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Has your career path been influenced by living with T1D, for better or worse? Share in the comments more about your experiences about T1D and your career.
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I have stayed at jobs that were not a good fit simply for the assurance that with insulin continually rising that I could afford my medications.
No.
I was on disability due to epilepsy by the age of 24.
T1D wasn’t part of my life until 31.
T1D has made me much more cautious than I would have been, career-wise. It’s always in the back of my mind that I really need my medical benefits to assist, and that cannot be compromised, even if my job gives me no satisfaction, and I feel second-rate in my profession.
I decided to become a diabetes educator as a 2nd career when I realized there wasn’t enough educators relating with us.
@Sherri Mason. A magnanimous gesture, ma’am … thinking of others apart from concerns about your good self. <3
YES! Absolutely. I became a T1 diabetic in 1977. Back then, there was no real way to control blood glucose levels, aside from urine tests, which were about worthless. I was having serious low blood glucoses daily, an usually multiple times a day. Using NPH and Regular insulin from animals, combined with the continuous low blood glucoses left my mind in a fog for 21 years. I needed a job that was low risk, with health insurance. I took a State job that had health insurance benefits. I did not enjoy the work, and had some moral issues with the work I was doing. But, I stayed with the job for health care for me and my family, and decent pay. If I had not been a diabetic, I would have either started my own business, or looked for something more stimulating, in the private sector.
@Lawrence S. I ‘hear’ you, sir. For about the first 20 years after my diagnosis, I used to spend as much time as a hospital in-patient as I did at home.
I truly do hope that life is better for you now.
Yes, health insurance was a big deal for us! I was uninsured when I delivered a pre-term baby. A financial catastrophe, from which I never recovered. I applaud your fortitude!!
Thank you Kate and Mick. I forgot to mention, that the job I had, as a traveling sale representative for a major food manufacturer at the time I was diagnosed, asked me to leave when I told them that I had diabetes.
Unfortunately, working for a caring organisation [organization] made a big difference for me. As soon as things started to ‘go wrong’ i.e. me developing diabetes-related complications, they wanted me ‘out the door’.
Sadly, I am no longer able to work, after being ‘pensioned off’ at the age of 32, as my complications have increased over the last 40+ years and I now have a hospital bed at home … provided, I hasten to add, by my local hospital on the advice of my endocrinologist.
I moved from tech to biotech, have worked at patient focused companies who are developing novel drugs
For the better. I became a Registered Dietitian and a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist.
I trained to be a clarinetist. Unfortunately beginning a music career involves a lot of freelancing with no insurance. I was diagnosed in 1990, 2 weeks before my senior recital and then went on to a master’s degree.
When I graduated I needed a job with insurance so I started working in a CD shop. Of course in those days while I had insurance, no diabetic stuff was covered for the first year (thanks ACA in the US for at least that little bonus).
I couldn’t practice enough due to the retail fatigue so my playing and gigging never went far. A few years later I started teaching music lessons one day a week while still working retail 4 days. Now I’m on my husband’s insurance and teaching music part-time and playing in a band.
It has indluended my career choices. Whether it’s for better or worse, I’m not sure that can be determined.
Hmmmmm…I am an adult endocrinologist specializing in T1D and the early introduction of available diabetes technology to improve the lives of those w both T1D and T2D, and frequently give talks to other medical professionals on the clinical application of pumps and CGM. So I guess that is a yes! And I am grateful to have been diagnosed in 1968, not 1918 (would have died) or 1948 (likely would have ended up blind and on dialysis).
I am thankful every day I wake up and realize I am still here and healthy, and for all the people w T1D I have met over my decades in practice- they are my inspiration, motivation, and a source of joy when they do well, and heartbreak when they don’t. I am blessed 🙂
I was dc’d after I retired.
Most definitely, it’s why I became a RN and Certified Diabetes Educator (now called CDCES). Taught a young age about the physiology of diabetes (probably the only 7 year old in my class who knew what the Islets of Langerhans were) and inspired in my 20’s after I graduated from college, by an amazing RN diabetes educator, Peggy Huang, and my father who was a MD, I decided to get a BSN and RN to do the work I’ve loved for the past 36 years!
Yes for the better!! I was an NP when I was diagnosed at age 38 and worked in primary care. A few years after my diagnosis while seeing the CDE to get on a pump, she recommended that I apply for a job at the academic medical center in the diabetes clinic where she worked. I worked there the last 20+ years of my career doing research, clinical care and precepting NP students. I loved it and felt grateful to work in a place with great insurance benefits, folks who understood T1d and to be involved in research. My patients also so appreciated having a clinician with T1d. I have now been retired for 5 years.
Worse. I don’t get much sleep and always tired. Can’t work on not enough sleep.
I’m a dietitian because I fell in love with nutrition once I started having to pay attention to it.
YES! Been working in the diabetes industry for almost 19years. Sold Animas, Lifescan, Dexcom, lantus, Toujeo, Soliqua, AFREZZA, VGo, Software…
Met my wife who’s an RD/CDE…
It paved my way!! Bitter sweet diagnosis one might say.
I chose a public sector job with steady employment and good health benefits, yet not great pay.
One I was a teenager, there was lots of subtle pressure to become a professional diabetic: study nutrition, etc for the purpose of helping and perhaps being an example to other t1ds.
Later, many of my choices were made with health insurance being the top priority. Instead of the typical grad program, I opted on keeping my federal job while fitting my studies in around it. Same for post-doc. I may have missed some super experiences and opportunities, but I was not comfortable taking the risk.
I graduated college with dual degrees in engineering and biology. I was admitted to medical school, but when I went for the admission interview the dean was adamant that I not attend as they would not be responsible for any T1D issues on 24 hour shifts. This was the mid 1970s, no pumps, cgm or test strip. I went on to have a successful career in engineering and marketing.
T1 60 yrs, Dad who I worked for/with T1 LADA Dx 1940 – took over the business and got good healthcare – now retired and he has passed on 30 yrs
Because I am a compensably disabled veteran, thanks to my T1D, many years ago I got an extra 10 points on an exam offered by the Office of Personnel Management, which led to my getting a federal job offer. 40 years later I retired after an interesting career.
wasn’t diagnosed until age 43 so it had no effect on my career.
Fortunately, I was a music director and choir director and my planning time was mine to schedule. However, sometimes it was dicey with rehearsal and performance times.
I received my MA in English when I was 23, diagnosed at 40, and started insulin (surprise Type 1) at 45. I was a tech writer and taught college writing, first part time then full time. T1D was just something else to deal with that added careful monitoring.
No regrets, however, I wisely passed on several promotions because they required me to move and travel extensively. Managing a career with diabetes is particularly challenging and I opted for consistency in healthcare, work environment and job security.
Yes, definitely. I became a pharmacist and CDE. Later becoming an extended scope pharmacist in hospital. Looking after medications and lab tests for type 1 & type 2’s.
I could buy insulin for <$20/vial when I went to college and got a theater degree. Now I can't afford to work in theater because of the cost of T1D.
When looking at new jobs if the company health insurance isn't good enough my salary requirement goes up by $22.4k/year to pay for an ACA gold plan and cover the copays with take home pay.
I was diagnosed t1d at 8 years okd and became an elementary school educator. Returned to school in my early 40s to become a nurse, specifically as a career path towards becoming a certified diabetes educator. I’ve now been working full time as CDE/CDCES for nearly 15 years.
General Peds
Yes! I have pursued, persisted over a lifetime as a visual artist against many barriers. The most difficult obstacles have been the physical, mental and financial drain of life with T1D and it’s many complications. As a scholarship undergrad at the San Francisco Art Institute I constantly delt with NPH hypos that impacted my ability to consistently attend classes and produce my studio work. Ten years later, as a graduate student in the Master of Fine Arts program I was suddenly faced with severe visual impairment from misdiagnosed diabetic retinopathy. The distortions impacted my ability to produce the approved thesis artwork for my graduate exhibition. I had to totally revise my planned creative process and medium used, convince my graduate committee their approval of my thesis concept should remain and then start over with the production of new work for my graduate exhibition. At the same time those activities were taking my attention, the misdiagnosed diabetic retinopathy was continuing to damage my vision. After receiving my degree my intention to teach at the University level was put on hold while I worked seasonal employment to pay living expenses and save enough for continued medical care. Two years later I finally received the correct diagnosis and began five years of laser treatments on my left eye for progressive diabetic retinopathy. Those treatments and continued care from a retina specialist lowered the barrier and allowed me to continue as a working artist for the past 40+ years.
Yes. I became a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist.
I was diagnosed at age 66 and was already retired. Getting T1D turn d out to be a whole new career!
I was doing well with my diabetes but at time I got so stressed I went through DKA.
While I was pre-med because I wanted to be an Endocrinologist, I didn’t do well on the MCAT. As such, I continued in the sciences and now work as an analytical chemist.
T1D showed up in my family in 1959. My dad @ 9 and his baby sister @ 5. Six months within each other. Their 2 older siblings suffered PTSD from the sound of the needle boiling over the stove while adding the screams of my aunt and dad filled the empty spaces as my grandparents chased them around the house to give them their life medicine. Fast forward 25 years and their older brother, at 33, joined the other 2. Then came my turn, also @ 9 years old; July 1985. All of our journeys have been harder than most and due to my dad’s diabetic retinopathy leading to blindness when I was a baby, then followed by a massive stroke @ 44 and a heart attack that ended his journey one month shy of his 49th bday, I learned in my early 20’s that I had limitations. I never begrudged it and learned to follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in when & what I pursue. I started out wanting to be a nurse but the path led to places I could have never imagined. This has not been a disappointment, rather an opportunity to embrace ALL that has come my way. I can honestly say, I would not be the person I am today had this challenge passed me by.
I as diagnosed at 51, well into my career in public health.
Yes, I was diagnosed in 2000. I’m a non-practicing MD who has chosen a career path in pharma Medical Affairs, starting with my first role as Medical Science Liaison for Novo Nordisk supporting their full diabetes portfolio including incretin therapies. I am now with Amgen and involved with development of our own bispecific GLP-1 agonist/GIP antagonist for obesity and T2D which is several years from market. I should make this important plug remarking that all my 40 lb insulin-related weight gain as a type 1 over 24 years has now been fully reversed by Ozempic/Mounjaro/ and now ZepBound. I’ve lost 40 lbs over an even 1.5 yrs on treatment and this has been life-changing. Size 40 down to 34, 210 lbs to 170. Couple that with the automation of my Medtronic 780G bringing my AIC to 6.8 below 7 for my first time ever, and life is good! Not sure why insurance covered me for T2D medication as a type 1 but they did, until the other day with a prior auth denial. Due to supply/demand issue they just got wiser. But yesterday they just approved my prior auth for ZepBound for weight maintenance, so there are solutions. Attention all with overweight/obesity, weight gain, please consult these products based on your situation, and they will change your life too.
While T1D prevented me following certain options, once I had chosen the possible it was not an issue and still doing it after 52 years, even in retirement.
Yes for the better. After early college years studies in theater and dance performance, I chose and made a career switch to health care and nursing. I worked my way up the ladder from medical assistant, to LPN, to RN, to BSN, and eventually MSN with a clinical specialty in diabetes nursing. I worked as holistic psychiatric/mental health nurse for several years and frequently served as a diabetes resource consultant in most of my nursing jobs. Eventually earned certification as a CDE in 2005, now credentialed as CDCES, and served as a community based CDE in home care and medical office/clinic based settings. Am retired now and do independent part-time work as a holistic health and wellness consultant, often with PWDs seeking self-care guidance and wellness support.
My career as an attorney was certainly influenced by the rigors of living with T1D. I was diagnosed at age 8 in the early 1970s. I’m sure I never had the amount of energy & attention to devote to my career that I would have if I’d been healthy. I had what I consider a successful career. Due to good planning/diligent saving & luck, I was able to happily retire at the age of 59. I highly recommend early retirement!
Yes, for the worse. Being a T1 demands good medical insurance coverage. Without it, any care becomes almost impossible. I was compelled to take, keep, maintain many different positions which I severely needed to leave. I could not because the “new” coverage period takes a foolish amount of time before the new one kicks in. So yup, only for the worse….
Preferred a career where I could control when and if I ate, including consuming carbs for low glucose events. I was able to work independently, which supported this lifestyle.
When your having problems with your pump link, time off for doctors appointments and so on; you can get over looked for promotions. So, I went back to college to get a job with good benefits. Fingers crossed my newest job is understanding. Tired of being told lies on how it does not affect the decisions.
My dream was to work in technical theatre, but my parents convinced me that this wouldn’t be a good idea with diabetes – – affording my supplies, etc.