Dave Ward Photography

It's very rare that I miss a day of work. VERY rare. I've called in sick only a handful of times in the last four years of my working life. I typically am a "bite the bullet" kind of girl and work at least a few hours when I'm feeling ill. So when I do call in sick, I'm usually very sick.

Yesterday was one of those days. I tried to get ready, even headed into the shower, but my body just would not let me do it. So today, everyone at work is asking how I'm feeling and where I was. (A little too nosy for some of these people, but hey...) A few people I don't mind telling the truth about yesterday's sickness. Others have no idea about my diabetes, so I'd rather leave it all alone. I like my privacy too much.

My boss and the ladies that work directly around my cubicle know about my diabetes. They were the ones I emailed yesterday to say that I was having "major blood sugar issues" and would try to make it in later. Obviously, later never came around.

I appreciate the care that these people express when I miss a day of work. It makes you realize that you're noticeable enough that people actually miss you when you're gone! But I don't appreciate having to lie or to explain the past 15 years of my life. I'd rather go unnoticed so that explaining isn't a chore. Instead, I quickly explain the situation with "It was a stomach bug." or "Everything is fine today."

Leaving my diabetes out of the equation seems like a good idea most of the time, but sometimes it's a little scary walking around with this under my belt of secrets. Today, I'm not feeling exactly up to my normal self and am actually scared that something might happen. I've felt very weak since coming into the office. Several times, I've thought about disappearing under my cubicle just to rest.

But is it really their right to know my medical history? Does everyone need to know that I'm diabetic? And when they find that out, they always ask the normal questions: How long? Are you on pills? You don't look diabetic, how can that be? Then there comes the normal responses and the bewildered look on their faces.

Bottomline, it's much easier to tell them I'm normal and avoid those questions and those looks. It's better to avoid the eternal pity that I get from them and the daily invasion into my health. Despite the risk of my safety, I'm not willing to risk my normalcy here at the workplace. It'd be so much easier if I wasn't the only one.