Diabetes, disability and employment

[smartblnde]

I am a newly graduated nurse.  I believed I could do the job when I was in nursing school, but have discovered I cannot do the job adequately, and even dangerously, when my sugars drop.
I am facing either termination or I will have to quit so I do not harm any of my patients if this happens again.  

My sugar drops without warning, for I have been diabetic for 3 years and do not always feel the warning signs.  Is this a disability?  Are there actually places a 45 year old diabetic nurse can work without being at risk of really hurting someone?  I am willing to be a diabetic educator, but those jobs are in high demand by the nursing community.....

I don't know where to turn for advice on this.  Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.  

Thank you!

smartblnde

[tq2sweet77]

Sweetheart, I understand how you feel.  I was a labor and delivery nurse when I was in the military, and I found out that I was diabetic in 98 after passing out in the Operating room during a C-section (not a good thing). I was working 12's (7pm-7am) and my doctor had me to come off of that schedule at that time.   At that Time I Knew nothing of the pump, but at the time even THAt would've been overwhelming for me. I ended up being transferred to the OB/GYN clinic which worked better for me healthwise. The key thing for you is to focus on Tight control in order to help you become effective at ANY job.  The military medically discharged me, and sent me to school for a "less stressful" position, and I am now a Speech therapist.  I work in the school system and I have all of my holidays and breaks and summers off. I love it because as a therapist, I schedule my groups around my snack times and lunch times.  I would suggest that you find something that you will be able to maintain a consistent schedule on such as clinic work. If you try Ward work right now, I don't think that would be a good thing, because you are consistently on the move and that makes it kinda difficult to snack and check your BS frequently. I wish you the best!!

[John Bell]

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http://www.alwaysnutrition.com/supplement.asp?catid=65

[paralegal]

Low glucose monitors sound good to me, too.  However, I work under intense pressure sometimes when, like a nurse, I have to run fast and devote all time/energy/attention to the client's needs, not mine.  I would often not notice that I was getting low just before a mad dash to the copier or courthouse.  I kept a little bowl of Good&Plenty - which are very tiny in size so that you can regulate very well how many to take so that you do not overreact and go too high.  When I have to miss lunch time (back when I was on NPH), I would take maybe four tiny pieces around the usual eating time to keep me up until I could get some lunch an hour and one-half later.  When too low, your motor coordination can suffer as well as your ability to think well.  I told co-workers to tell me if I reacted verbally with a non-sequitur.  So far so good.  I really am enjoying Lantus which is on an even keel so that all I have to concentrate on is Humalog.  If you are careful and really count your proportions and carbs, it will really work for you.  Grab some candy before dashing off down the hall or, when you can foresee a possible emergency in the next hour before the end of the prior dose of Humalog, grab a latte and drink part of it (if you cannot get to the bathroom to cover it with new dose of Humalog).  I actually lost weight while working like this - but I had to exercise after work alot.  Learn to foresee a problem and have the little bits right there so that all you have to do is reach over as soon as you hear the overhead alarm or a doctor runs up demanding your total attention.  Sound do-able?

[dee12]

Have you considered investing in one of those continous glucose monitors from minimed? They are only available in select cities right now so it may be a little difficult to get but may very well be worth it if  it means that you can continue doing something that you like doing..working as a nurse.  From what I have heard so far it is pretty effective in alarming you if youre going low ..high and is a great tool in allowing you to get an idea of where your blood sugars are going so that you can adjust accordingly.  I cant wait to get one myself!

[JDRF Volunteer WAK]

I found a web site  that has info about becoming a CDE check out:

http://www.ncbde.org/eligibilityreq.html

[JDRF-Team-wak]

I am not a physician, but a volunteer, that is the mom of a type one diabetic and the daughter of a type 2.

To answer your question yes diabetes is a disability that falls under the American with disabilities act.  This means that your employer must by law make accommodations for you and your diabetes so that you can perform your job safely, (for both you and your patients).

Check out the following web sites to help you.

http://www.georgetown.org/pdfs/hr.policy.manual/019-AmericanswithDisabilitiesAct.pdf

http://www.diabetes.org/advocacy-and-legalresources/federal_legislation/overview.jsp

www.jdrf.org

I would suggest that you talk with your supervisor and let them know that you do fall under this law and they are required to make the appropriate accommodations for you.

I would also suggest that you talk to your endocrinologist in order to get in better control.   Maybe changing your regimen of insulin, to possibly going on insulin pump.


I hope this helps.  Please let us know how it goes.