As some of you may have seen on facebook, I had a somewhat tiring start to the week. I was all set to walk out the door, ready to drive to work and BAMM! All of a sudden I felt dizzy. Confused and thinking to myself ' I CANNOT be low'... my BG is soooo sticky in the mornings, so much so that some days nothing seems to bring it down except a a good few units and a run (and then sometimes a follow up shot mid-morning!). I pricked my finger just in case. 2.8! ArrGHhh, I was going to be late for work.As I sat there recovering, jelly beans in one had, extra strong coffee in the other, I thought what do other diabetics do when this happens? When your job is effected because of diabetes. Have you ever not applied for or taken a job because you were Type 1? Do you think you've ever not been accepted into a job because they knew you were diabetic? Have you ever pushed yourself too far at work, just because you didn't what anyone to know that diabetes was actually making life really difficult in that moment?
In the grand scheme of things, this low seemed simple enough but it came at a time when I was supposed to be responsible for an entire public venue, I was supposed to be at work on time. To make matters worse, we had a fire evacuation just two hours after I got to work and I had an extra long day ahead (8am to 9.30pm) which just became so much more daunting since obliterating my energy stores with such a random blood sugar crash. And of course, its not the first time I've gone low and sat munching away, feeling pressured about the extremely inappropriate timing and aggravating sense of humour diabetes seems to have.
I would really love to hear from you about your career. Did diabetes change your career plans? Stop you, or prevent you from fulfilling a role, or a duty? Or maybe it propelled you into a career you hadn't really planned on? Have you made career 'sacrifices' because you've wanted to make better diabetes choices?
What are the little things that help you manage your work life with Type 1?... What are the hardest elements to balance when it comes to a working with diabetes?
One of the biggest stumbling blocks I encountered growing up with Type 1 was a lack of role models who also had Type 1. When I was 10 there was no internet: no Facebook, no blogging, no DOC. We didn't even really get the internet in our home until 1999, but it seemed so foreign and somewhat of a novelty that it didn't really occur to me to use it for diabetes. Then life carried on with other things, as it does when you're a teenager, and its only been in my late twenties that its become such an important part of my approach to living with this condition. I had so desperately wanted some one to look up to though, to show me that diabetes doesn't stop you, that we can still be leaders and champions, that we can be responsible for others, that we can be successful and hold our own.
The DOC is amazing. If only for showing that a happy, healthy, life with Type 1 is possible AND that you are not alone in your frustrations, fear, anger and frequent irony that is life with Type 1. Thank you to every one of you who blog, post, share, comment and just connect. It makes life with Type 1 that much easier.
Feel free to email me your thoughts if you don't wish to comment below.
x
What a great topic and one that my life and career as a musician was so heavily controlled by and in the end gave me cause to retire from.
ReplyDeleteI had always wanted to be a guitarist like Jimi Hendrix and at 14 got a replica guitar and amp for Christmas, I blew it up with excessive volume, took it back to the shop who couldn't replace it quick enough so I swapped it for a drum kit. Taught myself one song and one afternoon went to watch a band setup, they asked if I played, I said yes one song, jammed with them and they sneaked me into the gig to watch. They got me on stage to play that one song, my first band was in the audience, left home at 15, on the road by 16 and so started my career in music.
So fast forward, 1987, became very sick while in Hobart and after several tests was diagnosed as type 1, I was 28 and shattered. After a month in and out of hospital I returned to playing and continued for another decade. At the time I was told to control my diabetes and not let it control me so when I experienced hypo's every time I played I felt like I was failing. So I pretty much kept the diabetic truth from everyone and began the deliberate high sugars to get through the gigs which were physically demanding before I was type 1 and even more so now. Add to this the erratic hours and sometimes the grabbing of whatever resembled food with sometimes only minutes before a gig would start, no catering at this level either. I battled fatigue, cramps, hypo's and the extreme highs after scoffing jelly beans or fruit juice mid song sometimes. There were no role models in my industry and in the fitness industry which was also one of my interests. In hindsight I probably should have taken more time off to better learn how to live with type 1 and perhaps my career might have stayed on track for a bit longer. Type 1 most definitely affected my life, my career both physically and financially. Type 1 couldn't kill my passion for music and it still hasn't. On a lighter note one of my old singers used my diabetes quite often to cancel practice even though I was fine. One final note, I spent most of my life with my diabetes as a secret, I didn't want people to think I was weak or different to them and most definitely would not use it as a reason that I was unwell. That has all changed now, my friends and workmates now know a lot about type 1 and through Facebook they see the Mastering Me updates, Medtronics and Diabetes Tasmania. I tell them when I am feeling crap or if Im experiencing difficulties and to allow me to control any stressful situations in the workplace. I have been part time, 3 days a week since one of my daughters was born nearly 11 years ago. Whilst this decision was based on childcare availability it has been a god send for my type 1 and my time spent with my daughters. It has also meant more frequent appointments for eyes, feet, educators, specialists and now of course the pump clinic. cheers Jess. Peter Manaena
Hi again Peter :) sorry it took me so long to get back to you. I really appreciate you sharing this story. It is really valuable insight in to life with diabetes and the struggle to find balance with everything that we want to do. Funnily enough after I wrote this, work got really hectic and I began to fall into that cycle of pushing diabetes aside! Lucky a holiday was a welcome break and I'm back on track now! It was really nice to come back and read this again now too.
Deletethis is the right space for me to share. i'm a really active person, doing exercises 2 times a day and sometimes without even resting in a week. i tend to do light workout as a rest day for me. i do a mixture of cross-training and running, and if i got time i play some football. been a type 1 for 11 years now. I'm currently waiting for a call to become a police officer as a chief inspector as i've done my post-graduate degree. i've done all the tests including the fitness test which i got the fastest time of all the applicants, did a 2.4km under 10mins. i've been talking to my doctor, and made a few research on police with a type 1 diabetic. i'd summarize that it's not about a person having diabetes, it's about how a diabetic can understand and control his own body and adapt to the situations. one cannot discriminate against a person with diabetes unless the person is medically unfit to do such job, for instance as a police officer.
ReplyDeleteyet again if i get selected i want to prove that having a diabetic especially type-1 doesn't stop me from getting i want to be. i want to be a role model and also create the awareness of diabetes in the police force. our diet, and living i guess it's not that different from a person without diabetes. i supposed a diabetic dietary is better in my opinion. it's not that we can't eat sugar or something, it's just that we need to get the right amount of sugar . i can consider myself as an athlete, i beieve that my diet has helped me a lot to perform. non of my friends believe that with the fitness level i have now, a person without a diabetes can be struggling a bit to be in my form. i know it requires practice, and time management. i really hope i get selected for the police force.
Baihaqi
Wow, thank you for sharing this, it was really inspiring to read how dedicated you are. It is always a good day when I hear and see fellow type 1s pushing on and living their life how they want to. I really like what you said about diabetics understanding their own bodies too. Have you received that call yet? I hope they see what a dedicated team member you would make. Type 1 makes us stronger.
DeleteI would love to hear how you went.
This blog is heart touching and really appreciating. As a diabetic patient, it has really helped me to live life the way I want to. Doesn’t matter which type of diabetes you are suffering from. Infact, with proper medication, you can add more color to your life. You are not unusual than others. As a layman, you can celebrate birthday parties, hit on concerts, rave party and more.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind words of encouragement! :)
DeleteHi Suizou, thank you for coming by my blog and sharing your struggles. I sometimes find it hard to talk about the future, and have worried about what you expressed. But the only way I know how to deal with this is by working towards being the best I can now and taking each day as it comes. You remind me, and hopefully others, that we should be thankful for what we do have. Thank you and thinking of you x
ReplyDelete