I think the basis of this discrimination i that all Diabetics can't conrol ther bg levels...that bugs me in a way since i did wanna be a pilot when i was younger..but atm i dont really care. But have i ever been discriminated, no, cuz i dont really tell strangers im diabetic unless im willing to
People seem to rarely tell their real reasons for breaking up with someone.. so I wouldn't worry about that hurting your future chances in that realm! :)
I hiked 240 miles on the John Muir Trail just with one friend and 2 spots for resupply of food. I had no problem managing my diabetes and would be super pissed if I was declined any type of thing because of it.. that said, I'm also color blind, and am pretty sure that precludes me from being a pilot. I guess it's someones judgement call wether that is discrimination or not. But I have no control over my colorblindness, it is what it is. I can manage my diabetes and preform any duty at any level.... so I would be super offended if some police force discriminated against me like that.
I'd hate being a cop though, I'm happy with my current line of work :)
Wow what a joke indeed. Chicago Tribune has a quiz they like to call something to the effect of "know your current events." One question: Sotomayor recently was diagnosed with what chronic disease.. I didn't even know she had diabetes but it was the obvious choice amongst the other 3. I figured it was type 2 since they said recently..
I remember in the late 90's they said Type 1 dia is possible up-to age 35, and more recently they've tweaked that age to 45 years old.. I highly doubt she was "recently" diagnosed as I'm pretty sure she falls well outside that range. I'll have to do some actual reading to learn more about it.
Speaking of Chicago.. Jay Cutler is our new QB, and he has type 1 dia too, just diagnosed in the last year or 2. I've only seen one or 2 articles mention this, but we'll see how it pans out. The comments on those articles were pretty comedic; users really had no idea about type 1 dia and it showed!
what the heck, twice I've tried to reply within other people's posts and they've ended up at the bottom... sorry, they were meant to be specific to that dialouge. I obviuosly have to learn how this system works.
Judge Sotomayor was diagnosed when she was 8 years old.
DrumminMan,
I am very disappointed in your last paragraph. I am completely on board with Scott on this topic. It is sad to see messages on a board dedicated to Type I diabetics saying how we can't do some things.
I was diagnosed with T1 at age 26 and am now 30. I am currently a Federal Agent with a certain law enforcement agency within the United States government. I got this job after I was diagnosed. I have been able to complete 100% of all duties associated with my position including lots of international travel and I have already received a promotion.
Any police officer position that specifically states people with diabetes cannot apply should quickly be challenged. It has been proven time and time again that we can do it and we can't legally be excluded.
Nova:
But wouldn't you agree that as a law enforcement professional there are very few times that you wouldn't be able to either check your BG, or treat it if necessary? Of course I'm not in law enforcement so I don't know what your actual schedule is like, but it seems that someone who might be in combat would have a harder time checking and/or treating BG's. Or carrying appropriate supplies for that matter.
This isn't to say that T1's shouldn't strive for whatever it is they'd like to do in life. I'm definitely not trying to convey that in any way. I'm just saying....seems like health should come first, before career. At least that's my opinion. Im sure there's plenty out there who disagree.
I don't mean to compare my job to being in military combat. Most times, I know in advance when I am going to be put in high-stress situations and can plan accordingly. I agree with you completely that health and family should come before career. If i wasn't able to maintain my health while doing my job, I would quit in a heartbeat.
I was just taken aback that some people on here seemed to say that we should be excluded from certain professions because we have diabetes. Like everyone else here, I have to take extra steps to ensure my safety and health. It's just part of our lives and only makes us stronger.
Nova,
I agree with you in that we should be able to do everything we can in our life despite our diabetes.
I was mostly saying from experience, I would not make a good police officer or any career of the sort because of my OWN diabetes. It's difficult for people with H-U (hypo-unawareness) to even be able to tell when they are having a low until it is too late.
Good thing I am not at that point or hope to never be, but it's always a possibility - you never know where your health will go and I try as much as I can to avoid that.
I believe that everyone, despite their medical condition should be given fair choice and equal representation in every career path.
As for me, I am currently working as a Groups coordinator for a Travel Incentive House, and will be going on my first 3 week program to Argentina in the new year, I AM worried of something happening but it is not stopping me.
Good luck to you all!
[quote user="Nova"]
DrumminMan,
I am very disappointed in your last paragraph. I am completely on board with Scott on this topic. It is sad to see messages on a board dedicated to Type I diabetics saying how we can't do some things.
I was diagnosed with T1 at age 26 and am now 30. I am currently a Federal Agent with a certain law enforcement agency within the United States government. I got this job after I was diagnosed. I have been able to complete 100% of all duties associated with my position including lots of international travel and I have already received a promotion.
Any police officer position that specifically states people with diabetes cannot apply should quickly be challenged. It has been proven time and time again that we can do it and we can't legally be excluded.
[/quote]
Congratulation on the success you are enjoying in your chosen career.
It is my opinion that people that work in fields where other people's lives are at stake should be done by people that don't have medical conditions that could cause them to become mentally impaired or physically impaired on the job. I wouldn't want my child riding on a school bus with a bus driver who is a diabetic or epileptic or narcoleptic or whatever. It's not that the mean old school district has it out for diabetics. It's a matter of public safety. Same would go for cops or fire fighters or airline pilots or military IMHO. On 9/11, the fire fighters climbing up the flight of stairs to save victims didn't have time to stop and test and have a snack and bolus etc.
Diabetes is not a civil rights thing, it's a medical condition. As much as we hate to admit it, we are different. I'm OK with that. I would not accept being turned down for a job as a barber or school teacher or computer geek or Supreme Court Justice because of diabetes however.
I have my opinion, you have yours. It may be old school and outdated, don't know. With pumps and testers etc. control has gotten better. But can any of us say we have never had a low blood sugar episode unexpectedly? What were to happen if we were inside a burning building trying to save a toddler? Or a cop in the middle of a high speed chase? Or in the middle of firefight in Afghanistan?
DrumminMan,I hear you with my head,I can't hear you with my heart. I want the dreams of any young person to happen.I just don't know how to make that happen.
DrumminMan, Pay no attention to that last post. My emotions are way.....to high to have posted anything.I felt so stressed when I did that post. I am still stressed. If I knew how to remove both post I would.
DrumminMan,
hmm i'm kind of offended by that. it's your opinion and i respect that, but there are tons of jobs that work with the publi and have certain risk factors that, going along your train of thought, a diabetic should not be allowed to do.
besides military or firefighters etc. what about doctors? a trauma doctor? nurse? surgeon? how do you correct a blood sugar when your on top of a some one on a gurney pounding cpr on thier chest? or performing the sugery on the toddler who was just in a car accident that tore limbs off him? saving someones life....
i can understand the military... in the middle of no where how do you get supplies and the proper treatment. But the rest of these jobs have forewarning. You know when you are heading out to a fire, a crime scene... when there is an incoming trauma. with all the great products out, there is no reason to be properly prepared for the situation.
I hope your endocrinologist is not a fellow diabetic, or they could loose their job considering every day he has many peoples lives in his hands.
If you start limiting what i diabetic can do at any level it will snowball. Look at all the issues with the Americans with Disabilities Act and how it has had to be ammended to reinclude diabetics at several levels.
There are plenty of jobs that require you putting your life out there at risk for others, but that should be a choice we are allowed to make and no one else.
Granted i do think there needs to be a certain record of control for some jobs, even though we can't account for some things with diabetes. Some one who is hypo unaware or a history of poor control they should totally not have some jobs, but that is not discrimination. that is having the ability to perform the functions required for the job without hinderance, which is a legal statement in almost every job application. and if they can't meet the requirmennts need to adequetly perform the job for whatever, then and only then should someone not have that job.
Generally, when you have social issues on which people are very evenly divided and especially passionate about heir positions, it comes down to requiring a case-by-case judgement. There are a couple of key social issues which have been looming on the US socio-political agenda for years, and for every case one side can present to support their position the other side can present a case supporting their opposing position.
The unfortunate thing is that our judicial systems are too overloaded to evaluate every situation on a case-by-case basis. Rules and requlations are instituted to eliminate the decision-making process and speed up the system. In reality, there are some people when blindfolded and with both hands tied behind their backs would be able to out-perform most people with full use of their eyes and arms. When institutions make rules like "you have to have an SAT score of 700 or more to be considered for admission", it's meant to quickly, easily and unequivocably eliminate a portion of the applicants. That's how some people fall between the cracks.
On the other hand, I suspect from personal experience and from speaking with others that there is some real, under-the-table hiring discrimation against diabetics and people with other health problems. I also suspect it also goes on against older people and people who have had their credit scores unfairly destroyed by adverse and unfortunate economic conditions. Unfortunately, too much private health and financial information information is easily available not only to insurance companies, but also to prospective employers. Like I said, I can't substantiate this with facts but I have had good reason to suspect it.
That being said, do you think that this kind of private health information should be accessible to be employers? Do you think prospective employers have a right to as health related questions on their job applications?
[quote user="Jessica"]
DrumminMan,
hmm i'm kind of offended by that. it's your opinion and i respect that, but there are tons of jobs that work with the publi and have certain risk factors that, going along your train of thought, a diabetic should not be allowed to do.
besides military or firefighters etc. what about doctors? a trauma doctor? nurse? surgeon? how do you correct a blood sugar when your on top of a some one on a gurney pounding cpr on thier chest? or performing the sugery on the toddler who was just in a car accident that tore limbs off him? saving someones life....
i can understand the military... in the middle of no where how do you get supplies and the proper treatment. But the rest of these jobs have forewarning. You know when you are heading out to a fire, a crime scene... when there is an incoming trauma. with all the great products out, there is no reason to be properly prepared for the situation.
I hope your endocrinologist is not a fellow diabetic, or they could loose their job considering every day he has many peoples lives in his hands.
If you start limiting what i diabetic can do at any level it will snowball. Look at all the issues with the Americans with Disabilities Act and how it has had to be ammended to reinclude diabetics at several levels.
There are plenty of jobs that require you putting your life out there at risk for others, but that should be a choice we are allowed to make and no one else.
Granted i do think there needs to be a certain record of control for some jobs, even though we can't account for some things with diabetes. Some one who is hypo unaware or a history of poor control they should totally not have some jobs, but that is not discrimination. that is having the ability to perform the functions required for the job without hinderance, which is a legal statement in almost every job application. and if they can't meet the requirmennts need to adequetly perform the job for whatever, then and only then should someone not have that job.
[/quote]
Jessica, I'm sorry if I offended you! You make some excellent points. Some I also thought about after I posted that. Like where would it stop? Driving? I hope not. I'm going to have to rethink this whole thing maybe.
But, you did agree with me on military! So we did reach a compromise of sorts.
P E A C E
It could be hormones or a growth spurt. We've seen this as our teen goes through "the change." Don't worry, just keep treating it aggressively. Her blood sugars will eventually come down, and you'll probably have to make adjustments to her basal or long lasting insulin. I gotta tell you the amount of insulin we gave Cassie as an 18 month old is way different than what we give her as a 14 year old.
You're being a supermom(!) for keeping a close eye on things, and you're doing the right thing to keep a close watch.The danger only happens if you disregard these shifts and get complacent with perpetually high blood sugars. Good luck!
Thank you soo much for replying! I am sure you are right. She very well could be going through a growth spurt. I just get so scared...you try to do the best you can so your child is the healthiest he/she can be and when you don't get a quick fix to a problem it gets upsetting. I have come to realize that there is no perfect in diabetes and that everyday is a battle but one DEFINATELY worth fighting! We actually go to the doctor tomorrow so I am sure they will give me input (they have been terrific)! She is a fabulous little girl and I just want her to feel the best she can all the time!
Thanks again sooo much! God Bless Cassie and your whole family. This site is wonderful :) It is so nice to see the replies!
~Jill
My son too has been running STUPID high this past week. He's 13 and dx July 08. I think it's a combo of the past two weeks of hanging out with friends; grabbing handfuls of snacks, not taking the insulin right away or not enough to cover all of his food/snacking. He hasn't been getting as much rest, spending the night with friends. And when he is hanging out with friends, it's cold so they are all huddled around the XBOX. Not like summer where they are playing basketball, swimming, riding his bike. So these snacks and crappy food is catching up with him. So I sat him down on, had a coming to Jesus meeting and been on his butt the past 3 days and they are a lot better. One time they were 457. He was 500 when he was dx. I thought I was going to flip my lid. Not to mention; he's been eating pizza and eating crapy snacks. So he's back on track and seems to have been doing better. Hang in there... it's not fun! Nothing fun about it.
As Iowagirl00 stated, eating junk and sedentary activity could be other things that give you the bad highs. Healthy high protein foods can help as I mentioned in my diabetes blog post about the "holiday highs." One thing to watch out for with girls is how you approach her diet. There's a very high incidence of eating disorders that happen with adolescent T1 girls - yikes!
Jill
I feel your pain. My son is usually VERY sensitive to insulin but if he has the slightest cold or going through a growth spurt it seems that even if I pump large amounts into him and increase basal rates - nothing - or even worse the numbers go higher. She could be getting sick or fighting something. Hang in there, check often and have her eat her regular diet that you normally get good numbers on. I am sure that she will be back to normal in a few days. If you still don't see a change she may need her basal rates / long acting insulin increased. I have found small adjustments to this make a huge difference but I always wait a few weeks of him being healthy but higher numbers to make any changes.
Take care
Christine