Not sure where you are from, but I had to get fmla paper work filled out they can’t count time off against you with that yeah kind of makes it hard to do much in the line of work when you are in a hospital bed. I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who runs like a yoyo. I seem to be fortunate that I can still somewhat function with no brain power. Not sure if thats good or not . I have been standing and kind of talking with a blood sugar of 10, beyond that I’m out. Your boss probably shouldn’t have taken it upon herself to announce to everyone, but it is better that those around you are aware. With a little time most will stop saying anything. That type 2 is just trying to rationalize similarities they don’t seem to see the differences in their mind except for that they are not as bad of a diabetic as you are because they may not have to take insulin. Don’t know how many times i’ve heard wow you take insulin, your diabetes must be really bad. Makes me wanna crack their skull and say it is or it isn’t. The attention will stop before too long I wouldn’t worry about it. If you draw human resources into it then you add more tension to the situation yourself and more people will be made aware of the situation and you will probably be asked to speak at some kind of training thing for all office personnel. I say this from experience.
Good luck with the issue
Hey Marps,
Love the shoes!
I’d be furious also. So sorry. What I’d do is talk to your boss to get if off your chest. That’s what works for me to keep me from seething. Something like: you feel that your privacy has been invaded & confidential medical info has been made public against your expressed wishes.
Just my two cents, but I never put personal things in emails to co-workers. Learned the the hard way that people forward emails. If she misinterprets your tone, it won’t be pretty.
Isn’t that against Work Privacy Laws…like saying someone is expecting…I’d complain to HR and tell the lady to MYOB and not to discuss your health with anyone at work especially behind your back…sorry for your situation…ugh…so sorry MARPS
SHOES ARE AHHH mazing like cute 
gotta love shoes
First, of all, GREAT shoes. I wish I could wear shoes like that, but… weak ankles & fallen arches dictate sensible shoes… which I guess would be the case even if I didn’t live on a horse farm. sigh Strappy shoes and horse paddocks full of mud just. don’t. mix.
Second of all, there’s nothing like a little direct talk. If you’re straightforward in real life, then why not be straightforward at work too, at least when dealing with this? Take your coworker out to lunch, away from the office, and then say to her, "Look, I appreciate that you want to be helpful, but the fact is, I have type 1 diabetes, and it’s just not the same diabetes as your type 2. So a lot of the things you’ve learned about handling your diabetes really don’t apply to me. I’m not trying to be a b***h, it’s just that you often try to give me advice and you just don’t realize that you’re telling me how to peel an orange when I’m holding an apple.
And, also, I just want you to know that I told our boss about my diabetes in confidence, and I’m not happy that it got out – I try to keep my health issues private. So if you don’t mind, can we agree not to discuss diabetes in the workplace?"
Nothing like laying a little Miss Manners action on her…
Oh, and… agree with Gerri about talking to the boss. Boss TOTALLY crossed the line making confidential information public. If you have an HR department, it’s worth talking to the HR director too.
PS if she’s looking for someone to do diabetes bonding with, why not tell her to sign up for tudiabetes.com?
Ross.
Yeah I have the FMLA paperwork filled out for the past 3 years. The ICU incident happened before I was smart enough to cover my ■■■. At the time I figured people would friggin understand. It was so stupid. I quit that job about 2 months later (even after they gave me a pomotion)
That’s true about waiting it out. Hopefully I can just grin and bare it. I might burst and BEAR it tho. Can’t promise anything. My co-workers only know the “kind” Marps. They don’t know the “Don’t take ■■■■ from anybody” Marps. Perhaps I should introduce them.
Danny- Sounds like a stellar boss. That is exactly how I wish people would handle things in a professional situation. My co-workers (again, all women- no offense) like to gossip when no one is around.
Gerri-
Good point. Tho that hasn’t happened to me, I can certainly foresee something like a forwarded email happening. Jeez.
From my personal experience when ya let out the take no ■■■■ monster it can create more problems than it’s worth, but then sometimes it’s more fun that way. Good luck
hahahaha… Nooooo. If she signed up for TuD, then how could i have this discussion??? haha. that’d be ONE way to find out how I feel about her!
Your speech is great. Maybe you can come down and talk about this for me? haha.
Thank you!
MapleGirl
yeah, that’s exactly how I feel. Like it’s behind my back. LIke people are going “Ohhh… that’s why she’s [blank]… because she’s diabetic.” Like they’re making up excuses for things that I do or don’t do. “Well, she DOES come into work every single morning with a frappucino.” etc etc etc.
Gossips love forwarding emails. “Can you believe Marps said that to me when all I wanted to do was help!” The other thing about emails is that they don’t end. You write, she responds, on & on. Just my prefence to be face-to-face to avoid this kind of crap & possible misunderstanding.
Wil V
Thanks for your input. I’ve definitely considered setting up barriers between our cubicles and just flying the work over to her desk across the way like grenades. haha. But… I don’t think that’ll work very well.
Medical privacy varies from state to state. I work in California, so my employer would never say anything about diabetes, because of fear of being sued. I tell people because I like having extra eyes watching to make sure I am doign well. I would ask her if you could talk to her privately and tell her that it bothered you that people knew why you were out. Your medical conditions should be as private as you choose for them to be.
I have had people try to councel me about my diabetes, but now after a couple of years, they give up and ask me questions. I let them know that we are all different and how things are handled are completely differetn when you are insulin dependent than when you are on medication, or only on diet and exercize.
With those shoes, I would probably ask how you walked in those things, wow. I am stuck at about 3 inches as my limit.
About the feet, you can wear all of the cute shoes you want until circulation diminishes. You can wear open toed shoes until you can’t feel your toes. Someone asked me about open toed shoes once, and I told them I wasn’t worried because my tetanus shot was up to date. It shut them up, at least.
If she is type 2, you could mention that since you are type 1 you have to check before and after every meal, as well as when you get up and before you go to bed, and it is expensive buying all those strips (like 10 to 12 a day)…perhaps not entirely true, but it might get her to realize that they are different. Also, though, tell her that is true of all type 1’s, and not because you have good or bad control.
this sucks in many ways and i’m sorry you have to endure it. but … i would not go to HR or prosecute the case (even though you’re right) because doing so means you’d have to disclose your situation to even more people. instead, i’d sit tight and continue the improvement you’ve shown in your control and with luck it will pass.
in the future … if you have to miss work be very clear with your boss that it isn’t because of D (even if it means a small lie.)
finally … stories like this make me glad that i’ve never told anybody at work - ever - about my condition. life is hard enough.
Thanks DC Reporter
The only reason i got into the habit of telling my boss (and ONLY my boss) is because of a few situations in the past, when I was under really poor control, where I passed out at work. My boss knew what was going on and she got me help.
But, on a side note, it was kind of moot anyway. The first job I told ended up keeping me for 14 hours on a waitressing/ supervising shift even while I was in Dka. They told me that if I left (even though I was vomiting due to Dka) that I would lose my job. So I ended up in ICU for a few days (I was young and stupid) and then quit as soon as I got out of the hospital.
The second job I told, I went into Dka for poor insulin therapy and after I got out of ICU, they gave me a written demerit for missing 4 days of work (I was in ICU for 3 days).
Maybe I should just keep it to myself again. haha. Such bad luck w people.
Thanks Tanya. I was felt pretty invaded when I found out that my boss told everyone. Especially when I was hired 2 years ago, I was very adamant about keeping it private. I even spoke to HER boss about keeping it private. HE understood, but apparantly she thought it was open for interpretation.
It will be a sad, sad, day in my area if the day comes when I start to lose circulation in my feet. I would hold a burial for my beautiful shoes.
I’ve worked in an office for 15 years and no one knew I am diabetic. A co-worker was diagnosed with type 2 last year and was very upset about it. I talk to him and admitted I have type 1 diabetes. He was surprised becasue I am so healthy and never call in sick. I explained I am very private about it and dont want to discuss it at work. Well… he “let the cat out of the bag” too. I was pissed!! As people approached me on it, I didnt make a big deal and simply said I dont want to discuss this at work. I didnt make it a big deal. I think if I did that would make bigger gossip for the office. You know…" dont tell anyone I told you but…" So I think you can tell your coworker the same. You dont want to discuss it at work. I think approaching your boss will built resentment from her though.
My 2 cents…
ugh! Isn’t that frustrating!?!?! that sucks!
I think I’m just gonna have to “bite the bullet” and talk to her.
“I don’t discuss this at work.” is actualy very clean and simple, but to the direct point.
I may use that.
Who is Diabeticfrog? I was going to say “Danny” from TuD said so!
wink
haha. I get what you’re saying.