HIGHLIGHTS
- Managing T1D in a patient-facing role: Sadie's experience as a dental nurse
- When workplaces fall short: The employer attitudes that changed Sadie's career path
- A fresh start: Why Sadie is now looking for work that suits her better
Welcome to our Klario Hypo Diaries, where we share the stories of inspiring individuals within our community. Recently, we sat down with Sadie, who has been living with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) for 15 years.
In our chat, Sadie opened up about a side of T1D that isn’t talked about nearly enough: the challenge of managing hypos (low blood sugar) in a patient-facing role, the lack of understanding from employers, and the difficult decision to step away from a career that she loved.
To start off, could you give us a bit of your background? How old were you when you were diagnosed, and what was that early journey like?
I was diagnosed when I was 12 years old; that's 15 years ago now, back in 2011. In the six months before my diagnosis, I'd had a really bad ear infection and sinusitis, and doctors believe that infection is what triggered my pancreas to start shutting down.
During those six months, I was incredibly unwell and put on a lot of weight very quickly. Being in high school and watching my body change like that was horrendous, I'm only five foot, so the weight gain was really noticeable, and the bullying was awful.
The diagnosis itself came about by chance. I burned my fingers badly on a hot glue gun in woodwork class, and while I was in hospital being treated for third-degree burns, they ran a blood test. My blood sugar was completely off the scale. Once I was started on insulin, I felt better almost immediately; and within the first four weeks, I'd lost all the weight I'd put on in those six months.
You later built a career as a dental nurse. What did a typical shift feel like, and when did managing your T1D start becoming a real struggle in the clinic?
I started a career in dental nursing and absolutely loved it. But the nature of the job, just you and the dentist in the room with a patient, made it really hard to step away when you needed to. My dentist was wonderful; he's still my dentist now, and my daughter's too. He'd actively send me out for breaks, especially when I was pregnant: "Go and have half an hour, you need it." And I was so grateful for that.
But the harder thing was the embarrassment. I shouldn't feel embarrassed — I know that — but asking for five minutes because I'm not feeling great opens you up to judgement. Not from him, but from everyone else. That nagging thought: is she actually low, or does she just not want to work? I know I think too much about what other people think, but it's hard to shake.
Working with my hands all day made hypos particularly frightening. When the shaking started, patients noticed and that was mortifying. I'd be sitting there worrying about what was going through their mind: who is this nurse, and is she okay to be treating me? There was a constant anxiety about passing out at work, or going so low that I couldn't help myself.
When I had my daughter two years ago and went on maternity leave, I never went back. The fear of going low in front of everyone felt too great, and I was already navigating a newborn and trying to manage my diabetes at the same time. Since then, I've got a pump, and my levels are near perfect, sitting consistently between 4 and 6 mmol/L. But that's almost become a new problem. Because I'm not running slightly higher anymore, I go low more often and ironically, the better my control, the more scared I am to return to work and have to explain myself all over again.
People judge you when you have an illness and they think you're getting special treatment. It's exhausting.
We have what I'd call the most serious, unserious condition in the world. When we're going low, we are essentially dying, and then two minutes later, blood sugar goes back to normal, and you're fine. That is hard to explain to people. Honestly, sometimes I find dealing with other people harder than managing the condition itself.
You mentioned that the struggle wasn't just the physical symptoms, but also how you felt perceived by employers. What needs to change regarding workplace education?
Workplaces need to be more forgiving, and there is a real lack of education out there. I had an experience at a previous dental practice where management explicitly asked me: "Is this diabetes going to be an issue?" I just told them I was leaving. That is direct discrimination; framing my illness as a problem when all I need is five minutes when I go low and somewhere to keep a sugary drink or glucose tablets.
That kind of attitude leaves you dreading what happens if you do go low at work, because you can't be sure anyone will help. It's a horrible feeling to carry. And going low genuinely scares me more than running high; the dazed, cloudy-headed feeling comes on fast and it's frightening.
I always say I'm "Type 1" rather than just "diabetic," specifically to get ahead of the assumptions. People automatically think Type 2; they ask about tablets, or diet, or tell you that you must have eaten too much sugar. It comes from a lack of education more than anything else. That's just the society we're in.
That pressure ultimately led to you leaving your job. How has that decision impacted you, and what are you looking for now?
Right now, I tell people I'm at home because my partner is a pilot and his schedule is too hectic. But that's not really true, it's the excuse I use because I'm scared of going back to work and having a severe hypo. What previous employers put me through has left me feeling like I'm not worthy of a job, or that I won't be able to perform properly. Which isn't true. I was good at my job.
It does something to you when a place you spent more time in than your own home tells you your illness might be an issue. Being told "we don't know whether we can continue your employment if this keeps happening" sent me into a frenzy, but it also pushed me into a strict routine. Daily rituals, always having spare kits and hypo treatments to hand, keeping my levels as close to perfect as I can. After having my daughter, that focus on control came from wanting to be fully present as a mum. The workplace threat just reinforced it.
Being at home has been the right call for now, but I don't want it to be my whole story. I want a career, my own money, and the chance to succeed in my own right. That's why I'm looking for work-from-home roles now, somewhere I can perform at my best without fear, in my own space, on my own terms.
TAKEAWAY
Sadie’s story highlights a critical gap in public awareness. Type 1 Diabetes is a 24/7, 365 job with no holidays, and our workplaces have a long way to go in creating safe, understanding spaces for chronic illness.
A massive thank you to Sadie for sharing her journey so candidly with us. Stay tuned for our next Hypo Diaries interview!