first job... some questions

[Armyemily]

Well I start my first "real" job tomorrow and I am not sure when to disclose that I have Type 1 diabetes and am on an insulin pump. I did not want to tell them during the interview because I thought that would mess up my chances of getting it. But now that I have it.... do I tell them? When do I tell them? Who do I tell? How do I tell them? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[whistler]

YES TELL THEM!!! I would tell whoever is your boss. I have usually brought it up in the interview somehow myself. They should know incase something were to happen to you while at work. What kind of job is it? There are only a very few select jobs that diabetics can't get... pilot is one I know of for sure. So unless you're in that category they can't fire you or discriminte because of your no show pancreas.

[Brensdad]

I would follow your instincts and not tell them during the interview process. Once you are hired, I would tell them something along the lines of "I have type 1 diabetes, so I will need to test my blood sugar periodically throughout the day and will need to give myself insulin or ocassionally eat a snack. Is there a place you would prefer that I do these things?"

[Aidyn]

I'm about to be in a similar situation!

I am going to be starting a new job in a couple weeks. I didn't mention my diabetes in the interview and have no idea how I'm going to mention it to my new boss, but it's pretty easy to squeeze the diabetes somewhere into the conversation.

With my current job, I found an easy window: my boss mentioned that everyone is "becoming a diabetic" these days and was talking about how he hoped he would not "catch" the 'betes. I explained to him that there were two different types of it and that I knew from personal experience, since I am type 1. It was not a difficult thing to mention to my co-workers, either, as I am pretty open about it... though it can be tricky finding the right time to initially mention it.

[Armyemily]

update I walked into my boss's office(during lunch) and she was boulsing on a MM522!

All is better now that everyone in the office knows (my office mate is on a Animas 2020) and so I feel alot better knowing that 3 out of 6 people I work with have Type 1 there is now 3 glucagons in the fridge at my office and there is 3 flavors of tabs in the kitchen.

I told her that I was really nervous about telling her I had diabetes and she understood but am glad that I "walked in on her"
Last week in a meeting my office mates pump started alarming and it was great how we all pulled out are pumps to see who's it was!


GOD works in strange ways!

[Amy C.]

That is a hoot! What are the chances that 50% if the office staff is type 1? God does work in mysterious ways.

[Aidyn]

Armyemily, that is PRICELESS! With that many diabetics, you would think that this job was with a diabetes supply company or something! It's, like, the secret diabetic society ;) What an awesome coincidence.

[Armyemily]

i wonder if it is a secret diabetic society...:rolleyes::rolleyes:

[diabeticmonkey]

When I first started my 2nd job I waited until orenentation was over and said something to the point of I have diabetes and use an insulin pump to the HR manager who at at the time was also my manager in my department. It wasnt a problem then and so far it hasnt been a problem now . I work in a grocery store so when I feel low i grab something to eat and im on my way

[anja]

hello,

You should tell them as soon as. Just in case something was to happen. I myself have no problems telling people that I have type 1, the problem for me starts when I start gettin a low bloodsugar and don't want to act on it (because I'm in a meeting or something), I just feel stupid having to start snacking in the middle of something. I know I shouldn't but I do. Point is, tell them so they will understand when this happens (as annoying as it is). You will be more relaxed about your diabetes and you won't have to sneek off to eat when you do go low.

[Aidyn]

So I just came out of the diabetes closet at my job, too! It was not too hard because my hiring process was slightly delayed due to "complications with the health assessment" (long story, but it involved my diabetes and several other concerns that just proved to be false alarms) and everyone was wondering why.

I have several humorous hypo stories which I shared with some of my co-workers. I like to downplay everything just a bit because I want those around me to know that while it is a chronic condition that they should be aware of in case something happens to me, it is not a huge deal.

I have yet to put any glucogen in the work fridge. I tried putting my insulin in there, but it froze over and stopped being effective! :( I thought perhaps it would work if I thawed it out, but it sure didn't and my blood sugar rose to 410. Now, I usually have my insulin in my bag (I'm not on the pump). It can stay at room temperature and remain effective for quite awhile.