A psychologist with diabetes discusses this in the article below. Starting in 1945 I did not tell anyone about my diabetes except my relatives, a few neighbors, and teachers in school. My mom did the telling, I kept quiet about it. People did not seem to know anything about diabetes wen I was young. My teachers had not heard of diabetes. I did not tell friends about it until college, but they did not understand it. I never really opened up about my diabetes until 2006, online, and in public. It was such a relief to come out of hiding and educate people about diabetes. I try to do that online, and in giving speeches to groups.
If you keep your diabetes a secret, what is your reason for doing that?
No, Richard. I was diagnosed in a different era than you (1984) and as a 30-year old adult. I was tempted to hide my diabetes in some work situations but I always shared this fact of my life with anyone interested. In other words I didn’t readily volunteer this fact but neither did I keep it a secret. Secrets can protect but they’re not without their costs either.
Likewise for me. I think the age at which you’re dx’d makes a huge difference. Kids and adolescents are naturally much more afraid of being marked as “different,” and thus strongly motivated to hide it from others. In my case I was 28 when dx’d so that wasn’t an issue. More to the point, in my work environment and certain others I feel safer having people know, so that they’re more likely to be able to help–or at least not be freaked out and do something completely wrong–if I have a problem (which knock-on-wood has never happened, but you never know).
I do not keep mine a secret. But I don’t go around talking about it, trying to explain it, or try to educate folks about it. I do that here. In my day to day life, I prefer to just do my thing without having my condition(s) be the thing that folks remember about me.
I do not keep it a secret. I really have never really done it. You meet me a and chances are you will knwo three things in short order. I am married to Sheryl, I have diabetes and I have RA. It is rpetty curt and dried.for me.
Yes, usually I hide it. It cost me a job once when my supervisor (a District manager) freaked out over it. She tried to contain herself, and I had no case as there is always a reason to let someone go if you look for it. So its best not to tell.
Really? As it stands, not knowing what the job was, that’s outrageous. Even in cases where hypoglycemic episodes can potentially interfere with your ability to do certain kinds of work there are protections in place. T1s can even be airline pilots, though they have to satisfy certain requirements. What in the world did she think she had to freak out about anyway? It’s not like you’ve got ebola or something!
Yes, Really. Turns out she was a germophobe to boot. I consulted a lawyer and the state, but its an at will state, so no reason is needed. It was a real Micky mouse company (now you can figure out which company…). It was an amazing experience. The rumor mill said she was concerned I would pass out and cause a lawsuit, but the rumor mill is useless in court .
Some of my work colleagues know, but none know what it means other than that I usually don’t enjoy the donuts (not a food group anyway). I am certain they (aside from my direct boss whose father is diabetic on insulin for many years) would know what to do. Better motivation to keep everything under control.
I don’t keep it a secret, it’s just part of my life. And simply being up front about it helps keep folks feelingsfrom getting hurt when they bring sweets to the office that I don’t eat, and such.
I do not think I have ever kept my diabetes a secret. Even when I was younger or in high school. I have always been pretty open when it comes to diabetes. I do not feel the need to hide it. I see diabetes as another part of my life. I don’t go out of my way to talk about it either though.
I’ve never hidden my diabetes. I don’t go around trying to educate people (unless they ask), but if someone asks what my pump is or why I’m not eating something, I tell them I have diabetes.
Yes, that’s such a workplace hazard and it’s much easier on me and them if I’ve let it be known why I don’t partake and especially why I really really really don’t mind, don’t want them to bring anything special for me, or god forbid alter the practice on my account. It avoids much awkwardness and discomfort on both sides. It also helps that I’ve let them know that having a pump means I could indulge if I wanted to but just find it a lot simpler not to. It’s a choice I’m making and not something they need to be concerned about.
Like some others here, I was diagnosed @ 19. I was nearly on my own at that point, so I didn’t see the need to keep D a secret. Plus, my initial job after diagnosis was in a high-traffic retail environment with a big lunch rush and here I was taking NPH (aka @DrBB’s "Eat NOW!!! or Die!), so I had some juggling to do.
I naively told everyone when I was younger, but now I share more appropriately, like @Sam19 does.
Many years later, at a different job, one of my co-workers had passed out at her desk - initially we had no idea she was a T1D, so it was an immediate 911 call. I then started looking through her desk drawers and found a vial of insulin, she came around enough to accept some glucose tabs from me. By the time the EMTs arrived she was still groggy and trying to wave them off, but they carted her off anyway, because she was still fairly incoherent.
Underscoring by opposition that it can be useful for other people to know these things, yeah. You never know; one of 'em might be T1 too. I’m in a choir that has toured in France & England, and there’s another T1 in the group. Our first time abroad she happened to lose her BG meter and I had brought a spare that I was able to lend her. She was on MDI (as was I back then) so it was quite a panic, particularly since the Brit ones aren’t calibrated the same way and figure that out on top of all the other craziness of being on tour in another country == no fun. On our more recent trip this spring I was having a lot of trouble with hypos due to the change in time zones, the greater activity, different diet etc. and having someone else around who really knew what was going on was very helpful. Sometimes its great to have a comrade-in-arms.
When I was in high school I had a severe low that caused me to collapse in the middle of the hallway at lunch while attempting to get help (I was unable to communicate what was wrong, though). I managed to make it to my locker and ask the friend I shared it with where my brother was (I think probably thinking he’d be someone who would know what was going on even if I couldn’t express it) before collapsing. Even though I don’t ever remember discussing it with her, my friend knew that I had diabetes and somehow knew immediately that my blood sugar was low. She forced me to eat some candy (even though I was protesting and trying to refuse) and had someone go and get a teacher. No 911 needed that day, but the incident totally freaked me out, and is a big reason why I have no qualms about letting people around me know (in a casual way) that I have diabetes, and also always wearing a MedicAlert bracelet. I haven’t had a public low that bad since (that one happened back in the NPH days), but have had some close calls in public where I’ve felt awfully close to passing out.
