Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by MyBustedPancreas on April 29, 2012 at 8:02am

I experience things like this somewhat regularly. Before I act on my impulse to punch and/or strangle the individual, I usually say something like the following:

"I have type 1 diabetes. It is actually an autoimmune disease. For some reason, my immune system attacked the insulin-producing cells in my pancreas when I was a child, and my pancreas can no longer produce the hormone called insulin. I have to take insulin through shots or a pump to survive. Within insulin, you die. In fact, before insulin was discovered in 1922, all type 1 diabetics died within a few weeks or months of developing the condition. The death rate was 100%. Thankfully, we now have insulin to keep us alive.  There are no supplements or diets that can change the fact that I have to take insulin shots to stay alive.  You may be thinking of type 2 diabetes, which is a different condition. The only way those of us with type 1 can stay alive is with insulin shots or pumps."

Usually, when it is said that way (i.e., very black/white without lots of medical lingo with an emphasis on the whole dying part), folks get it. Of course, then they usually reply with, "Oh, so you have like the bad kind of diabetes." But at least they stop trying to push their bitter melon/cinnamon/paleo diet cure on me!

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Permalink Reply by Tim on April 29, 2012 at 8:30am

Thanks for the comments and support, guys! I made the subject line "bitter melon" because I was feeling pretty bitter, I feel a lot better now!

HR won't be able to help me because this guy is a contractor.

I would usually try to "set a good example" by exemplifying my intensive control of bg to the guy but I feel like that's not going to work. In particular he assumed I was only taking insulin once a day (like his deceased relatives who switched to bitter melon) and that I was just recently diagnosed, I think the guy would go into hissy-fit spasms if I told him I'm taking a MDI regime, or that I've been taking insulin for 30 years :-).

I will probably just continue kinda nodding my head as he gives me advice I won't follow. Pretty much the same I do to my relatives who wonder why I'm still taking insulin instead of the cure-of-the-week herb. I hope he doesn't take it the bad way.

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Permalink Reply by acidrock23 on April 29, 2012 at 8:43am

hmmmm, I guess we'll have to take him outside and give him a "tune-up" with a tire iron? If he's your "supervisor", "hired" by your company, you should have a cause of action against him, particularly if he attempts to impose restrictions on your care? The "bitter melon" speech makes me think he's an idiot but, in some cases, that can cross over the line to being a jerk or even taking aggressive action and that is illegal. The calling you into his office bit is shady and weak on his part and one has to wonder what his goal is in doing that? He's exposing the company, maybe both the company through whom he is contracted (or himself, if he's free-lance?) and your company and who knows who else to risk that whoever hired him or contracted for his services would not want a part of assuming.

Unless, of course, you work at a bitter-melon factor and are required to drink the kool-aid? LOL...

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Permalink Reply by MyBustedPancreas on April 30, 2012 at 7:21am

Regardless of whether he is a contractor or direct hire, he is liable for making such statements. In fact, I believe such statements are (as some have pointed out) illegal under the ADA. At a minimum, you should document your experience. If feeling a little bolder, you should send this to HR to give them a "heads up." Even if you're not seeking damages, you could send it to them to say, "Hey, wanted you know about this because it violates the ADA. While I am not taking any action, someone in the future might." I did this once where I work and it was much appreciated (because essentially I was protecting my place of work and not suing them, but hopefully preventing future lawsuits).

The ignorance people display sometimes is astounding. I wish people knew more about T1.

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Permalink Reply by Tim on April 30, 2012 at 7:25am

Trust me, I'm not going to win against a contractor hired in by senior management. So many legal battles lost on this front already by others (who are now without a job and without insurance.)

I'm comfortable if he brings up the subject again, just nodding my head and changing the subject. He's not a bad guy, just a little nosy and bossy, but what else am I supposed to expect from a guy hired by management to clean up my act?

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Permalink Reply by Doris D on April 30, 2012 at 7:39am

Ok hadn't read all the answers here yet (will probably do so after I post this though) It won't help if u've been insulin dependant for 30 years (don't really think it would help u get off insulin anyway) But if any of those "cures" helped my mom would have found it YEARS ago. She tried them all with me and I would up DKA manytimes b/c of someone's advice to get me off insulin. Not to be a Debbie Downer but just stating the facts as I've known them for 38 years now. Nothing helps may make it a little easier but it dosen't take u off insulin if ur insulin dependant. Ur a Type 1 and we all are insulin dependant when we're Type 1. My daughter is a Type 1 too. I really hate to say this but "How dare he when u've done well doing the way ur'd doing. I love to hear some of the "cures" ppl come up with. WE know they don't work but he wants to try and give u some advice that will put you in the hospital in a serious fight for ur life!!!!!!! Keep going the way ur going I mean it's worked out for u in the past right???? I'm sorry for that rant but sometimes ppl really upset me with their advice to a Type 1

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Permalink Reply by Sam Iam on April 30, 2012 at 11:35pm

Sorry to hear about this. I usually answer with something like: That's for the other type of diabetes. The one I've got kills you really quick, once you stop taking insulin. Usually, that ends the conversation. A couple times, someone's come back with: No, my aunt had type 1, and this tea cured her. Then I'd revert to "that's interesting", similing, nodding, etc.

I'm sure it's technically against some laws, or at least rules. It would probably backfire if you pursued the matter, though. Sometimes you've got to deal with jerks. You've gotta pick your battles. Good luck and take care of yourself. Bitter melon is delicious with ground pork and red + black pepper, btw

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Permalink Reply by rick phillips on May 1, 2012 at 2:19am

Write it down, and ignore what he said. but do record the conversation. What he did was a likely violation of the health care portability act (HIPA). Chances are your company has insurance records and chances are you could make the case that he accessed those records to have this discussion. I know you don't want to do this, but in the end it may be necessary later so record subject, date, time and your perception of demeanor.

Now as for the practical response. I suggest you simply tell him you discussed it with your doctor and he said in your case it simply would not help. Thank him for his concern, but let him know it was checked out, and the doctor said it would be dangerous to do. What a fool.

LOL

Rick Phillips

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Permalink Reply by jims on May 1, 2012 at 10:05am

The problem with this nonsense is that certain power hungry creeps think they can walk over other folks faces and lives. When one is in the one down position with family, liabilities, life it may be hard to take the one step that works to stop this crap. One can be left with a surplus powerless mentality.

It is always recommended (but may not be possible) to have some savings set aside so one can leave on a moments notice or retain lawyers. The tragedy is that if the power hungry clowns know you have power to stop and they will lose; they leave you alone; when they know you don't; one gets hounded terribly.

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Permalink Reply by jims on May 1, 2012 at 10:54am

Excellent response - Lawyer Phillips.

Tight, correct, non inflammatory nor threatning.

I agree. Excellent feedback.

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Permalink Reply by rick phillips on May 1, 2012 at 2:25am

Oh my mom a type 1 went to a doctor, who gave her a recipe for a cocktail of raw fruit juice to drink. She threw it away and stuck with insulin. This junk is not new. how about the chiropractor who prescribed spine stimulation. There are a million of these.

I cued my type 1 by dancing around the back yard naked for 47 1/4 minutes and continued using my insulin, that was almost 29 years ago. What a sight to see. LOL

Rick

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Permalink Reply by Chris Miller on May 1, 2012 at 10:22am

My similar story.... My buddy says that disease cannot exist in bodies with a proper alkali to acid balance in the blood. He figures if I eat molasses, I can get off insulin. I've been on insulin for 38 years.

There might be some truth to his assertion for things like cancer, where acidic blood could allow disease to sneak in. But I'm not sure how these guys can reason that eating molasses (or bitter melon) will make my pancreas functional again.

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