Type 1: Working with Diabetes

Hey @daisymj14
I have had a few years in road based sales roles and it isn't easy --- but it can be done-- I just made sure to pencil in time for BG tests and above all -- putting myself first ( being 20 minutes late for an appointment can always be blamed on traffic -- (with a quick phone call to the client to explain )

only you can know what you are capable of -- and I would try to not let the D get in the way as much as you are able !!!

I'm in a similar sales role for one of the largest technology companies in the world. There’s no reason why you can’t continue to be career-oriented and still put your health first.

As others mentioned, it's not always easy, but for me it's about trying to minimize all of my excuses that allow diabetes to run my life.

1.) I've flown about 40 times this year. When I fly, I try to eat as low-carb as possible. I don't want to worry about my blood sugar when I'm 30,000 feet up in the air. Tip: I keep low-carb protein bars in my briefcase in case I get hungry.

2.) The good thing about career-progression is that it is often (but not always) accompanied by better compensation. That allows me to afford everything that is necessary to manage my diabetes: Dexcom G5, Apple Watch, iPhone 7 Plus, etc. That may seem like an odd diabetes list, but it's incredibly convenient to be in a meeting and get an alert on my Apple Watch that I'm trending low.

3.) I try to be inconsistently consistent- I've been home two nights in the past month and have been living out of hotels due to an extended business trip. Even though my surroundings have been inconsistent, I still make the time to exercise every morning. I do my best to get 6+ hours of sleep every night (I've also become the master of the 15-minute "Power Nap." Point being, even though things are constantly changing around me, I still make time to do the things that are most important.

4.) I try to never make diabetes an excuse, but I also never try to hide my diabetes- I will happily give myself an injection (I'm on MDI) at a table full of strangers and/or executives. If my blood sugar is low walking into a meeting, I will let someone know that I may need to step out or explain why I have a glucose tablet sitting in front of me. I'm very fortunate to work with some amazing people and they usually find it fascinating to learn about type 1.