Wishing I was back in the closet!

[Pigeon]

I tend to keep my diabetes fairly discreet - I never want it to be the first thing people know about me or to be known as "the diabetic", as there is far more to me than that! So when I started a new job over a year ago people found out as and when I injected etc but I never announced it to anyone.

Then a few weeks ago a fellow T1 colleague found out - great, I thought, someone in the same boat! But it turns out she's a bit of a drama queen about it - telling all and sundry about her highs and lows. Now every time she sees me do some exercise (walk to work, lunch time run etc) she asks me how I sorted out my sugar levels for that particular activity - which is fine once or twice, but I don't want to talk about it all the time!

Then in the crowded staff room someone was doing the diabetes police thing to her ("you shouldn't be eating that!" etc) and she shouted and pointed "well she's diabetic and she eats cake too!". Cue stunned silence in the staff room and everyone staring and saying "are you?" in unison!

She did apologise afterwards for "outing" me, and I said it was fine as I knew she was feeling stressed and "got at". And I know she appreciates having someone in the same boat to talk to, but I just wish she could be a bit more discreet! Now bracing myself for a barrage of "are you sure you can eat that?" questions from all manner of well-meaning people... Oh well, hopefully I can use it as a way to educate more colleagues about diabetes, but I just wish it had come out as and when rather than in a big announcement!

Oh well, off to make cookies to take in tomorrow to celebrate Friday, will see what the diabetes police make of them!

 

[Northerner]

Ah, sorry to hear you are 'outed' Pigeon! Have you suggested the forum to her so that she can perhaps get some wider perspective about things? Hope you aren't subjected to too much ignorance and get to spread the word with understanding what it's all about 🙂

 

[Pigeon]

Have lent her some books and sent her some web links... leaving it up to her to see what she takes up as I don't want to keep bringing up diabetes every day! Also I'm a bit reluctant to recommend the forum too strongly as I don't want to come home and talk to her online in the evenings having had it all day! Sorry, i know that's selfish, maybe in time....

 

[MargB]

Pigeon, that must have been really annoying and distressing. If your colleague is newly diagnosed then I am sure she will settle down soon.

I quite understand not wanting work colleagues on the same forum - I have very few colleagues as friends on Facebook. Work / Home - separate.

 

[novorapidboi26]

Do people actually tell diabetics that 'you should not be eating that'?

I have been in several jobs since diagnosis and no one has said this to me, all they know is I inject insulin when I eat something........

I suppose in a large office there may be a minority that would think like this, but in all honesty it is totally alien to me.....

 

[imtrying]

Do people actually tell diabetics that 'you should not be eating that'?

I have been in several jobs since diagnosis and no one has said this to me, all they know is I inject insulin when I eat something........

I suppose in a large office there may be a minority that would think like this, but in all honesty it is totally alien to me.....

you have been very, VERY lucky NRB!!!

There is not ONE meal I eat at work that doesn't have someone say 'can you eat that?' or 'you shouldn't be eating that should you?'

No wonder I've got a complex about food and eating in front of people!! Jokes aside, it is very annoying and it can be quite upsetting.

I hope your colleagues are kind to you Pigeon and don't start commenting on everything you do. Maybe you could find an article that explains T1 and highlight the section which says you can eat whatever you want, you just inject for it...and print it out and put it on all their desks 🙂

 

[novorapidboi26]

I must be lucky, I mean there is only ever going to be a few folk that you will be eating with, and telling them how it works wont take long......

Make an announcement that anything can go in your mouth as long as their insulin to cover it........🙂

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Fingers crossed you don't get in (m)any uncomfortable conversations as a result - you never know... a few clarifications from you and everyone you work with might suddenly begin to actually understand diabetes properly rather than relying on the nonsense/misinformation in the media!

A little positive advocacy goes a long way 🙂

 

[newbs]

Do people actually tell diabetics that 'you should not be eating that'?

I have been in several jobs since diagnosis and no one has said this to me, all they know is I inject insulin when I eat something........

I suppose in a large office there may be a minority that would think like this, but in all honesty it is totally alien to me.....

I agree, you are very lucky not to have had that question. Every time we go out for a work meal and I have a pudding I get shocked looks and asked if I am allowed to eat it. It doesn't bother me as I know it is just ignorance re diabetes really but you just know the question is coming!

 

[novorapidboi26]

I agree, you are very lucky not to have had that question. Every time we go out for a work meal and I have a pudding I get shocked looks and asked if I am allowed to eat it. It doesn't bother me as I know it is just ignorance re diabetes really but you just know the question is coming!

But who are these people, do they know you well enough to actually make a comment? And if they do you know you well enough to make the comment, why are they not in the know that you can eat what you like.......

No doubt I am lucky, but I feel its more to do with how you go about your diabetic business.........🙂

 

[Ellie Jones]

Novo like you I've not really experienced the 'can you eat that' question only an handful of times in 20 odd years...

No doubt I am lucky, but I feel its more to do with how you go about your diabetic business.........🙂

You'll probably right there, as peoples reaction will be predisposed and mark other diabetics they come across before hand...

Me and OH (also a T1) spent best part of 15 years working together and to start of with, never had problems with perception of our diabetes from our colleagues, that was until a T2 diabetic started then everything seemed to change...

She created so much fuss over her diabetic condition, boy did she bang on about everything, duties she couldn't do, foods, break times, throwing sick days after sick days and she was diet controlled😱 It all had a negative impact on both of hubby and me... Suddenly we gone from our diabetes being excepted and never being questioned to everything being questioned... Not good at all..

Pigeon

I don't think you were in the closet as such, but just treated your diabetes as something normal sounds same as hubby and I, we don't advertise it sort of carry on as normal, and yes if somebody needs to know will tell them, but don't make big issues over it... Hence everybody treat as normal as they are, but they again we are just got something that sometimes needs our attention.

 

[RachelT]

I have a friend who seems to think that i'll faint/ fall into a coma if i eat chocolate....It used to bug me, i used to think that everybody was scrutinising my lunch, but i think they've found more interesting things to gossip about.

I'm lucky in that there's two other diabetics in my department, one other type 2 who keeps it very quiet, and isn't very popular with the gossip-mongers, and a type 1 who's very matter of fact about it and never makes a big deal of it. I worry sometimes that i do make more of a fuss than she does, but remember that everybody's diabetes is different. She's off work sick at the moment, so if you're reading this, get well and come back soon! I have exciting new Stephen King news and a new book to lend you!

Rachel

 

[Pigeon]

Yes, fortunately I've only experienced the "can you eat that?" a few times, mainly from friends or family I don't see often. People I see every day seem to know I just get on with it - or the novelty of asking wears off!

The T1 colleague does seem to make more of a song and dance about everything (has had it 20 years!) hence probably why other people feel the need to add their two-penneth, e.g. she says she's hyper, so they advise against eating cake. However, the "diabetic policemen" in question are quite busy-body about it, proclaiming to be experts because their dad had T2 etc, and I don't think any lay-person has a right to comment on what you're eating, whether your diabetes is well controlled or not. Oh well, if they try it with me I'll bombard them with information til they get bored!