Talking to your boss about concerns around diabetes and COVID-19

A worldwide pandemic probably wasn't on your mind as you made resolutions for 2020 — it sure wasn't on mine — but here we are.

After months of self-isolating to avoid exposure to COVID-19 and hearing about the health complications that medical professionals have identified, it makes sense that you have some concerns around diabetes and returning to work amid the novel coronavirus. You're definitely not alone!

As states start to fully reopen and businesses begin ramping back up, your supervisor may come to you with new requests. Perhaps they need you to take on additional responsibilities or want you to return to the workplace. As a person living with type 1 diabetes (T1D), it's important to take a personal inventory of your health and set realistic boundaries to keep yourself safe.

It will largely be up to you to navigate the physical and mental aspects of returning to work, so it helps to have a game plan. Here are several tips you can use to talk to your boss about your concerns and request the accommodations you require.

Be honest about the situation

First and foremost, it's crucial that you discuss concerns around diabetes and COVID-19 with your supervisor. Be honest and come prepared to provide supporting evidence, references or doctor explanations, if requested.

Ultimately, there still isn't enough data to know whether having T1D affects the likelihood of contracting the virus or the severity of the infection. You can point to this "lack of evidence" to explain that the dangers are largely unknown for people with T1D.

Make clear that this means you will err on the side of caution and practice conservatism when making decisions about physically returning to the workplace. Give your supervisor as much insight into your personal situation as you can, and assure them that you will continue to monitor new developments and adjust accordingly.

Somewhat ironically, as a person living with T1D, both of my post-college jobs have required medical clearance. Rather than shy away from the subject, I have always faced it head-on, even emphasizing my diagnosis during interviews! When it comes to managing T1D at work, honesty really is the best policy. During times like these, having diabetes can affect your physical and mental capacity for returning to work, so it's nice to establish an open, understanding dialogue with your boss.

Suggest alternate work hours/accommodations

If you have to physically go into work, consider asking for alternate shifts or request to work during off-peak hours to limit exposure. While there is still a lot the medical community doesn't understand about COVID-19, it's clear that it's a numbers game — by reducing your contact with people and places the virus may have touched, you reduce your chances of contracting it.

If it's not possible for you to work from home, try thinking outside the box. In an office environment, this may mean asking to trade a couple weekdays for a weekend. Or, in a retail situation, ask for shifts that avoid the weekend or other high-traffic times.

Get creative with assignments and responsibilities

Depending on your line of work, it may be possible to ask your supervisor if your tasks can be temporarily shifted to a job with less person-to-person interaction and contact. Is it possible to work from home? Or from a less crowded location? Does your company have new tasks that the need for routine cleaning and disinfecting has changed?

Seek out and recognize opportunities to move away from high-exposure situations, and discuss these options with your supervisor. For instance, you can volunteer to be temporarily reassigned to disinfect delivery vehicles, prepare to-go packaging or take notes remotely from home.

If the business you work for has multiple locations, consider overlaying the county's health statistics with the business locations. Then, if the location you work at is near an area reporting a high number of COVID-19 cases, think about volunteering to transfer locations.

Remain dedicated, but flexible

Another way to limit exposure is to ask your supervisor for continued work-from-home options even once the business is back open. Working from home even one or two days a week can significantly decrease your exposure to the novel coronavirus. You'll have a smaller chance of coming into contact with COVID-19 at work and any place you may stop along the way (such as gas stations, restaurants, parking lots, etc).

If your supervisor expresses doubt, explain that this small accommodation protects others as well! Alternatively, you can consider using saved vacation time or "leave without pay" options if accommodations can't be made.

Consider the safety of your colleagues

At some point, returning to work is inevitable for most of us. Employers should make accommodations to adhere to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines on reopening, such as cleaning and disinfecting. As individuals with T1D, we are uniquely equipped to facilitate these practices.

Even before COVID-19, the state of our immune systems required frequent hand washing and surface disinfecting. It's important to continue these routines and increase the frequency! Consider bringing in some of your own supplies (masks, sanitizer, etc.) and encourage your supervisor to keep these items accessible for all employees.

Review the CDC guidelines and consider how diabetes may require additional safeguards. For instance, you can use disinfectant on diabetes equipment such as insulin pumps, blood glucose meters and continuous glucose monitors, all of which can help streamline your daily diabetes management. Try to wipe devices down regularly and avoid placing them on surfaces that may be contaminated. Double-check that your hands are clean before performing a site change or insulin injection.

Remember, you can purchase diabetes-related equipment online and have it delivered to your house to avoid trips to the store. Explore the Edgepark website to browse diabetes testing supplies and insulin delivery devices.