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Life/work » Choice of Profession and Application

Choice of profession and application

When it's all about the job of your dreams, you shouldn't give up right from the start just because you're diabetic. Thanks to a modern and flexible diabetes modulation, it is no longer sustainable to generally exclude diabetics from jobs (with a few exceptions).

Which job fits me?

Basically you need to know your abilities and interests, and coming from that you should search in a most focused way for possible professions. If the decision isn't easy, practical training or an internship can often be helpful. There are restrictions for jobs, where a sudden hypoglycaemia can endanger yourself and/or others. These are (among others):

Jobs that include fall hazard: for example Roofer, Chimney sweep or Builder for high buildings

- Passenger transport: for example Pilot or Public transport conductor

- Monitoring in hazardous areas: for example industrial machines

- Jobs that include the use of firearms: for example policeman

Working in shifts and in the food sector is no problem at all, as long as a good metabolic control and insulin setting is given.

Don't fear the application

Once you've decided for a job, the next step is the written application. You don't need to give information on your state of health at the moment. In the case of a personal interview, it is the right and the duty of the employer, to inform himself about your curriculum vitae, special skills and the grades in your school reports. The question about your state of health is considered an attack on your privacy and you only need to answer truthfully if:

- an acknowledged disability is the case and you want it to be acknowledged in your job as well. If this doesn't happen you will lose your right for disability protection for example in case of an unlawful dismissal
- The disability is going to constantly cause interference with the work you're striving for
- Other people could be endangered, for example in case of  hypoglycaemia. This counts especially for jobs in the field of passenger transport, like Cab or Bus Driver, Pilots, etc.

If a medical examination is part of the recruitment, you can refuse it, but this can mean you won't get the job.
Psychological tests don't need to be taken either. If you should agree to a medical examination, pay attention that only tests are taken that are relevant for the future job. Furthermore questions about former diseases or diseases in the family are taboo.

Don't forget!

If the employer is satisfied as well as the employee, nothing stands against a future employment. For the sake of your own safety you should check at your working place:

- There should be enough breaks
- The workload must be calculable
- It should always be possible for you to test your blood glucose level
- It should be possible to store an emergency bread unit at your working place
- A colleague should be able to recognise the symptoms of hypoglycaemia and react properly

GOOD LUCK!!!

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