Employment and diabetes

[lucy.campbell16]

Hi , does anyone else have extreme anxiety about type 1 diabetes and what it means for your job , lack of reliability , lack of trust and being treated like a child ?

I work in a brilliant environment with very supportive people but I fear what the really think of me Is that I am more than they asked for. Diabetes isn't something like cancer I feel like people don't truely understand how extreme it is .

I had a pre seizure this morning in work where the ambulance was called by a member of the gym and I was the only one working and they treated it before I actually had a seizure.

The owner of the gym was understanding and I continued to work because I felt fine but it's not the first time I've had something like this but that has happened at home meaning I couldn't make it in .

I work as a sales manager for a boxing gym , coach and instructor.

I just fear it will stop me progressing

 

[bujanin]

Hi Lucy

I can relate to you b/c I have been a PT for a long time and have had T1 for thirty years. I have had low moments during sessions and have had severe hypos when I have been alone at work and at home. I also relate to how you feel apout other people not understanding but unless you have T1 you just aren't going to understand the complexities and difficulties.

I have had too many lows in recent years but with the help of this forum and my specialist I have turned things around over the past eight months. Being on a gym floor is tricky because I am always so active. But with a CGM, a different mindset and dextrose/jelly babies in my pocket I feel more in control.

Severe hypos really are a nightmare but using the right tools and awareness they can be minimised if not eliminated.

Let me know if there is anything that you would like to talk about.

 

[Inka]

Welcome @lucy.campbell16 I was patronised in a job once but I’ve found things have got better as I’ve got older so don’t despair.

What was the pre-seizure that you had? Do you have epilepsy too or are you referring to a seizure caused by hypoglycaemia? If it’s the latter, what symptoms were you having that made the person call the ambulance?

Do you have a Libre or CGM? What’s your Low alarm set at ? Do you have good hypo awareness?

 

[lucy.campbell16]

Welcome @lucy.campbell16 I was patronised in a job once but I’ve found things have got better as I’ve got older so don’t despair.

What was the pre-seizure that you had? Do you have epilepsy too or are you referring to a seizure caused by hypoglycaemia? If it’s the latter, what symptoms were you having that made the person call the ambulance?

Do you have a Libre or CGM? What’s your Low alarm set at ? Do you have good hypo awareness?

Hi yea was a seizure caused by hypo ... I get these symptoms before a seizure where I flintch and get muscle twitches I'm still partially awake and can understand to an extent what is going on but yes I do have a Libre but unfortunately it fell out yesterday and I could only order the perscription for yesterday.

 

[Inka]

I know what you mean @lucy.campbell16 I’ve had a seizure from a hypo before and they’re horrible. That was some years ago though. It sounds like you’re having them relatively often?

 

[Wendal]

Hi Lucy,
Some great responses so far and sure there are lots of misconceptions about diabetes that other people may have and may impact on how they treat you.
I have to say I work in a very supportive environment and am very open about my condition though generally prefer to keep health matters private and low key.
It was just to explain things like my Libre alarm going off etc.
In fact my low alarm went off today whilst I was doing a talk on diabetes ( ironic) but I just ignored it and did not say anything to my audience.As I said I prefer to keep it private but that is just me rather than any fear of any prejudice or misunderstanding about the condition.
However I am quite confident in my situation and people who enquire about it do so out of curiosity and wanting to know more rather than as a negative scenario.
ATB

 

[Kol]

Hi @lucy.campbell16,
Is your Libre low alert not set high enough to help avoid this?

 

[Satan’s little helper]

Hi yea was a seizure caused by hypo ... I get these symptoms before a seizure where I flintch and get muscle twitches I'm still partially awake and can understand to an extent what is going on but yes I do have a Libre but unfortunately it fell out yesterday and I could only order the perscription for yesterday.

Hello, what insulin are you using? Used to get these spasms like I couldn’t control in my legs? (When low, as a kid. Not even a meter then.) But that was when I was on the porcine stuff.

 

[gillrogers]

Yes Lucy, I even get it from the extended family including professionals. They don’t understand and seem to think that I can carry on because they’ve seen the libre tv adverts showing someone carrying on as normal. It’s not reality at all. I had to give up my job as I worked on my own with no one else in the building at all and I had a couple of scary hypos in there on my own. I got lynched by my own family the other day because I’m desperate for an appointment with my consultant which could result in a change of insulin and it’s not until April. Nurses told me there’s nothing available until then because of the junior doctors strike. Family didn’t like me moaning about it and I could work if I really wanted too. Yes I do want to work, but the complications I have of the insulin are making me unreliable not to mention the stress it’s causing me is distracting.