Diabetes and working

That’s really rough. I mean I’ve been a cleaner and that 28 hours a week is being good and active. You are eating enough protein, fat and fibre? Nothing like a hunk of chicken breast to keep me going. And a big serve of green leafy stuff at times when you have leisure to munch.

Hey @Megss

Unfortunately with t1 if control is slightly off then managing sleep, work, life can all be impacted.

Firstly which CGM are you using ? is is the libre ? How is your control during the day, what's your insulin regime like ?

Getting the control sorted is a good starting point, personally I used to be in sales and gave it up as I couldn't cope with the unpredictability of my t1 and would run low in meetings which affected my sales, productivity etc, if I had the control I have now then I think I would of easily carried on and felt sad to give it up. I can do an office job and my control is stable now, down to pump and also eating low carb which was a personal choice to avoid the highs/lows and margin for error. Can you ask your team for support too ?

Do you think your background insulin is too high or are you just not getting enough food into you? I find cereal bars essential when I'm doing my outdoor work to keep my BG stable and I barely take any novorapid for them - the exercise uses up the sugar

Megss said:

Hey,
I’ve been a cleaner for 2 years now (just over) I work 2 jobs 7 days a week but only 28 hours a week in total.
I’m really struggling with work right now, trying to sleep at night and I either get high or low alarms go off. Being at work and going low, both my jobs are pretty go go go as I have to be done in a certain amount of time so if I go low I find it hard to take time to correct it.
I can’t quit my jobs as I need the money bad, cost of living is insane and I just about earn enough to cover the bills. We get no help with benefits with diabetes because it’s a “controlled illness” I just feel stuck and exhausted from working/trying to stay alive.
Any advice?

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Having diabetes stops me from working too weak and tired always

Megss said:

Hey,
I’ve been a cleaner for 2 years now (just over) I work 2 jobs 7 days a week but only 28 hours a week in total.
I’m really struggling with work right now, trying to sleep at night and I either get high or low alarms go off. Being at work and going low, both my jobs are pretty go go go as I have to be done in a certain amount of time so if I go low I find it hard to take time to correct it.
I can’t quit my jobs as I need the money bad, cost of living is insane and I just about earn enough to cover the bills. We get no help with benefits with diabetes because it’s a “controlled illness” I just feel stuck and exhausted from working/trying to stay alive.
Any advice?

Click to expand...

Hi,

Welcome to the forum. (What took you so long to post?)

OK? I’ve had many jobs in my time since leaving school. One of which was your profession. Including running my own window cleaning service in between the various contractors I worked for? This included 4 or 6 hours on a Saturday & a couple on the Sunday too?
So I know it’s tough.. I did it for about 8 years. Then jacked it all in for further education & “rock & roll.” I still worked it during the breaks from college..

My “day job” now is in engineering.. & yep, the odd hypo can creep up.. But I enjoy what I do.

when did you last do any basal testing? I know I’m due one had a couple of hits from lows today.
Link on how to basal test here. https://www.mysugr.com/en/blog/basal-rate-testing/

I also use the Libre 2 with an independently developed trusted app for a “CGM experience.” This for me can be invaluable tech these days detecting a low with an alarm (If calibrated correctly) to let me know five/ten minutes in advance lessening the impact that would have been (in the good ol daze.) with using awareness alone?

Best wishes to you. Some days can be a thankless grind. But a good reference from an employer, could find you something better..

You don’t have to be “stuck.”