Has diabetes affected your career?

[Copepod]

Hope you don't loose your driving licence, Abi, but I know a few GPs (as colleagues in other jobs) who do house visits on bikes - admitedly easier in a small non-hilly city, only about 3 miles diameter, and I'm still not quite sure what they do with controlled drugs (keep them in locked cases, locked to bike when moving, I think) - so it is possible.

 

[Julia]

What scares me now is developping hypo unawareness of being in a position when I am not in control of my insulin or need for massive temporary increase in dose, culminating in severe hypos and then loosing license for a year as my options for work ( usually need to drive for home visits) would be limited-

I worry about this too. In my contract it actually states that if I lose my driving license, I would get instant dismissal (I am a vet, driving around 35,000 miles a year on the job).

I've been thinking about this thread a lot. I am truly sorry for the people who's diabetes has affected their career in a negative way. I think in some ways it has shaped mine (in neither a negative or positive way) - I have always had an interest in endocrine problems and pther internal medicine problems (as opposed to surgery or orthopaedics) and I wonder whether understanding diabetes has influenced this. Also there are times that I am glad that I am the anaesthetist for a long operations (as opposed to a surgeon who may be scrubbed in for several hours at a time) as I can test and eat much more easily.

 

[Clarkey]

Diabetes has never affected my work, nor will i let it.

 

[HOBIE]

Well said clarky ! My GP is also a T1 ! 😎

 

[Abi]

It seems in most cases that when Diabetes does impact on employment it is due to negative and obstructive attitudes and behaviours of colleagues- in fact in some cases downright bullying. I come across plenty of type one's- even just looking at their notes/ clinic letters and many of them have appallingly high HbA1cs and are young/ working. I suspect in many cases they are embarassed and try to hide their diabetes by running high, never monitoring, avoiding hypos etc

 

[Phil65]

I was an army Sergeant when I was diagnosed with type 1. My acting promotion to staff sergeant (just as I was diagnosed) was not substantiated for 3 years but I went on to finish my 22 years service as a warrant officer 🙂 I felt fortunate to be 'allowed' to stay in the army for 10 years with diabetes. I tried to not let Diabetes affect my job, although I was not allowed to serve in an operational theatre. Things did change in 2002 0r 2003 a European ruling meant that soldiers could be recommended for promotion and be promoted even if they were medically down-graded (I was with Type 1) as long as they could be employed in a suitable position......So yes, initially, I went from a young keen thrusting Sgt to a disillusioned frustrated Sgt that couldn't be promoted. But I wouldn't give in and I still reached the top in my Corps 🙂

 

[Catwoman76]

Abi - Hi I totally agree with your comments, so true

My employers think I am a liability, all they are thinking about is ,'well if we train her then this eye thing she has ( bleeding at the back of my eye, but it didn't happen before I started the job) might make her give up work and 'their training' has gone to pot, so to speak, and they think they have wasted their money. The actual Pharmacist said to me a couple of weeks ago ' don't have a hypo on me' funnily enough, I have never had a hypo ON someone, but I could walk along the passage, then up to the dispensary and HYPO all over the Parmacist 😱

Phil, it must of been so annoying and frustrating for you good for you as you kept on going, that's what I do. It's other peoples bigotry and stupidity that are problematic, not us with D🙄

I will keep going till I drop, nothing holds me back. Best wishes Sheena

 

[Northerner]

I hope things get easier for you Sheena, and that their attitudes become more enlightened 🙂

 

[Catwoman76]

I hope things get easier for you Sheena, and that their attitudes become more enlightened 🙂

I'm getting by thanks, it's a job and it took me long enough to get this one😱 so I will just keep ploding on🙂

 

[Northerner]

I'm getting by thanks, it's a job and it took me long enough to get this one😱 so I will just keep ploding on🙂

I think it's a real shame that they don't recognise what a dedicated, hard worker they have in you. Are you still looking for jobs? Sometimes it can be easier to get another job when you are already in one (you don't need to answer that here! 😉)

 

[imtrying]

I'm so sorry to read of all those who've been affected by work or had their careers stopped.

I suppose I have been very fortunate in that i always knew I was going to be an office-bod so my diabetes is not even an issue.

Not once in over 8 years have I had a day off for my diabetes. There have been a few ocassions where I've been in late due to having a hypo first thing, or leaving early as I've run out of insulin, but I generally ALWAYS work longer hours than I am contracted so no-ones ever seemed to mind if I have to leave a little early or get in a little late (from time to time).