Diabetes at the Office
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Not too long ago, I started at a new job that has nothing to do with diabetes. Before I took this job, I was employed at a diabetes related organization which ironically, was the worst job of my life so far. I hope to never have a job as horrible as my last.
With this new job came excitement. The environment seemed healthy, the people seemed nice, and my boss didn't seem like a diabolical psychopath.
The one worry that kept lingering was the fact that I didn't know how to introduce my diabetes into an environment that didn't deal with it everyday.
It's been about six months since I've started at this job, and almost everyone knows about my diabetes. I tried to bring it up in casual conversation. Some people saw my diabetes kit. Others saw my insulin pump. Regardless of how co-workers came to learn about my diabetes, there was one common theme between them - they don't care. In the best way possible, no one really cares. No one avoids me. No one seems to look at me differently. I couldn't have asked for better reactions. My worry about disclosing my diabetes is lessened, which could potentially advance my career in the future because I am no longer intimidated in the corporate world because of diabetes stigmas. It's a great feeling.
I even found out that someone else in my office was just diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Although I am sad to hear of another person who will have to deal with this disease everyday, it's also nice to have someone to share information with and talk to about challenges.
In the course of the last six months, I'm happy to have learned an important lesson - don't be scared to disclose your diabetes. Not only is it safe and necessary, but if you do it in a way most comfortable to you, it will feel like you're just talking about another aspect of your life, because that's what diabetes is - just one aspect of your life.
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kia31 says:
5 months ago
I also have diabetes and People at work found out because I was always refusing to each the goodies that everybody would bring. Its hard at work sometimes becuase there can be lots of good food but bad for me!.