diabetic.” ( teasing there, these 20 year old whine about keeping up with this 61 year old). I’ve had homeowners question about the pump, neighbors ask, the only thing I physically can’t do is tall ladders: terrified of heights!
After a bit of time working I will let those who work with me daily be aware of my medical concerns. I do not do this immediately. Possible hypoglycemic events need to be known for me as does epilepsy, but I want people to get to know me first.
Such knowledge could do severe irreparable harm in the wrong hands/situation(s). e.g. promotion, employment, health insurance Why on earth would I give anyone that information/ability? They must earn that trust.