I am about to start my first job… ever. I’m 18 years old and have always been unemployed, except for the occasional baby-sitting gig, and then there’s all that unpaid volunteer work I’ve done…
Anyway, does anyone have any tips for me, diabetes-wise? (Or really, any advice you have would be helpful!)
I start in a couple weeks, if all goes according to plan... I'll be working in a grocery store bakery, so it's one of those on-your-feet-all-day, stay-busy kinda jobs.
I didn't mention anything in the interview, but I wonder what/when/how much I should tell the people I'll be working with. And everyone I met during the interview was super nice (which is one of the reasons I know I'll love my job!)
let your coworkers know what warning signs of hypo and high blood sugars and what they should do. you don’t have to tell everyone if you’re not comfortable with that but someone there should know just in case. let your supervisor know in case you ahve to take a break for testing/meds so they don’t get upset if they can’t find you.
Congrats on your first job! One thing I would recommend is putting a temp basal on for the first couple of shifts that you work until you know how it goes. If you’re on your feet and running around all day, there’s a good chance you will run low. Make sure to take some juice or glucose tabs or something, and don’t forget to check your BG every once in a while.
Most important of all, have fun and make new friends. You only get one chance to make a great first impression, so give it all you’ve got!
My first post-diagnosis job was in retail where I had to stand on my feet all day. I found my ankles and feet got swollen so I would recommend getting your feet up after work or on breaks.
Also I reiterate what Joe_h said. Let your co-workers know about your D, but let them know that you don’t expect any problems, you know how to deal with them, you plan on testing during breaks, here is where my glucose tabs are, etc.
