I would love to know, for a possible article on the Huffington Post,if you've ever encountered discrimination, or felt discriminated against because of your diabetes - type 1 or type 2?
I can remember not being able to get health insurance because I had a "pre-existing" condition. I can remember being told there were certain jobs I couldn't hold like being an airplane pilot.
What have you come across where diabetes has made you feel discriminated? I would love to know.
Thanks bunches,
riva
I do not know that it is discrimination, I have not regarded it as such. Discrimination is defined by Websters online as "the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people or things, esp. on the grounds of race, age, or sex". In this regard there is no way one could be "discriminated against" as a result of diabetes. Now using the second definition in the same dictionary it reads "recognition and understanding of the difference between one thing and another", in that regard it might under a lose definition be discrimination.
At any rate, yes I have been denied life insurance, I imagine a job or two, and some otehr things. I refuse to call not getting a job as being discrimination. The reason I refuse to call it this is because, if they do not want to employ me because of diabetes I do not want to work there anyway. To me it is a mutual feeling, If I am not wanted, I do not wish to work there anyway. Yes, not getting jobs because I have diabetes does hurt. Still I feel no more discriminated against then if I were not picked for a baseball team. It is the way the cookie crumbles.
As for life insurance, I could not buy extra life insurance because I am diabetic, nor could I buy life insurance if I drank and drove. Is that discrimination or is it merely a company acting on behalf of its share holders?
So yes I have been denied other things people usually get. Yes I have been kept from jobs and stopped form being everything I wanted when I was 12. But then again I chose to get married have children and enjoy a great life. We do make some choices and that alone creates discrimination in the second sense of the word. With regard to the first part of the definition, health conditions is not one of the basis of discrimination.
My (ex) 'friends' dropped me from their social circle because I was on a 'funny' diet. I eat moderate low carb, and as my dr. advised, do not eat carb with my evening meal as I feel ill the next day if I do.
I don't think you should be an airline pilot if you're on insulin and having hypos- it's too dangerous, just my opinion. Being denied life insurance on the other hand, that is discrimination imo. So far I haven't been discriminated against but I feel this world is very carb oriented and it is hard to find good low carb foods that are truly low carb. I don't generally eat processed foods anymore but nearly everything in the US has sugar or artificial sweeteners dumped into it. Fortunately plain yogurts are available, but they aren't the norm and many foods get away with no nutritional labeling, like fresh baked goods- I don't eat those anymore either. You can't even find medications without sugar or artificial sweeteners added in easily.. I did find one today! A herbal tonic with guaifenesin and no sugar or sweeteners.. if it had stevia and no sugar alcohol I would be ok with that but I like the fact it has nothing else in it. I have ordered veggies and meat only in a restaurant and I've been given potatoes with them.. this hasn't happened often and it isn't discrimination but it is a pain. Pastel, I'm sorry you're friends dropped you, thats sad.. I hope you find new friends who don't care what you eat. I personally don't want to be around people eating tons of carbs because I eat lo carb and it is a temptation I don't want to be around often.
Yes, after a sad, lonely, depressed time, I found new friends.
Meee, thanks for the kind disagreement. I expected harsher treatment when I posted my reply. I appreciate that we can disagree and not go for the throat, you are definitively my new hero. Thanks a bunch.
Pastelpainter, I am so sorry you lost friendships. But as I said if someone writes me out because of diabetes I figure it is their loss and my ultimate gain. After all I have people to impress. I am so glad you found new friends.
Rick
You're welcome Rick :) I didn't even really consider it a disagreement per say but just saying my opinion on it.. pastel I'm glad you found new friends... :) I'm sad to say that I have another food complaint: ricola cough drops which claim to be sugar free have spike my bg to 185! They have aspartame which I will usually not eat but it is impossible to find a non sweetened cough drop apparently, fortunately halls doesn't spike me- I should have stuck with them, Cough drops need nutritional labeling too!
When I graduated from engineering school in 1972, 34 companies invited me for second interviews. Every offer for a second interview was withdrawn, Only because I was a T1 diabetic. When I asked the head recruiter for Westinghouse whay I needed to do to get a job with a company like Westinghouse, he todl me “don’t bother applying and walked away” I have many other examples of discrimination.
I don't know if its too late, but I was fired for having diabetes. The company in question organized organ transplants, and I was too much of a liability for having the disease (which I didn't know about when hired). I am angry about that, as I was/am capable of performing the job - and I was good at it. Because of this, I feel as though I can't talk about diabetes with anyone, and don't deserve to ask for help. The unfortunate thing is that the large companies have legal representation that I just can't compete with. It feels like rape.
The need for education to stop discrimination and show respect for the human dignity of diabetics clearly exists today. As for me, I personally won’t tolerate even a hint of discrimination. Let me explain: Today, I was at a function of an organization I belong to I needed to test my blood sugar and inject. Two people suggested that I test and inject in the restroom. I firmly, but politely refused. Since one was an official representing the organization, I calmly told her, "If you ask me that again, you will be facing a lawsuit. This kind of discfimination is illegal under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Enough said, I spoke my piece.,
I was denied my right to keep my supplies on me in school. I had to keep them in the office. I have been told that there is no eating at times when I was low and had to eat. I’ve been kicked out of Burger King for checking my sugar under the table. A lot of my friends don’t understand my pump and don’t invite me to go out with them. Most girls don’t like the pump and I never hear back from them again. In addition to diabetes, I also have a mental illness. There is definitely a stigma when it comes to mental illness, but I am being to think there is one with diabetes as well.
I have encountered discrimination and face it almost very day. It sucks. Lots of ignorance out there. I can’t have a cgm or a pump because insurance thinks I caused myself to become diabetic even though it’s genetic… people have told me I am not welcome to work where I do when they found out I have D. I put up with several colleagues dissing PWD today all the while I have it and had to say nothing while enduring their idoiotic comments. Frustrating +++
I’ve never felt discriminated against. Not once in my life have I felt denied because of my D. I have always had health insurance because I always had health insurance (what is that… prior authorization, maybe). Now, it isn’t an issue. I’ve always had life insurance through work and not been denied extra insurance (my dad is going to make out if I die right now). Any employer has not known about my diabetes until after I get and accept a job offer, and I never had problems in school. I’ve never lost friends or romantic relationships because of it. I get stupid comments from people, but I don’t consider this discrimination, just an annoyance. Other people’s ignorance has never been in the way of my success.
Perhaps I’m just lucky.
i have been at my work i get it a lot. but i think at my new work i won’t get it a lot i hope not.
Same here. I can’t think of any negative experiences in my life that I could attribute to my D. In my profession, having D or not makes no difference. In general, I am somewhat surprised to hear about job discrimination cases. Other than having D, I guess I’ve otherwise been lucky.