Talk with friends and colleagues | Employer notification | If your child has diabetes | Diabetes Club Rules
Every diabetic in our country meets not only with misunderstanding, importunity, incorrect questions (bullying is relevant among schoolchildren), but also with discrimination. For example, most experienced diabetics will agree with the fact that silence about the diagnosis increases the chance of getting a job. We are a kind of club for diabetics, a minority with a lazy pancreas. Society is in no hurry to come to “diabetic tolerance.” So, is it worth talking about your diabetes to others?
In the 21st century, technology is developing at breakneck speed, we are connected around the clock, and artificial intelligence is developing faster than ever. Nevertheless, a diabetic who has changes in blood sugar may not receive any help. Others can take him for a drunk and not even try to come up. Sports coaches, for fear of refusing to recruit a child with diabetes. And the employer may not consider an employee with diabetes, even if there is no reasonable premise for refusal.
If the topic of diabetes is still so dark, is it worth “making a confession” at all?
Alas, for now, you have to carefully choose who to talk about the diagnosis and who to not tell. We will postpone peace, friendship and chewing gum until better times. Here are useful practical tips for action. Note that this is IMHO editor, based on the experience of more than a dozen diabetics.
Talk about diabetes with friends and colleagues
Friends. When you yourself are ready, and tired from frequent questions and omissions, you can arrange an educational five-minute for friends. Prepare general information in advance: what is true, what is myth, and emergency situations and necessary actions. Coming out among friends will help you relax, remove all suspicions. You will be sure that in an emergency you can be helped. It is best to describe your diabetes cheerfully to stop all attempts to regret you well. The more accessible the details, the less silly questions you will have to listen to.
Employer notification when applying for a job
I once had a chance to discuss the issue of employment at a diabetic meeting. The first answer was “Silence”. Of course, problems will most likely not arise if you are engaged in scientific activities, programming, looking for a job as a web designer or something like that. But in many professions, especially those related to production, close monitoring of the health of candidates is given.
It is absolutely not necessary to talk about diabetes during the interview. For example, in the food industry or in educational work, diabetes should not affect job placement. And if work involves heavy physical activity, irregular working hours, increased attention is required, then diabetes is a pretty good reason for failure. From the side of the law, this will be unlawful, but you can understand why diabetics decide not to take on high-altitude work, public transport driver or pilot.
An interesting example from his experience was given by YOUTUBE blogger Max Stimulus. He got a job at the port (difficult work at heights + night shifts). Even at the stage of the medical examination, the doctors simply refused to undergo tests with him. Maxim was not at a loss and demanded that he be checked, like other candidates. After a series of insults and a call from the head physician, they agreed to allow him to be examined if his glycemia level is normal.
Whether or not to tell your employer about diabetes is your choice.
“I checked my blood sugar first. Because everything was fine, they allowed me to go to the main examination. I myself was surprised that I could achieve my goal. I’ve been working for 8 months and everything’s ok,” comments Maxim.
Whether or not to tell your employer about diabetes is your choice. We do not urge to conceal information, but if you are afraid of prejudice, and diabetes does not affect the quality of your work, give the employer the opportunity to take the initiative in such matters.
Colleagues. Divide and conquer … a joke. Consciously approach the disclosure of information about your diagnosis in the team. Open up on a hunch but avoid spontaneous decisions. This may be a clear sign of psychological burnout. Diabetic depression is quite common. This is fatigue from the constant need to control diabetes. Do something nice for yourself, breathe deeply and enlist the support of truly close people.
If your child has diabetes
The child must understand the cause and effect relationship. First you will control all the compensation processes. In this case, care should be taken about training. This is a peculiar school of diabetes in practical lessons. Accustom your child to responsibility. Tell the truth! Explain the dangers of low and high sugar. But avoid bullying. With adulthood, give freedom of action. Be sure to talk about the complications that may arise with poor compensation.
Educators, teachers and trainers. Unfortunately, most school staff are completely unfamiliar with diabetes. They need to know about the diagnosis of the child. Provide them with the most important information. You can find special brochures with recommendations online. Print and take copies to teachers.
Educators, teachers and trainers need to know about the diagnosis of the child.
Your task is not only that teachers are ready to help, but also so that they do not impose unreasonable restrictions on the child.
Peers and the problem of insulin administration. Children may start taunting due to injections. Teachers should get involved if there is a situation in which the child begins to be harassed (there is more and more news about bullying in schools), the teacher should conduct conversations with the children. In addition, it is necessary to connect the parents of the offenders in order to influence comprehensively and stop aggressive behavior and ridicule.
The child is free to inject insulin in the classroom. No one has the right to expel him (and such situations occur). Some people prefer to go to the bathroom, but this is far from the best place. It is better to arrange a school medical room so that the child goes there to give injections.
Diabetes Club Rules
Diabetes is not worth being ashamed of. Your health depends on measuring blood sugar, injected insulin and glucose for low blood sugar. If someone questions all the medications, you take- explain or ignore. This is the best thing you can do for yourself.
The second rule of the diabetic club is: worry less about trifles. When you are nervous, sugar control is interrupted. Psychosomatics are real and your mental disposition affects your physical state.
Forgive the ignorance of people and try to explain to them their mistakes. Very few people have diabetes information. Most often, the baggage of knowledge is filled only with myths.
Lack of a culture of health, lack of education, and often just the lack of empathy – this does not have to be the case. Yes, community awareness is extremely low today. But we can change that. Yes, many very small steps will help achieve the goal. It is possible!