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Diabetes and working

Megss

Megss

Newbie
Messages
1
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?
 
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?
Click to expand...
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.”
 
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