20 Comments
In the past 3 months, how many hours of work or school do you estimate you missed because of T1D (e.g., going to T1D-related appointments, feeling sick because of BG levels, etc.)?
You must be logged in to post a comment.
© 2023 T1D Exchange. All Rights Reserved.
I had episode a couple months ago when my pump ran out of insulin and I got pulled into a meeting part way through filling a new reservoir. Meeting required urgent follow-up and I was disconnected for about 3 hrs before I noticed I was thirsty and nauseated. Had to inject, hydrate and rest a couple of hours that time. I usually work 70+ hrs per week though, so more than make up for it. With the exception of my maternity leaves, I’ve taken less sick time off in 20 years than most of my “healthy” colleagues take each year. I joke that I’m just used to feeling lousy so don’t feel the need to take a day off when I do. T1D resiliency!
0 hours as I haven’t worked since 1990, having been retired on grounds of ill health.
I got an infected pump site at work. I had to go to urgent care & then had follow up appointments after that. Because of Covid the urgent care was over flowing & it took hours and most of my work day instead of a quick trip like I expected.
I didn’t put 0, because doctor appointments take about an hour every 3 months. Other than that, I haven’t missed any work due to T1D.
I’m retired, so scheduling appointments is not an issue for me. I did work for 18 years as a Type 1 (diagnosed in 1976 and worked in my primary career until 1994). During my working years, I was on MDI. I had one hospitalization due to DKA in 1980 where I was in ICU and lost about 2 weeks of work. Other than that, I did not lose any work time due to my diabetes. Since I was a salaried worker, I still had flexibility about taking time off for doctor appointments and always made up the time (I worked 10 to 12 hour days on average anyway to get the job done.) I don’t feel that my diabetes kept me from accomplishing my goals. I did have to modify and adopt a lifestyle more conducive to living well with diabetes but that has been well worth it.
I am retired but if you want to consider doing other work (house work, washing cars etc., volunteering at a dog shelter) I do have to postpone doing those types of work occasionally till my sugar levels rise.
vacuuming is the BEST blood sugar decreasing activity available! ;p 😀
I feel very lucky!
I’m retired so question isn’t relevant to me.
Only my semi-annual endo check-up.
Because of the complications, loss of sleep and such I’ve wondered how ppl manage that do work. My husband and I have been retired for 10 years and before that I wasn’t on a pump. I did have days that completely and do still have days where I am completely exhausted.
Retired 8 years ago!
Retired now, but missed no work during the forty years that I DID work.
Travel time to/from medical appointments has taken 4 hours. The greatest loss of time has been from waiting/fruitless conversations with DME supplier and insurance.
Can’t remember the last time I was sick. I am feeling great.
I’d say about 3-4 hours because of how long it takes me to get to/from my current endo, who I saw last week. I work from home so it wasn’t a problem.
I’m unemployed at the moment (not retired)… but, when I worked, I was constantly having to leave for doctors’ appointments. BUT, I _always_ made up any lost time… it’s just that it is an unusual boss/company that is ok with this type of working. My experience was that most companies are strict about when you can and can not be at work (pre-COVID). WFH would not have been an option for me either.
I almost always felt an uncomfortable tension when having to ask for time to take care of my medical needs.
After working an extremely stressful job for 10+ years added on top of 35+ T1D longevity with very brittle responsiveness along the way. I usually miss 1 day a week of work 😿. My body is showing its age although I’m only 45
I said 0 due to T1D-related appointments since I work nights and no Doctor’s offices are open overnight, but I said 0 due to feeling sick because although I missed over 90 hours of work due to illness over the past month alone, that time missed from work was COVID instead of T1D related.
I am retired. However, I have had to go for blood tests and Endocrinologist visits. Also, I often lose time when working around the house to stop for snacks, and wait for my blood sugar levels to return to an acceptable level. I answered 5 to 8 hours. But, it is probably a lot more hours for stopping for snacks and blood sugar levels.