I know that Nic had a bit of a shocker with her pump over the weekend but I have to admit that I myself had a stunner (BGs notwithstanding) catching up with 5 nieces and nephews, inlaws and finally finding a replacement vacum cleaner bag which has eluded me for the last 8 months among much else. The weather was good, it wasn’t overly cold and I didn’t have to work – excellent.
That said, things are going to get a little different for me soon as resigned from my current job last week to take up another position in another company! Hooray! I’m not resistant to change by any means but it can be a little unsettling etc which has got me thinking about how as well as the usual rounds of name remembering, introductions, getting used to the systems, setting up computers and so on I’m also going to have to go through the whole “I’m a diabetic thing”. Or do I? I know it isn’t actually relevant in any way unless it impedes on my work which it will occassionally (like a hangover) so I’m tempted this time to not say anything at all and see how it rolls. I’ve never been one to not say anything about being a diabetic wherever I am cos I don’t care who knows but I do have friends who are closeted per se and I can understand why.
This time round I’m starting the job on a pump so it’ll be a lot more discrete than wacking a pen in at my desk which is what I normally do and I’m wondering how people will react. Hopefully I don’t get anyone telling me it looks like it’s a colostomy bag like Nic did!
I start in three weeks so will be sure to let you know how it goes and how my levels react.
Have a good week guys.
- Aaron
Posted in Insulin Pumps, Work
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Nic wrote
So pleased for you on the new job, congrats again.
I know what you mean about the diabetes announcements in new jobs…. I normally tell the people who sit around me (even if you’re not injecting you’ll still be drawing blood with your blood tests, and you’ll also need them to know not to eat your sugar supplies should they feel tempted!).
I have also in some jobs sent a short email out re-assuring them that I’m well controlled but there will be occasions when I’ll go hypo and what to do in case of an emergency. This is actually more for their benefit than mine as I think it makes people feel a little more secure – knowing they know what to do should something happen.
Actually – after Friday my workmates got all concerned again because they saw the state of me after being up all night and worrying about getting a replacement pump, so they have asked me to send out an email again – must make time to do that.
andrew wrote
Aaron
tough call – I have moved around a bit within a big company in thelast few years and I have settled on a need to know policy. I won’t hide it if someone asks, but I find that even if my peers are well meaning and I proactively “warn” them, they take it as some sort of weirdness and I end up with the whole “did you eat too many lollies as a kid?” bollocks…
I have a boss who, everytime I am grumpy/short with people asks, in front of others, if my blood sugar is under control which is VERY condescending and makes me more grumpy!!!
I would start with people finding out as a natural rather than a contrived event.
good luck with the new job!!
cheers
Nic wrote
Actually maybe Andrew is right…. thankfully noone at my work is switched on enough to diabetes to start blaming BGs for any grumpiness, but now that they know I’m pregnant that becomes the excuse for any time I get cross, when really I sometimes am just cross and need to point out that something at work is not good enough!
I guess it depends on how well controlled the T1 is. If you are at all hypo unaware and have had to rely on others to get you out of a hypo before then I would say it’s only fair to let them know in advance.
Aaron wrote
Very good points guys – I’d not really though about the whole high BG thing cos I don’t work with people that onto it either (in a diabetes kind of way that is). I have had my family do that whole ‘are you high’ thing though and it does my nut. I think I’m decided now based on this conversation that it will be a need to know basis which will work well cos the team I’m in all know me already.
Nic – wait till you get random strangers feeling your baby belly on the street cos they think it’s open property! Happens to every pregnant person I’ve known