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We found 10 result(s) that match your search "coworkers":

When to tell?

 

I have accepted a new job. It's in a new city (half way across the country!!). It's with new people. New people who don't know that I have diabetes.

 

It was during my four-year tenure at my current job that I was diagnosed. I had no problem telling just about everyone in my very small office about diabetes. I already knew them and their personalities.

 

It's different now. I have a problem with going in to the boss on my first day and saying, "Hey, guess what..." I also have a problem with waiting three months until my benefits kick in, or even longer when someone sees me checking my sugar (or doesn't know what to do if I pass out) to say, "Oh, yeah, maybe I should have told you sooner."

 

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The fact that I have diabetes is not the first thing most people learn about me.  In reality, it's often one of the last things I reveal about myself.  An exception to this rule is disclosure in the workplace. 

 

Because I am hypoglycemic unaware, and because I don't think it's fair for a person to find out about my diabetes because I've either lost consciousness or behaved aggressively, I typically let the people I work with know what they might be up against.   It's never really "comfortable" to disclose - as I'm never sure how people might react - but I find that it's absolutely necessary.  

 

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Beep Boop Beep.
My pump tells me it’s been two hours since my last bolus and that I should check my blood glucose level.
Beep. I clear the alarm.
I slip a test strip into my meter.
Beep. It is ready for me to drop blood on it.
Beep. The machine starts the countdown.
Beep. 163.
Press the Bolus Wizard button on my pump and enter the number.
Beep. Beep. Beep. I accept the amount of insulin and get it sent on its way. As soon as the bolus amount is finished being delivered I hear one last sound.
Beep.
From the other side of cubical partition I hear, “What is that beeping?”
“Sorry, that’s me and my stuff.”
“Ugh, I kept hearing all this beeping. I thought I was going crazy.” She replied. (READ MORE)

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The sound of salt grains landing on the freshly served tortilla chips sent a look of injustice flying across the table. I watched this confusing exchange of two co-workers as I sipped on a diet soda at my corner of the table. "Did you ask Scott if it was okay for you to put salt over all of the chips?", came from the accusing coworker. I was instantly puzzled and was trying to figure out the punch line of what I thought was some misunderstood joke. I realized he was dead serious when the ensuing diabetes conversation hit the table. (READ MORE)

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It's no secret that, at least in the past, I have been very open about my diabetes and the treatments I'm on. I have injected openly in front of co-workers, family and friends; proudly displayed my insulin pump; and told almost anyone who will listen that I have diabetes.
However, I'm starting to put the wraps on that. I'm not ashamed of anything, I'm actually pretty tired of misinformed people and of trying to explain the difference between type 1 and type 2. I do enjoy setting people right (just ask The Mr.!), but I don't want diabetes to be any more of a focus than it already is.
I may be naive, but I believe that my friends, family and co-workers who knew me before diabetes don't see me any differently. I don't believe they take pity on me, I believe they see the same strengths in me--and hopefully more--that they saw before I outted myself to them. (READ MORE)

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She flew up the stairs covered in traveling gear and paper bags.
"I brought treats!" she announced.
The last time she traveled to Iowa she brought back chocolates from a local bakery. They were really yummy and mostly devoured by my coworkers and I fairly quickly. One of my coworkers really raved about those chocolates, so it was no surprise when the traveler went straight to her office with a bag of goodies.
When I walked into the room where we normally put public treats, I had, honestly, forgotten they were there. It wasn't the same box of chocolates I thought would have been there. Looking at the box of pastries and plate of cookies I thought I might allow myself a treat anyway.
"What are these again?" I asked to the traveler in the office next door.
Coconut macaroons and some other pastry name I didn't recognize. Not being a coconut fan, it was easy for me to pass up the cookies.
"What exactly is this?" I wondered to the traveler. (READ MORE)

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I snuck in to the office like I was coming home after curfew. I listened for voices as I climbed the stairs to see if I could figure out where people were and if I was going to encounter anyone at the top.
As I hit the top step I was relieved to see that S. wasn't sitting at her desk. I quickly slunk into my office and plopped the fast-food bag on the floor next to my desk. I hated feeling like I had to hide my lunch, but that's the reality of it. (READ MORE)

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In the last several weeks at work I've gotten two "Is that your phone?" comments about Dex, one "Is that your pager?" comment about Toohey and one "I think we just violated HIPPA" comment. Oh, and two very long, in-depth conversations about diabetes, pumps and continuous glucose monitors. It's interesting how much of this information had become visceral to me... I found myself explaining things I hadn't thought I would need to but realized that basic diabetes knowledge is not so common.

 

Actually, I take that back. Some people know enough about diabetes to be dangerous, but what they have no clue about is pumps and CGM. Which is fine. In fact, today I told a co-worker after a lengthy conversation about how the pump and the CGM work that I don’t mind talking about it. I clarified by saying as long as I wasn’t being judged and people who were asking questions were willing to accept that I am the expert.

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I’ve written about the “diabetes secret handshake” on previous occasions – the externally-visible insulin pump, the furtive-but-public jab of an insulin pen, the naturally-obsessive counting of M&Ms, Smarties, or raisins – or the presence of glucose tablets.

 

Not that I really need them, but over time I’ve acquired a small stash of glucose tabs at health fairs and diabetes expos.Since another colleague – who works at an adjacent station where he cannot keep “food” – has a history of metformin-mediated lows, I’ve taken to keeping one of those tubes stashed in the unlocked space of my workspace, to be used if/as needed, no questions asked.

 

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Since I missed this week's Diabetes Social Media Advocacy #dsma chat, I'm addressing this week's questions here. The topic was disclosure — who (and what institutions) do you let know you have diabetes, and who (or where) do you choose to keep in the dark.

 

1. To disclose or not disclose: do(es) your employer/school/friends know you have diabetes? Why or why not?

The company which employs me does not know that I have diabetes; several people at work (including my supervisors) do. There is neither place nor reason to mention diabetes (or any disability) on the job application — I believe it's actually illegal in the US to inquire before hiring — and since hiring/firing decisions are made at the store level, accommodations must be discussed and/or made at that level, rather than the corporate level.

 

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