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Permalink Reply by Sam on December 22, 2012 at 11:34am

I operate large passenger ships with hundreds of people on them for a living in the most demanding environment on the planet-- and I do it with diabetes--- although like Linda's friend I do have to jump through some extra hoops to document my excellent control. The notion that someone with diabetes couldn't operate heavy machinery is nonsense

If you don't like something your doctor is telling you, the beauty is you can always get a new one and never talk to them again--- and no, your doctor can't stop you from doing anything (in the USA anyway)

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Permalink Reply by Teowyn on December 22, 2012 at 3:15pm

Impressive.

I'm sorry (to Linda and Rob and Sam). I didn't mean to imply that a person with diabetes can't operate dangerous equipment-- planes/passenger ships are plenty dangerous and I'm glad that you and Linda's friend have had the conviction to keep your diabetes under control so you can follow your dreams and be what you wanted to be.

I was just saying that if Rob's job entails something like that (I don't know that it does) I can understand the doctor's concern. Not her actions--she is apparently unaware of what hoops are necessary to get on disability and the fact that diabetes itself is not enough--but her concerns.

My first thought when it comes to diabetes/disability is the hypo issue. Which can be managed, as demonstrated by many people with diabetes. Sam and Linda's friend have to jump through those hoops to show their control. And probably they'd agree that someone who couldn't manage those hoops (I'm not saying that Rob can't do it--this is a random person with Type 1 who is hypo-unaware or has another complication) might not be ready to operate an airplane or a ship.

However, Rob did mention a secondary problem (besides the diabetes) with nerve damage/blood pressure. If his doctor's actions in telling him to stop working have to do with the nerve damage thing, that's different than trying to get on disability with T1.

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Permalink Reply by Linda G on December 22, 2012 at 3:39pm

The nerve damage and blood pressure would have to be excessive for a doctor to imply that you are disabled Rob. Is the doctor not prescribing blood pressure medication?

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Permalink Reply by Rob on December 22, 2012 at 9:17pm

I dont have a blood pressure problem as of yet. I said in my post that the nerves that control blood pressure are damaged. However I haven't experienced in blood pressure problems.

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Permalink Reply by Betty J on December 22, 2012 at 10:31am

Because you have Diabetes doesn't autimatically make you disabled but complications from D are the grounds that might make you want to file for disability. I retired in 1993 after 20 some years with our educational system here where I live. I went on to do parttime work sometimes and eventully I had to stop because of comps. A friend suggested I file for disability. After being denied I appealed and finally got disability. If you complications it will make you eligible for disability and not because you have Diabetes.

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Permalink Reply by Jethro on December 22, 2012 at 12:41pm

My brother had a reaction, died in his hot tub and was brought back to life last July. I just saw him yesterday and his disablity had just been approved.
Since his death and return therefrom, his situation is pretty extreme.
He always warned me not to tell the DMV about my diabetes because they make you jump through horendous hoops. I do approach driving with a lot of respect and luckily the worst diabetic incident I've had while driving was getting lost cuz I was too low, so I pulled over and corrected things. The older I get the harder I fight to stay as close to normal range as possible. Low bg will screw your memory, oxygen is carried to the brain via blood sugar.
Dang I just go on and on and on....lol. Anyways I hope you keep good control. If possible get and keep a union job.

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Permalink Reply by PedsRN on December 23, 2012 at 6:36am

I've heard some really stupid things said by some really stupid doctors but that has to be right up there on the top of my list. If you are an able bodied person, diabetes or no diabetes, you should be working and not living as disabled for symptoms that might happen. That is absurd. That doctor is part of the reason SS and Medicare are in such big trouble. In my state, " disabilty" is a scam and a way to have someone else provide for you and pay your bills.
Definitely find a new doctor. With that point of view, I'm not sure you'd be getting the best care from that person. I'm guessing that is your PCP or GP. I doubt you would ever hear that from an endo.

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Permalink Reply by acidrock23 on December 23, 2012 at 6:37am

This sounds very bizarre. If your BP is normal, why is the doc talking about BP damage at all? I think that's a very long-term affect. The NIH neuropathy page mentions a situation where nerve damage can cause a sudden BP drop when standing. I think that Richard 157 has talked about that a bit and now Jen has talked about it as well. It takes time for nerve damage to occur and I think would have to involve very elevated BG for a pretty long time, given that Richard has had T1 for 50 years and Jen is somewhere in the 20s I think, it seems very odd to talk about a specific complication without some medical evidence, e.g. BP test or you getting woozy when you stand up. It is certainly one of a long list of complications to be concerned about but there should be other medical evidence to warrang pulling your driver's license. Although the NC document I posted the link to is sort of vague in a sinister manner? Is there something else going on here?

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Permalink Reply by Tim on December 23, 2012 at 6:46am

There is an older generation of doctors out there who still regard T1 diabetes or any other "disability" as something that means we should live shuttered lives and not be seen in public. This view was very common when I was diagnosed 30+ years ago but today... this is a very UNENLIGHTENED view.

In fact the ADA has been specifically enhanced in past few years to make sure that diabetics can continue working and employers cannot categorically fire diabetics for no other reason than diabetes. http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/know-your-rights/discr...

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Permalink Reply by Linda G on December 23, 2012 at 7:06am

Yes Tim....the CDA (Canadian Diabetes Association) advocates tirelessly as well in that area....in bringing awareness, and in making life as a whole accessible to all people with diabetes. Nevertheless....we will always find a few, doctors included, that come out from under a rock!

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Permalink Reply by Betty J on December 23, 2012 at 8:50am

Tim, then there were the doctors like mine who were ahead of their time when I was dxed over 50 years ago. He had what they called the new method of treating us. He allowed at times having what was considered forbidden for us to eat. When I wanted to drive he signed a special form that I needed, he encouraged me to live a normal life. I just had to make this statement because every doctor was not like each other he was as I said ahead of his time.

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Permalink Reply by Linda G on December 23, 2012 at 11:09am

That's great Betty...and indeed, your doctor WAS ahead of his time!
I remember about as long ago, a little boy who lived across the street from my grandmother's place. He was 6, a year younger than I. We were forbidden to play with him...told he was diabetic. Forbidden to play with him not because it was thought we would "catch it", but because he was perceived as very ill....fragile. Running and skipping as the rest of us did was forbidden fruit for him. I remember being very gentle toward him, coddling him. Perhaps he was fragile, I don't know. I at times wonder what happened to him...did he survive...did he grow up...did he lead a normal life....or was his a life long struggle of being disabled?!

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