Working With Diabetes

One of the more painful truths about living with diabetes is that it makes it difficult to find a job. There are several reasons for that. No employer wants to deal with the "special attention" a diabetic gets to have. Employers don't like to keep up with diabetes (especially brittle diabetes) after a diabetic is hired, either. They don't want to deal with an inconvenient low or high blood sugar, or with the possibility of an employee being dangerously low and passing out on the job. That has my experience so far--mind you, I've only worked in retail. I cannot even begin to fathom the difficulty in getting a job as a nurse, officer of any kind, "normal" 9-5 job, etc.

My first job wasn't so difficult, because I had known the manager from Church before I was hired. He also had another diabetic working for him, so he already knew how to handle diabetes in a work setting. That was a painless experience, for the most part. The problem had been trying to find a job in the first place. It took me 6 months to find someone who would hire me, mostly because employers feared my disease. 

After I left my first job, it took me 6 months to find a new job. I didn't know anyone at this second place, but I bothered the management until I got an interview and eventually they hired me. I worked there for only seven months because it totally destroyed my diabetes. They were not diabetes friendly at all, and they treated me like I could choose when my blood sugar bottomed out or went so high I could not function properly. If I had the choice, would I be a diabetic? Nope! My blood sugar used to drop low enough that my dexcom and meter could not read a number, and the management would still tell me I had to wait to take a break. It got to the point that I stopped telling them and just started going to the break room to get a snack (they would not let me keep food or a drink with me at first). One time the assistant manager followed me to the break room fussing at me about whatever was going on. To be honest, I don't even remember what he said because my sugar was that low. Someone figured out what was happening at work and called HR on management, but the problem persisted until it was even more dangerous. Needless to say, I am no longer employed there. 

Six months later, I am very happy where I am now! I enjoy the laid back environment and I love that my coworkers are all trying to learn about the diabetes. If they are nervous about it, they do not appear to be. That makes it easier to control anyway. I had shopped in this store several times before, so I kind of knew the employees. I just didn't know them on a personal level. My blood sugar finally straightened itself out from my second place of employment, and diabetes is not killing me where I am now. I am living a much healthier life compared to where I was before, and I am not stressed out at all. God has blessed me with employers who are not too misunderstanding of what diabetes means. 

I am not incapable! Although sometimes, especially to a potential employer, it does appear that way. I am completely capable of doing whatever I need to do, including working a job. I just have to fight 100 times harder (with some things) than "normal" people do. It's even more difficult when people refuse to give me a chance because they can't see past my disease. 

Just one more thing I want to say for now...

"Bouncing" Makes for a Long Night

My sugar bounced after work last night. So, thanks to Dexcom I slept in 45 minute intervals (it kept alerting me that my sugar was above 180).

For those of you who don't know what bouncing is, it is when your blood sugar drops so low that the liver spits out sugar to keep you alive.

It is infinitely hard to come back down after a bounce. 

I got insulin about every two hours to make it come down, but it was a very, VERY slow decent. It still never went below 180, but I did come down from almost 300.

Finally, at about 6:30 AM I decided I'd had enough of the highness. So I got out of bed and did the only other thing I know to do to get my sugar to come down.

What do you do when your blood sugar is high for an excessive amount of time? Beach body!

When I got out of bed I (very quietly, so not to disturb my sleeping family) did what I could remember of Autumn Calabrese's "Dirty 30" workout program. Then I went for about a mile-long walk. It's only 9am, and I feel accomplished. My sugar is finally 113 and I think I could probably pass out and sleep now. The only problem with that is now I feel energized.

Momma always said "Diabetes first." I know she's right. Even when I'm exhausted and all I want to do is complain or sleep, I have to take care of diabetes first. I can complain and sleep later. My priority has to be my health. So, even when I haven't slept all night, and I am ready to throw my Dexcom across the bedroom, and I am not in the mood for anything really, I know I have to take care of myself. That includes getting out of bed to do a workout after a long night of no sleep. Thanks for the lesson, Mom!


**Side Note**
I am also thankful for Autumn--my sister Autumn--because she introduced us to the workout stuff I did this morning. She's been my "personal trainer" since like November. And because of her making me take care of myself in that way, I've lost like 15 pounds and I am a lot stronger now than I used to be. She's meaner than Jillian when she wants to be... But I love her and am thankful for her always!