About a year ago – I used to work in a Daycare / Lunch program at a primary school – after 12 years – I had to quit.  I loved being with the kids – it wasn’t really work to me – but due to a “problem” involving my diabetes – I had to gracefully bow out. Many people – those of other school boards – had told me to fight – but I just had no fight in me to pursue it further (the the $$$'s for legal fees - as well as my union being reluctant to help me as I was part time).  This was a first for me – having my diabetes come into play with work.   

What made me think about this was the other day – my hubby and I went to a restaurant.  The waiter to my surprise asked me if I’d worked at XXX school – and I said yes!  He proceeded to tell me his name – and my sponge brain started to put things together.  After 10 years – I could recognize him and he’d grown up into a fine adult!!!  He remembered me because of the jewelry I like and I drove a motorcycle.  He even remembered that I had diabetes and had thought it was neat when sometimes he’d see me testing my blood sugar – and we’d wait patiently to see if my BG was in a good range when it was pizza day at school.

The problem that arose with my diabetes last year was due to my having just come out of my 2^nd reconstruction surgery of my breast as I had had a mastectomy a few years prior. I also had started on the insulin pump and losing sleep due to the CGMS alarm going off at night (I love being a glutton for punishment).   I had just been back at work for a month – when a student who was out in the hallway causing abit of commotion came running back into the classroom – and whomp – ran right into me - chest taking the brunt of his weight. Well, out of my mouth came words that I would never say to a class of 12 year olds – but it happened – and I apologised to them profusely afterwards (I was so embarrassed I’d never “lost it” before).  I thought everything was alright at that point - classroom went back to normal ... or so I thought.  For myself, chest was abit sensitive from the thump it took but that was it. NB: I never went to the surgeon to have him check it out – big mistake - as he’d told me to return in a year – which I did last week – and apparently a few stitches broke with what he observed – which I wasn’t aware of last year).

A few days later after the quarterback hit me, the principal called me into her office before I was to begin my shift.  A couple of students had gone to the office to report the incident the day it happened as well as telling her that that I was testing my BG/injecting with insulin.  I told the principal that injecting would no longer be a problem due to being on the pump now - but that reply didn't help me at all.  I was then suspended for a 3 days (not a fun time at all).  I returned the following week to meet up with the principal/HR/union president (felt like a court martial).  I was told that after a weeks suspension without pay I was to come back to work and advised that I should either leave the classroom or not BG test or inject in the classroom period during my shift.  I told them that to leave a classroom of 30 students unsupervised for 5-10 minutes – easier said then done – things happen.  I questioned them at that point that if a diabetic child had to leave the classroom in order to test their BG / inject from time to time (it can't always be done a recess time) – would that not make them stand out – as well as losing out on whatever the teacher is teaching at the time?  They never did not respond which is sad to say.  I was told to come back on the condition that I apologise to the classroom – but with bad winter storms last year – in the end – it never happened sad to say - and I was just tired of what I think would be an uphill battle after that.  I had such a good speech prepared as well - as I'd intended to go in - put a good plug in for the ol' diabetes - hip hip hooray - and then say good bye to the kids.  C’est la vie.  Maybe one day I'll meet some of those children again - like I did last week - and they'll remember me (well - the ones that liked me at least ).

It's sad to say, but I know of many diabetics that are adamant about people not knowing that they have diabetes. Maybe they do this in order to not have what happened to me.  I have never been that way - what if something happens where I need help?  I also feel over the years I have educated people about diabetes (as I did at school) – and some of the misconceptions they may have about it – that it’s not all bad.  Hopefully other diabetics reading this feel the same as I do.

BTW, my BG's have gone back to normal since my last blog - infusion site - bad.  I'm back in the saddle again!