Type 1: Working with Diabetes

[daisymj14]

Hi everyone,
Feeling very stressed out with my work situation at the moment.

I am an account manager who is home based (never at home, on the road everyday) for a large company. Type 1 insulin dependant, I'm 25 and had diabetes for 18 years.
I have recently invested in a freestyle libre which I love, to help me monitor my blood sugars. I'm almost addicted to checking so currently managing them a lot better than the previous 18 years where I almost ignored the fact that I had diabetes...

I have occasional non serious hypos, and I'm seeing my consultant weekly whilst starting with the libre and trying to lower my hba1c slightly. My consultant is amazing.
I feel the hypos are due to lack of routine, lack of eating pattern, stress etc etc.

My employer is fully aware of my diabetes, and I always let them know how I am feeling throughout the day as I am on the road from 6am until 4pm most days travelling between appointments. I adhere to the DVLA driving guidelines, but work have panicked slightly when I have mentioned a few hypos in the last few weeks where I have had to pull over and have a snack for 20 minutes and have referred me for health counselling. I haven't taken any Diabetes related sickness time off since starting with the company and always take holidays for my appointments at the hospital. They have mentioned they are concerned with the fact that I am driving in the middle of nowhere on my own every day in my company car.

My problem is, I find my job very stressful and there is absolutely no routine in any day. I try to make a routine but I am so busy and pressured to see as many appointments per day that I find it really difficult.
I also have a lot of admin work to do which I do most evenings, which means no set bed time.

I have always been very career driven and have climbed a long ladder to be where I am now, but lately I find myself disheartened, and I am finding it impossible to get my Diabetes on track with my crazy work life.

I am made positive changes by actually trying to manage my diabetes, but I feel like I am fighting a losing battle. I always loved my job, but maybe that was because I was ignoring the diabetes. I also feel like my employer thinks that I should be doing a different role, and I'm questioning whether I should..

How do people feel about their careers? Any other reps?


Thanks for reading. Xx

 

[MikeTurin]

I also have a lot of admin work to do which I do most evenings, which means no set bed time.

The first thing you should try in my opinion is to sleep enough. I'm trying to sleep at least seven hours that means going to bed at midnight. I don't know, but it's possible to streamline the admin work?

I have always been very career driven and have climbed a long ladder to be where I am now, but lately I find myself disheartened, and I am finding it impossible to get my Diabetes on track with my crazy work life.

My idea is that the work must not be never put over safety and health issues, because if one makes the work issues interfere with health or safety sooner or later it will backfire on the work itself, because one gets ill or injured and has to stop to work.

How do people feel about their careers?

I'm a software programmer... talking about carees means to me now to totally change what I'm doing.

 

[Snapsy]

Hi @daisymj14 , being self-employed, based in a little workshop with only a 5-minute commute on foot and no travelling I have no actual advice to offer, but instead I'll say that I have a) sympathy and b) admiration of how jolly well it sounds you are coping with a demanding and challenging work schedule and a successful career.

I'm not sure there is a magic answer - are you due any holiday? Might be worth taking a break for a few days and get back to a routine not at work, and go back refreshed?

Are you able to reassure work that yes you are in control but that you need them just to understand that hypos need dealing with!

On a personal note can I just say that I have let my own diabetes hold me back for 30 years. I absolutely love it that you haven't.

Hope you find the answer. Hugs!

 

[Mep]

I can relate to to being under the radar as I was just recently sent for a fitness for duty assessment by my work. That involved a report from my doc and with me having to have a consult with their doc. They have written up reports on me, etc. But basically similar thing where one of my conditions I've started having unpredictable episodes that have happened at work and they're unsure what to do. I think if anything they're not doing it for your welfare, but to cover their butts. That's the impression I get with what happened to me anyhow. As it turns out there is not much I can do about 'controlling' these episodes I get and it's not as if I'm not in consultation with my own docs regularly who are trying to help. You are in the same sort of situation. My advice is just go along with what they're asking, but be sure to stand your ground and don't let them say anything untruthful about your situation. You are doing the right things by the sound of it to me and I'm not sure why they think health counselling is needed when you're already doing what you need to do. I know the unwanted stress this kind of attention causes. Hugs to you and I wish you the best.

Edit: I should add that I had my role changed and I had to reduce my working hours previously because of my health. So sometimes we have to acknowledge if we can't do what we're doing. I had to and I think it took me a while to get there, mind you my symptoms just got worse and worse... so didn't have a choice. But yeh you may need to acknowledge that your workload is too much also. That's only something only you can know for sure. But don't do what I did and wait until you have a breakdown. I had a melt down at work and that's when it went pear shaped. I had a high workload too. My melt down was over my health as I was going through various tests at the time.

 

[Juicyj]

How do people feel about their careers? Any other reps?

Hiya Daisy,

I used to be a sales rep but was newly diagnosed with my type 1 and tried to carry on working. My issue was that because I was trying to control my diabetes and keep 'within the range' was that I ended up having a few hypos in sales meetings, mainly because they ran over and as I was new with my management I wasn't prepared mentally for the exhaustion that went with managing my diabetes and trying to be the best I could be at my job. Sadly my personal view was that because my diabetes meant I had to be selfish, in regards to testing, injecting etc that my job came second, in sales there is so much pressure to be successful that it's hard to put your diabetes to one side.

I have changed careers now so work in finance and sit at a desk most of the day, so able to test whenever and not worry about work so much as I can put my health first now.

It really comes down to what your priories are and whether you can put your health first and look at a career change, being brutal that was the honest truth with me and I wanted to be healthy for the sake of my daughter, I still look back and think I wish I could of coped better but not being able to test BG levels in meetings made me anxious and I wasn't performing at my best because of my diabetes.

Your employer sounds like they are over-reacting, perhaps a letter from your consultant in regards to how you manage may put their minds at rest ?

 

[Bebo321]

Sounds like you're doing incredibly well and it would seem a shame to change what you do in order to 'accommodate' your diabetes.
Have you tried going zero carb (during your working day)? That way, once you've nailed your basal (not sure if you're pumping or not) you can more or less 'forget' the diabetes. The only thing you may have to adjust for is the occasional stress response to all that adrenaline!

 

[tim2000s]

I always let them know how I am feeling throughout the day as I am on the road from 6am until 4pm most days travelling between appointments.

The first job I had on leaving Uni saw me travelling around the UK and Europe to visit clients and present/consult. I had been T1 for nearly 10 years at that point though. It wouldn't ever have occurred to me to mention to the guys in the office how I was. It was none of their business. Even with a company car. I changed jobs from a client centric and client visiting job to the other side of the fence about ten years ago as the opportunity was too good to turn down. I think stressful jobs are just par for the course, and if you enjoy your job, you'll find a way to deal with the diabetes. The professional rugby players that are T1 are coping, so surely we can....

 

[azure]

Sounds like you're doing incredibly well and it would seem a shame to change what you do in order to 'accommodate' your diabetes.
Have you tried going zero carb (during your working day)? That way, once you've nailed your basal (not sure if you're pumping or not) you can more or less 'forget' the diabetes. The only thing you may have to adjust for is the occasional stress response to all that adrenaline!

The OP would then have to bolus for,protein probably and may suffer delayed rises, so just be swapping one set of problems for another.

It is harder when you have a job without a routine. All I can suggest is to make as much of a routine as you can, and to,test lots and respond as necessary - whether that be with food or with a correction.

You may also find keeping brief records helps eg if you write down what happened on a day when you didn't have lunch till 3pm, that might give you an idea of what to do on another day where your lunch will be around the same time eg did you need to bolus extra? Etc etc

 

[Bebo321]

The OP would then have to bolus for,protein probably and may suffer delayed rises, so just be swapping one set of problems for another.

It is harder when you have a job without a routine. All I can suggest is to make as much of a routine as you can, and to,test lots and respond as necessary - whether that be with food or with a correction.

You may also find keeping brief records helps eg if you write down what happened on a day when you didn't have lunch till 3pm, that might give you an idea of what to do on another day where your lunch will be around the same time eg did you need to bolus extra? Etc etc

Certainly tricky without a routine, but adjusting BGs because you had prawns with avocado may be easier than trying to chase them (or worry about trying to match a dose) for crisps and a panini.
It's just an option to leave out the complications of carbs 'til supper.

 

[azure]

Certainly tricky without a routine, but adjusting BGs because you had prawns with avocado may be easier than trying to chase them (or worry about trying to match a dose) for crisps and a panini.
It's just an option to leave out the complications of carbs 'til supper.

You're right that some carbs (the avocado) helps. It's much easier to go for small/moderate carbs than extremes either way in my opinion.

 

[daisymj14]

Thank you everyone for your support. It really does mean a lot.
@Juicyj it's good to hear from someone in a similar position. I actually worked in finance for 7 years previously and it was much easier to have the 9 til 5 desk job with routine. I was made redundant and decided to have a change to field sales and got an offer that I couldn't refuse. I didn't really consider my diabetes into that decision through lack of experience managing it in a different environment. Completely understand the over running sales meetings and lack of breaks! I have one all day tomorrow with my day starting at 5am and probably ending at 8pm! Early breakfast, very late evening dinner and a very brief lunch! I am in a settled relationship in a lovely new home but my partner is also a lorry driver so he is away a lot. Lots of nights on my own as well as days out on the road on my own is probably taking its toll on me too but I am proud of how hard he works and he's got me a dog to keep me company. There will come a time when I want a family in the next few years and I certainly can't imagine being in this position with my diabetes and work life whilst trying to settle and do that. I want to get my health sorted now to enable me to live a long happy life with the people I love!

 

[daisymj14]

@azure
I am going to start a diary from today. The freestyle libre is keeping track of the BG levels so I feel like this will help with relating them to my eating and stress. Thank you x

@Bebo321 my consultant tells me that I am the boss of my diabetes. And you are right.. I don't want it to be the boss of me by accommodating. It's great to get some support from you all!

 

[daisymj14]

@Mep thank you for sharing your experience. I am feeling anxious about the upcoming discussions as they have already suggested that I may want to look at a different role or adjust my working hours but going down to 4 days in field sales means you still work as much as 5 days because I always have loads of admin to do in the evenings and weekends anyway. I am going to be strong and stand my ground and keep discussing my situation as it's made me feel a lot calmer and I thank you for listening to me.

I'm going to be strong and just take things one step at a time xx

@Snapsy I am so happy that your work life is much better than mine! And thank you for your positive comment. You made me smile x

 

[ScottyD]

@daisymj14 I can totally relate to your thoughts. Keep strong as you are - you seem to have a good, strong attitude to it all.

When diagnosed, I was looking at loosing my career that I had only been doing for 2 years, dreamed of doing since I was 4 and paid a hell of a lot of money for. The things Type 1 can snatch away from you!

Anyway, through pressure of other airline pilots with Type 1 the UK decided to allow Diabetes into the flight deck - through pilots claiming is discrimination. You could have an argument there? But before that's used - you can do your job so use that tool as motivation to strive for good control. You seem to be doing that which is great and first off, your health will benefit in the long term and indeed the short term.

My airline/employer doesn't really know much about Type 1 as I'm the only pilot out of 600-700 pilots with it but I brief the captain and cabin crew just so that they are aware (when, why, how I test... symptoms of high and low blood sugar...what to do if I do have a sever hypo...) so if you tell your employer - which you seem to be doing - we are mitigating the threat somewhat! I go down to the Civil Aviation Authority every 6 months to review every single reading I've taken on my meter, he checks my flying readings to see that I've not 'doctored' any readings and checks my latest bloods. It's normal I guess to a certain degree - some jobs will be the same...pilots, HGV drivers to name a few. I know someone in the RNLI lifeboats who goes for 6 month checks. I'm guessing I'm saying this so you don't get too worked up over the chat with your employer and that you have mitigated threats, you're putting your health and therefore control first with a Libre.

Ultimately, I do have another pilot sitting next to me but with the Libre, good knowledge from my diabetic team and indeed this forum along with some forward planning, you can keep the hypos to a real minimum and my Libre has been an incredible tool for that.

Sorry for the long message but I just want to tel you that you're not alone, have a good solid attitude towards it all and you're career can still progress well as it has been so far. Good for you!

 

[daisymj14]

WOW @ScottyD !

What an inspirational story, thank you for sharing with me.

You really have made me feel stronger, what you have done feels like conquered the impossible so I'm sure I can stand my ground and work my way through my slight dilemma.
Much respect to you

 

[noblehead]

I am made positive changes by actually trying to manage my diabetes, but I feel like I am fighting a losing battle. I always loved my job, but maybe that was because I was ignoring the diabetes. I also feel like my employer thinks that I should be doing a different role, and I'm questioning whether I should..

Sometimes in life we have to make difficult decisions @daisymj14 , if a job is having a detrimental effect on your health and home/social life then you have to consider whether it's price worth paying, many years ago I left a stressful job for one which was less pay and looking back I was thankful that I did.

Reading what you've wrote I think your employers concerns are genuine and they have your best interests at heart, where an employee is having issues at work due to their health it's quite common for the employer to refer them to occupational health.

Wishing you all the best.

 

[Snapsy]

I am so happy that your work life is much better than mine! And thank you for your positive comment. You made me smile x

LOL - now if one of these days I could actually earn a living from it, well that would be something! Sigh.......

 

[ScottyD]

WOW @ScottyD !

What an inspirational story, thank you for sharing with me.

You really have made me feel stronger, what you have done feels like conquered the impossible so I'm sure I can stand my ground and work my way through my slight dilemma.
Much respect to you

It's tough for sure, but what things in life that are worth having, are easy to get? Nothing!

I think the whole diabetes thing comes down to attitude towards it. A positive attitude will allow you to control your life and not diabetes control it. If you have an off day, you won't feel like giving up etc. I've only been diagnosed with it for 5 months but that's my opinion.

Your employer seem to be genuinely looking out for you which is nice and your outlook seems really strong. Convey all that within your meeting with your employer and it will look positive on your behalf. When I met with the Civil Aviation Authority for the first time to get my medical back to fly again, although the Libre isn't good enough - just like the DVLA - he was very happy to see I had it and mentioned how it lower risk. I guess this is all risk assessment for the and you've done a solid job to show that!

 

[AndBreathe]

@daisymj14 - I would ask you not to jump to conclusions that your employer is looking to sideline you or clip your wings in any way. It could be just the opposite.

It sounds like your employer is concerned for your well-being (and of course in protecting themselves from anything going wrong!). For all you know, they may just feel the need to reassure themselves that you are OK, and being supported in an appropriate way.

You say your hypos have been minor, and you've just had to take a bit of a pause to get your numbers up, but can then carry on. Maybe they just need a bit of reassuring? If they're not overly familiar with a hypo situation and this is a new development for you, you may just have to explain things a bit more/better (can't find the correct word) to them, and indulge them with the review.

In my working life, I have managed large numbers of people, although coincidentally, never directly, knowingly, a diabetic of any sort. I have managed or had individuals in my line of management who have had health issues where I have involved Occ Health an more often than not, the outcomes have been pretty passive, although some have hit my budgets where specialist chairs, desks or PC monitors have been required.

It sounds like you're on a bit of a process to achieve a better outcome, which can only be good for your employer as well as yourself, so please allow yourself some time and space to move towards achieving what you want.

Good luck with the meeting, and let us know how it goes?

 

[Mep]

@daisymj14 - I should add that my diabetes is the least concern with my employer. They do want me to tell them though when I have a hypo.. just a duty of care issue really. I tell them anyhow.... not that they have to do anything as I treat my hypos. They've been told by my doc to call an ambulance if I'm unconscious or can't swallow. It's my other health issues that are more a problem. I get these spasm episodes that makes my BP and heart rate go sky high... my work is worried about that. But to treat that I pretty much have to take sedative painkiller med and calcium channel blocker med... so you can see their concern I suppose, they'd rather I went home. Funnily enough they're ok with me checking my BGL's and injecting at my desk, but when it comes to my BP they want me to go to another room. lol. Those BP machines are just too scary (I have to take my little machine into work with me).