The Most Unlikely Discrimination…

Among some of the worst conditions are the ones that are invisible to the naked eye. The best example is the scenario where someone parks in a handicap spot without any visible, physical handicaps. Despite the driver having a registered handicap placard on their windshield, you’ll always get that one asshole who decides to stick their nose in and try to convince this person they should be packed there. Despite that issue, the person in question may have some underlying condition that the complainer simply doesn’t see. But I may be digressing just a little bit here…

The point is, Type-1 Diabetes is very much or of those conditions. Although there will usually be nothing visible on the surface, there can be a tumultuous storm of symptoms and issues under the surface that simply isn’t visible to anyone watching. True, there are a lot of long-standing, inappropriate jokes about Diabetes, such as an obese person MUST be Diabetic or eating a candy bar will cause it, but on the whole, having Type-1 Diabetes isn’t something you will SEE. But it’s always there and it always creates obstacles.

For the most part, I’ve always operated on the basis of full disclosure. This is especially true with family, friends and employers. After all, the last thing I want someone to do if a Diabetes-related incident occurs, is have someone do something that could harm me or exacerbate the issue further. For example, the most important thing I tell everyone in all circumstances is, if I have a Diabetic incident near them, it’ll always fall under one of two categories. Either I’m conscious, in which case I’ll either treat myself or ask for your help and instruct you on what to do, or I’m unconscious, in which case you shouldn’t try to treat me and should simply call 911 and get medical assistance.

Some people have always claimed that when in doubt, feed the person orange juice or some other fast-acting carb because, even if the issue is high blood sugar, it’s easier for medical staff to bring it down and could potentially save you IF if a low blood sugar incident. Not only is this grossly inaccurate, but if I’ve lost consciousness due to high blood sugar, it’s a guarantee that it’s high enough that anything you fee me may kill. No thank you. I’ll roll that dice all day long. Bearing in mind, this is my preference. Like any other condition, the person who has it should be the one instructing others on what they’d prefer.

That being said, there are certain discriminations that apply to people with Diabetes that others likely aren’t aware of. They range from the simplest and smallest of things to some reasonably life-altering statements and decisions. ON the former, a good example would be someone who brings sweet treats into the office to share with everyone. But when you come around to see what’s there, you get the sympathetic look, followed by “oh, I suppose you shouldn’t be eating these…” as they pull the items out of your reach. That’s pretty presumptuous at the best of times. Practically-speaking, someone with Diabetes isn’t inherently restricted from eating any given foods, so long as they bolus properly for it. That’s the whole point of insulin.

On the heavier side, it can even be someone that would affect a chosen career or path in life. For example, I originally applied to the police force all the way back in 1998. If I had successfully gotten in, I would have a twenty seven year career under my belt. Instead, I was denied at the outset because I checked off a box on the application that asked if I had Diabetes. realistically, it isn’t something I could have hidden or lied about and if I’d been willing to do so, I would have had no business carrying a badge. But there’s no denying that it dealt a serious blow to my self-confidence and self-worth that took effort and years to recover from. The sad part is that I had better physical health and a greater fitness regime than many of the other applicants I joined that night.

It wouldn’t be until 2007 that I would discover that the condition in question had been lifted and my application would be accepted. I chose to apply, ready to face whatever challenges would be laid before me. The part I wasn’t prepared for, was the extended application process that would follow, that contained increased medical testing and examinations. While I can understand the Force’s need to ensure the “I’s” are dotted and the “T’s” are crossed, it took me twice as long to be accepted as any other applicant. I persevered and got in, but my time as an academy cadet was marred with little jabs as well. Between being labeled as sub-par in physical benchmarks, often due to low blood sugar or other illnesses and being denied food in classrooms due to the “rules,” even when I was having lows, they certainly weren’t ready to deal with the prospect of accepting Diabetic candidates.

I’ve often faced that same issue with several employers, where the need to stop and step away for a few moments to treat a low or test blood sugars have been met with responses that it’s against the rules or “if you can’t do the job” statements. It’s never been that I can’t do the job, but sometimes five minutes of compassion can allow an employee to flourish and become one of your most-valued as opposed to feel ignored as though they’re being discriminated against. I’m blessed in that my current employer has a deep understanding of such things. While the working world has improved its duty to accommodate when someone has such difficulties, there’s still a long ways to go.

While I wouldn’t expect certain jobs to accommodate certain disabilities, for example, I would expect someone with no tongue to be a food taster, having an underlying condition or chronic illness doesn’t automatically render one incapable of doing a particular job. There are things you can do to protect yourself and ensure you put yourself in the best situation possible. Open honesty about your condition is always the best policy. While employers aren’t inherently allowed to ask you specifics about health conditions, I’ve never understood why people want to keep such details to themselves. I much prefer open transparency. Not only does it keep everyone on the same page, it could also potentially save your life, if the people around you know what the issue may be.

Another important aspect is open communication from both sides. When applying for jobs, be sure to ask what accommodations can be made for your specific condition. This plays into the previous paragraph. While you may not HAVE to provide specifics about your condition, giving a potential employer some high-level information can help them be honest and forthcoming about what accommodations may be available, as well. For example, asking “what accommodation can you make if I need to step away from my till for ten minutes in the event of low blood sugar?” Could mean the difference between finding a positive place for you to hang your hat or moving on to the next potential career option.

All of this information is based on the premise that little of what’s happening is intentional. If you find yourself in the midst of a situation where you feel someone may be straight up discriminating against BECAUSE of a medical condition, you may have bigger problems to address. But that’s for another post. For now, suffice it to say that there’s plenty you can do to protect yourself. Even though you shouldn’t HAVE to. But such is the world we live in. A little effort can go a long way and sometimes you just gotta pick your battles. Just always ensure you’re fighting on your side. Food for thought… ☯️