Well, today was not a thumbs up with my Diabetes. I had a low blood sugar during the last 25 minutes of a long 2 hour interview. I feel so bad about the situation, truly out of my own control… it’s so hard to determine what certain stressful situations will do to one’s BGs. I was great going in, but low coming out. My words all tangled, sentences just looping around in my head, focusing on my internal feelings… just a shame really.
Feeling I let myself down and didn’t truly represent myself in the way I would like, I struggled on what to do next. I hate to make excuses for poor performance especially when my Diabetes is the major factor. Whether I don’t think people understand or I feel like I am using my Diabetes Card.
I decided to write a follow up letter. I would like to hear your input, or what you would have done if it happened to you. Hopefully this letter is a reference for someone in the same situation
Dear ,
Thank you very much for the interview today it was a pleasure meeting both of you. Your desire to find the right person to tackle the challenge to grow business led me to this opportunity. I wanted to express my interview experience today with you on a personal note. Towards the end of our conversation I was unfortunately experiencing a low blood sugar and unsure how to properly treat the situation. My words came out with less plan and congruency which I do apologize for. This not an attempt at an excuse, but a reason for my performance during the last 25 or so minutes. My low today was not a situation that happens frequently, but does happen and wanted both of you to be informed.
If there is an opportunity to meet again and follow up on the interview today I would certainly entertain the opportunity. In closing, let me say that no matter how many people you interview, what their education or experience is, you won’t find anyone who wants under your leadership more than I do.
I totally understand where you are coming from. I hate using my “diabetes card”, and I do feel like people don’t understand, but sometimes these situations are unavoidable. I know you would tell your employer once hired, but it is a bummer to have it happen when you are trying to make a good first impression.
I think the letter is a great idea and it is worded and flows nicely. It doesn’t sound like an excuse at all. I would hire you…lol.
I’m with Cathy on this one. I wouldn’t reveal your diabetes to them until after you get the job and even then I would wait as long as I could. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t test or medicate at work, just do it discretely. I know we (PWDs) have the ADA to protect us but your future employers can easily exclude you based upon the information revealed in your letter, tell you it’s for some other reason and you’ll never know. Most of the time I can hold it together pretty well for a little while during a hypo and I have a feeling you can too. You probably did better than you think you did and if they did notice anything they may credit it to the length of the interview. After all, two hours in this kind of stressful environment has a negative effect on people without a chronic disease. Yes, best of luck to you and let us know how it works out
I agree, I hate to say it, but you do have to hide your Diabetes sometimes and I think that is a likely reason why some struggle at work to conceal it and act like nothing is wrong.
It was wierd, I was feeling low… but couldn’t really tell for sure… was I feeling Nervous or Low asking myself that in my head while getting questioned by 2 people… ahhh My Life in a nutshell sometimes.
I think I took the high road, we’ll see what happens… No Response yet from them, I’ll probably get the generic reply “we found a more qualified non-diabetic to fill your spot” No Worries. I mean, I’m 1HappyDiabetic over here!!! Thanks for the responses thus far, it has made me feel much better about a topic hard to discuss with other not in the same diabetic boat.
I am going to have to disagree with all of you “hiders”. You are interviewed and you get the position and you have not revealed that you are diabetic. First days with a new employer are usually stressful, you’re nervous, meeting lots of new people. You bottom out and have a big low.
That gets taken care of and the next day you get called into the manager’s office. You reveal that you’re diabetic. He inquires about the length of time you have been type 1 and you reply years (or months or whatever).
How much trust or faith do you think he will have in you now? You have not revealed a MAJOR health problem that can and will affect your job. Think he will be pleased?
And what about your fellow employees … you have acted very strange and they didn’t know what is wrong with you … maybe a rumor spreads that you suffer from epilepsy, have a drug or drinking problem, etc.
Your letter is good. You should always write a thank you letter after the interview, whether you have had a hypo or not … it’s common courtesy and keeps your name in front of them. When you said that you would entertain an opportunity to meet with them again you sound as if you are saying that if they want to meet you again that you will think about it.
I was taken to lunch one time by a prospective employer and like you, I had a bad drop in blood glucose (I never get symptoms). I was very fortunate that the gentleman interviewing me had a teenage daughter who was type 1 so he knew what was happening and why. I didn’t get the job but it wasn’t due to the diabetes.
I think it would depend on how bad you wanted this job. For the rest of the interview, if you did fairly well and they seemed to like you, you may want to talk to them and explain the situation. If it were me, I wouldn’t say anything. I’d chalk it up to a bad interview and try somewhere else…unless they hire you. At that time, I would let them know about the diabetes. I never reveal my diabetes until AFTER I’ve been hired. In fact, it’s usually the first thing I tell them after "We’d like to offer you the position; when can you start?"
I don’t want to hide it, but I also don’t want it to be a deciding factor in being hired.
I dont think you should worry.
People tend to make there minds up in the first five minutes after meeting you… They would have known well before the middle of you’re interview.
All the best my thoughts are with you.
Personally, I would have made sure my blood sugar was a little higher before the interview. You can always do a correction after the interview is over.
Unfortunately, diabetes is a condition a lot of potential employers might hold against you. It’s best not to reveal it until after you get the job. It’s not anything to be ashamed of, but the people interviewing you might be afraid you don’t have your condition under control. If I felt like I might be getting a little low, I would have excused myself for a bathroom break. Surely that’s understandable on a 2 hour interview.
I don’t think diabetes is a “deal breaker” for most jobs; But making it an issue on an interview might leave a lot of questions in the minds of the people interviewing you.
Hi Happy,
I hope what you have gotten from all the responses is a completely supportive hug. Everyone is telling you that we all understand and are with you. And we want to hear back about how you are doing. Best of luck to you…
I found myself in exactly the same situation. I even checked my BG before the interview and then 25min in it starting tanking… Finding myself faint, sweaty and nervous I could no longer hide that I was feeling really bad and had to tell them that I needed to get something to treat my low in order to continue the interview. They were actually very understanding and very helpful. I did end up getting the job and was glad that the episode did not affect their decision. While I don’t think it’s necessary to announce that your are diabetic to the world, I don’t think you should hide it either. Would you really want to work for someone that wouldn’t hire you because of it?
The letter idea is great,may be the boss is diabetic and hiding it(!!). It is kind of brave and strong personality to explain.I wish You good luck .As Kevin mentioned, for stressful situation a higher Bg will be on the safe side.The parents of my patients send their kids to their exams with around Bg 150 mg,They told me hyper is better than hypo till get home after finishing exams.
This is tough. I feel for you, but consider whether the people interviewing you even noticed anything. I know you notice, but did they?
As for your letter, I’m for full disclosure. And if you’re going to fully disclose, say it up front without making excuses for it, as your letter seems to with ‘not a situation which happens frequently.’ Its defensive, IMHO. I’d suggest something like this following ‘this opportunity.’
“I should inform you that I have Type I Diabetes and on the rare occasion when I suffer a low blood sugar my speech can get a little unfocused. If I seemed a little incoherent near the end of our interview, it is because my blood sugar was low and I was afraid (embarrassed, scared) under the circumstances to ask for the few moments it would have taken to bring it under control. Frankly, I was also afraid of what the reaction would be.” (NOTE: not what ‘your’ reaction would be, but what ‘the’ reaction would be.)
I do not agree with hiding your condition. It’s unfair all around. It assumes the worst in people. It puts you in an embarrassing and awkward position when you have to reveal it. How can you seek their leadership if you don’t trust them with the truth?
Great sample text. One comment though: If I read a letter like that I think I’d feel a little insulted that they were afraid to ask for a few moments, and afraid of my reaction – does this person really think I’m that scary? So if I were writing that letter, I’d try to be more emotionally neutral: “…my blood sugar was low and I didn’t want to interrupt our conversation by mentioning it.”
Although I probably never would write that letter, because if I were ever in that situation, I wouldn’t go into that much detail to begin with. I’m all in favor of full disclosure – at the right time. Until the job was in the bag I’d just say I wasn’t feeling well and leave it at that.
I can definitely sympathize with you. About four years ago, I had the same thing happen to me. A lengthy interview for a job. About an hour and a half in, I noticed that I was sweating and that my conversation was not smooth. I immediately disclosed my diabetes, said I was very embarrassed about it and said I needed a moment or two to come back up. The two people interviewing me were very sympathetic and talked about a couple of their partners who were diabetic while I quickly downed two Cokes. In five minutes, all was fine.
I think a lot of what you are going to do in that situation depends on the type of job for which you are interviewing. My experience was for a position as lawyer at a large law firm. It was obvious from the conversation my interviewers had that there was some familiarity with diabetes. I believe that, in a large business, there are likely to be several/many diabetics, so such a business should be able to overcome your problem during the last part of the interview.
My story ended happily – I was invited back for another round of interviews, but declined, since I had already decided, before I got low, that the position was not right for me. You will find the right position. If this potential employer is going to have a problem with your having experienced a low during an interview, they are going to have a problem with it while you are working, which will only create more stress and make for an unhappy employment there.
Thanks for all the comments… It’s interesting discussing whether or not to tell an employer upfront about your DIabetes. I don’t want to say I hide my diabetes, usually it is a known thing especially with bosses and co-workers that are close to me… I think they need to be informed about it. Especially for the Diabetic unknowns that can happen at work, but I also disclose it too because I feel like I’m a normal guy and want them to know the good side of Diabetes (that being looking and acting normal, lol)
I was interviewing for a Sales position so the tone in my letter might be slighly different. Terry your letter was great thank you for that. You know the problem too was how long it took me mentally to figure out I was low. Plus it was at the end so I was hoping it would be over soon…lol.
You know… THIS IS WHAT BEING A DIABETIC IS… it’s not the shots that bother me, not the pump, it’s that slap in the back of the head when you think things should be fine and BOOM there’s that constant reminder again.
On the otherhand… maybe my Low was a Diabetic gift telling me this wasn’t the job for me…
Thank you all for your responses they have helped alot… NOW to go call the recruiter back I’ll let you guys know.
