BellaOnline Forums Health and Fitness Diabetes Who to tell you are taking insulin?

My doctor has put me on once a day insulin. I take it at night before bedtime so I don't have to carry it with me. I have told one co worker at work that I am taking it now. She thinks I should tell our boss. I don't want everyone to know at work mostly because I don't want people to make a big deal about it. I don't get along with my boss and I don't want to be treated any differently then I already am. There is another manager in the office I know I can tell and not feel nervous about doing so. What do you guys think?

Hello Jeanette,

Personally, I think your medical history is private & should be your own personal business. But that being said, diabetes needs to be very carefully managed. God forbid, something happens to you at work such as severe hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia -- then a reliable, responsible & qualified person should know about your condition & how to help you quickly. If the colleague you told happens to be ill that day or indisposed, then what?

If you don't feel comfortable telling your boss, then confide in somebody else or inform HR. If you have medical personnel or a nurse available in your workplace, do let them know.

I am sure that on a daily basis, you manage your diabetes very well but I say this only for the sake of precaution in case of an emergency, your health & well-being are most important :-) I know many diabetics that wear the medi-alert bracelets for just this very reason, so in case something happens & 911 is called -- the EMTs will know immediately what to do. Remember in medical emergencies, time is of the essence.

Take care of yourself & be well!

Thank you Sadhana. Very good advice. There is a lady in our office who is on an insulin pump that she wears visibly on her waistband and she has an medi-alert bracelet as well. I think one of the bracelets is going to be my best bet because I also communte to work on the public bus. If i pass out on the bus, it will be needed.

Let me start by saying I am a T-II and I don't take insulin. I actually take 2 oral meds.

I don't think your medical condition should be a private matter. When you have a medical problem like diabetes it will, in all likelihood, become a public matter. And I'm not just talking about the big things. I often have low blood glucose and the people around me realize it before I do. I may feel sloggy-ish, or can't keep my thoughts together, or start to ramble my husband will just say "go get something to eat'. I've told my neighbors if I look like I'm walking around the yard drunk, they need to know I haven't been drinking and I may need some help.

I have only passed out once, and that was in a restaurant. Then there was a lot of discussion with those near me about what would have caused it. Now I have a mediical alert tattoo in the spot the EMTs would be taking my pulse. I also keep a card with phone numbers and medications in the outside pocket of my purse. I want to be treated properly and without delay.

Thanks Jeanette, as mentioned by GrannyH -- you should keep an emergency contact list, your doc's # and a list of current meds/dosages handy :-)

My parents are both elderly & diabetic, so that's where I am coming from.

Thanks!

Who and how many people that you tell depends on each individual's life situation. If you don't go really high or low, and you don't have huge swings in your blood glucose levels, you might want to tell only a select few.

However, if you go dangerously high or low, or even high or low enough to affect the way you react to situations, you should make sure that enough people know to keep you and your co-workers safe. You do not want to start driving if your blood sugar causes you to be impaired.