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Should I tell my new boss?

I have been a Type 1 diabetic for many years and by experience had straight forward explanations of my diabetes to bosses and associates. Most of time it backfires and in the case of the last employment, I confided in a sales manager because I had to go to a pump training course. I was going on my day off and the company decided to have a last minute sales training and made it compulsory to attend. I did not go to the pump training and they referred to me as "pump boy". I made a mistake confiding in that situation and regretted my honesty with a moron. Just one situation though. Good luck.
 
Jelaca said:
Hello again everyone! It's me again :p

It's my second week into this new job, and I haven't found the right time/words to tell him D: Please tell me how I could do this, as I don't feel comfortable with just coming out with it... what else could I do to tell him?

Should I get my diabetes nurse to write a letter or something???
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Why not do it in a very casual way? In the company of your boss get out something that you normally snack on and just say something along the lines of "apologies for the snack but I need to eat regularly because of my diabetes" Leave it at that and you will have told them in a way that signifies it is not an issue for you. If your boss wants to talk about it, that's up to them.
 
Totally difference experience, from the other side.
A completely different job.

But one of our colleagues was type 1. We all knew, and watched out for him.
He became a really 'violent drunk' when he went hypo.
Not often, but scary when he did.
But we were mates, so while he spent his efforts desperately trying to punch my other mate in the face, we equally tried to force feed him glucose, while the girls in the office phoned an ambulance and ran interference for HR as to why a 'fight' was going on.
We were all engineers, but mostly on docks, and railyards, so 'contact' wasn't unknown.

It really depends on what you're like, and if you do think you'll need help sometimes.

You'd be surprised how others accept it.
 
Ahhh I really don't know what to do.. What are your opinions on me getting my nurse to write a letter? Do you think it's weird? :/
 
I think only you can answer that, only you know the type of people you work with.
We were much more 'The last leg' many years before the program, we could easily have offended each other, if we'd been different people.
But, what happened was always going to be a fact of life, no point in ignoring it.
(No point in not taking the p*ss later either, but that was we way we all handled it)
 
Sooner or later you'll need to ask for time off to attend a diabetic appointment. Would you be able to bring it up then if you were asked if all was OK?
 
robert72 said:
Sooner or later you'll need to ask for time off to attend a diabetic appointment. Would you be able to bring it up then if you were asked if all was OK?
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Thats a good idea I could do... I will have a think about it :)
 
Hi I am 29 and a High School teacher

I have always told my employers about my diabetes for a number of reasons.

Firstly safety. If every I have a severe hypo at work I would want people there to know what is happening.

secondly I have often (unashamedly) used it as a way to get ahead. I have to be careful at all times and it makes me more responsible. At school I also now oversee students medical care on school trips (which started as overseeing diabetic children).

Also as a type 1 hiding injecting and blood tests is kind of impossible.

I have also become great friend with another diabetic member of staff.

I dont think people really view diabetes as a bad thing nor does it have any real stigma attached to it.

So I do not see any real reason as to why you should not tell your employer.
 
I just don't know how to bring it up... I'm making such a fuss :P Sorry everyone!

I've always found it so hard telling people, I love it when they know because they're very caring, but I just hate the telling them bit :(
 
Have you made any friends with your new workmates? Maybe you could filter it through that way?
 
I told my boss about 6 weeks after I found out, and was well on the road with my lchf diet. In my situation I felt it was important that someone at my work was aware of my medical condition. I'm type 2, so hypo is not really my concern, however if I'm ever incapacitated I think it's important for someone to know if there is some other type of medical emergency.

Since then I've let a half dozen more people at work know. I was surprised at how many people I told have friends or family member in their inner personal circle with the same condition.

I let our department admin assistant know right after my boss. She usually arranges the food for staff events. She's total on board with food arrangements and her ex was diabetic and used to lchf.

I haven't felt that a single person discriminate against me. Most ask how I'm doing, how I'm coping...etc and express concern.

Again this just my thoughts and what I have personally done, not saying anyone else has to do this.
 
Marko723 said:
I told my boss about 6 weeks after I found out, and was well on the road with my lchf diet. In my situation I felt it was important that someone at my work was aware of my medical condition. I'm type 2, so hypo is not really my concern, however if I'm ever incapacitated I think it's important for someone to know if there is some other type of medical emergency.

Since then I've let a half dozen more people at work know. I was surprised at how many people I told have friends or family member in their inner personal circle with the same condition.

I let our department admin assistant know right after my boss. She usually arranges the food for staff events. She's total on board with food arrangements and her ex was diabetic and used to lchf.

I haven't felt that a single person discriminate against me. Most ask how I'm doing, how I'm coping...etc and express concern.

Again this just my thoughts and what I have personally done, not saying anyone else has to do this.
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How did you tell them? Did you just say in a quiet moment or something.. oh by the way i'm diabetic? Thats the bit that gets me :/
 
Jelaca said:
How did you tell them? Did you just say in a quiet moment or something.. oh by the way i'm diabetic? Thats the bit that gets me :/
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I usually have a quick bi-weekly meeting to talk about status on projects and things that are happening in the office. I casually mentioned that I recently tested as Type 2, and thought it best that someone in the office know in for safety reasons. That opened the conversation, and he asked how I was handling it and if there was anything I needed.

I believe we talked for about 5 minutes on that topic. Assured him my spirits were good, taken hold of the reins and working on a diet that will help quality of life and perhaps one day reduce or eliminate the medication. My diet has changed considerably, but quite happy with the food choices, and I mentioned a couple of the food items that I will truly miss. Such as ice cream :)

I have a good work environment, they foster healthy relationships between all staff, and encourage people mingle and work together as a team.

I started to tell others when it was getting difficult to hide changes. Like dropping 15kg, and 3 belt holes in my clothes. :-)
 
Witcher said:
I have been a Type 1 diabetic for many years and by experience had straight forward explanations of my diabetes to bosses and associates. Most of time it backfires and in the case of the last employment, I confided in a sales manager because I had to go to a pump training course. I was going on my day off and the company decided to have a last minute sales training and made it compulsory to attend. I did not go to the pump training and they referred to me as "pump boy". I made a mistake confiding in that situation and regretted my honesty with a moron. Just one situation though. Good luck.
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The word sales says it all. I worked in a sales environment where ladies were discouraged from attending ante natal clinics, you used the word morons, there are other words to describe managers like that, I can't think of any printable ones though.
 
Amazing idea number 2!

I decided I could leave my blood sugar monitor on one of the desks and someone would eventually pick it up and ask what it was, so then I could tell them!

... Any opinions on this idea? haha
 
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