Community Answers (5)

09/03/10 09:00 PM

I have had stress control problems at work also. Stress hormones raise glucose levels. I make sure that I eat when I need to and for me, that meant filing a complaint with the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) who has helped me with my right to reasonable accommodation. Diabetes is a legally recognized disability and the EEOC protects you from discrimination that denies this right to you. I eat foods that can help suppress the release of stress hormones. Celery is a good choice for that, but I do have to eat a lot. In order to conveniently do this, I make a home-made veggie drink full of healthy nurtrients using a lot of celery. I make this drink with celery, organic spinach, fresh ginger root, kale, spring salad mix, carrots, cucumbers, zuchini squash or about anything else that is green. I sometimes also add a sweet onion. I always use celery as well as organic spinach and ginger root, the other items can vary according to what is availble. I also add some soy protein isolate powder and/or yellow pea protein powder as they are both complete proteins. I blenderize it all with enough purified water to make it a drinkable consistency. As it is blenderizing, I add a dash of cinnamon, extra virgin olive oil, and stevia as a sweetener. It takes more than one blender full to get it all processed. As the blender gets too full, I download into a large pitcher. I make anywhere from 1/2 to 1 gallon at a time as it is very convenient for snacks as well as having some with a meal. It does not make a big impact on my glucose level. I call it "green drink". I take no prescription drugs of any kind and manage my diabetes by lifestyle only. My bloodwork looks like that of a non-diabetic. I now live a vegetarian lifestyle and that helps too. When changing to healthy eating, it is possible to re-program your taste buds with consistency. I love the way I eat and live. There is no battle with will-power and the reward of healthier living is priceless. Bless you.

Answered By: vivianeagleson

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09/03/10 08:57 PM

Answered By: vivianeagleson

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09/03/10 05:22 PM

First and foremost, make certain your immediate supervisor knows you have Diabetes. This way, you are declaring your eligibility under the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and opening the dialog to request reasonable accommodations stipulated by the Act. Specifically: The ADA is a federal anti-discrimination law which prohibits private employers, state and local governments, employment agencies, and labor unions from discriminating against qualified individuals with disabilities in job application procedures, hiring, firing, advancement, compensation, job training and other terms, conditions and privileges of employment. When an individual's disability creates a barrier to employment opportunities, the ADA requires employers to consider whether a reasonable accommodation could remove the barrier. In my case, it was a matter of being able to do glucose monitoring at my desk when needed, treating low blood-sugars, and setting a regular time each day for lunch. Your employer has the obligation to hear your request for the accommodation, and after a recent court ruling against the Wal-Mart Stores, the accommodation should be granted without hesitation. If your employer has less than 15 employees, chances are there is a state statute that mirrors the ADA and will provide the necessary safeguards and protection. Secondly, keep a glucose monitor and medications with you at work. I keep a glucose monitor in my desk at the office, one in the car, and one at home. Monitoring your blood-sugar levels is the best barometer for knowing just where you stand. I check my glucose levels 8 – 12 times per day and there have been situations where by doing so and adjusting my insulin intake, I avoided potential disasters. Good luck! Thomas H. Butler, MBA, SPHR By the way, I have been a Type I Diabetic for 53 years.

Answered By: thbutler

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03/27/10 09:33 PM

You may want to count your carbs. If you're type II, it is very important that you eat the "right carbs" as well. If you're type I, you may need to dose more insulin for lunch. I find that when I am stressed, that I actually have to take nearly double my usual dose of insulin to keep my numbers where they should be. (i.e. if I have to get up at zero dark hundred, that stresses my body, and I go into the 150's and have to take a 1:5 carb ratio that AM instead of a 1:10 that I usually do.) Also, your employer is required by law to allow you meal breaks, a place to treat yourself for highs and lows, and a private place to test and inject if you require it. Check out the American's With Disabilities Act. Diabetics are covered under this. Bring a copy with you to work and before you pull it out, sit down and have a chat with your boss and see if you can work out your issues. Sometimes, some communication is all that is needed. If he refuses to allow you time to treat yourself, then pull out the law. If you're completely miserable there, find a new job! :) Good luck!

Answered By: pdewey1969

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02/20/10 08:11 AM

Stress gets a negitive rap. Because of it, most of us get out of bed in the morning, and remove those warm bunny rabbit slippers! It is not always bad. It gives us the chemical ability ability to run away or fight if required. Adrenaline is not all bad............ Having said that the ability to retrain ourselves so that in place of annoyance, displeasure, anger (eg stress) feeling our body reacting, our breathing becoming shallow, our shoulders rising to the stars our jaw clenching as if we were making diamonds between our jaws, the heart beat becoming the rhythm of an angry "metal band"....... what happens if feeling ANY of those kinds of symptoms, rather than ignoring them, or increasing them.... what would happen if you short circuited them with physical techniques? (breathing, movement)............. Anger can be -rewired- and reframed with practice, a lot of practice sometimes. It will not always work, unless you master the skills.... know anyone who never gets upset? Watch them and yourself carefully.... it is not impossible. The library is full of great books on stress elimination techniques. Online bookstores and you local ones too. If we become aware of our stress, our special triggers for it can can act on them. and defuse things..... set its potency aside and brush it off like the lint.............................. Unfamiliar with the latest diabetes written materials, not a huge fan of too many. But there are sites which can access used books specific to stress, some of which might be diabetes and stress specific at severely reduced prices in the used section!!!.......... Stress is not nearly discussed written about as it should be, but hopefully soon it will take precidence over our numbers which for most increase our annoyance, the stress meaningfully..... and restart the stress cycle again...........It will take a while to "set aside" coworkers, the boss who presses your buttons. They can press em but our reaction is sometimes unnecessary!

Answered By: diabetic1966

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*** All information contained on dLife.com is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Our Expert Q&A is not intended to be a replacement or substitute for consultation with a qualified medical professional or for professional medical advice related to diabetes or another medical condition. Please contact your physician or medical professional with any questions and concerns about your medical condition.

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