Your guide to sharing diabetes with your colleagues

Regardless of whether you decide to tell your colleagues about your medical condition or not, it's wise to give some thought to how you'll deal with delicate situations that arise on the job concerning your diabetes.

If you're at risk of hypoglycemia, which may develop if you use insulin or glucose-lowering drugs, someone at your workplace needs to know how to help you should the situation arise.

• Enlist the aid of a colleague who's discreet, works nearby and is able to solve problems calmly.
• Discuss the noticeable symptoms you may have, such as anxiety, irritability or uncoordinated movements.
• Show your "helper" where you store your rescue drink or foods to raise your blood sugar and make sure you always keep them there.
• If your doctor has prescribed glucagon for emergencies, teach your helper how to inject it should you pass out, and keep the medication where your co-worker can find it quickly.

If you tell your colleagues that you have diabetes, be prepared to be on the receiving end of unsolicited advice from armchair physicians.

To discourage the receptionist's review of the miracle diabetes cure she saw on late-night TV, have a polite response at the ready.

• Try, "Thanks for sharing. My doctor and my dietitian keep me pretty well-informed on all the steps I should take." Or, "Thanks for your concern, but my diabetes is already under good control."

Take the time to imagine how you will cope with the requirements in the new position.

• If you have nerve damage in your feet, a job that requires you to stand all day may not be the most comfortable choice.
• Because having a bout of low blood sugar may present safety issues, think hard about whether you want to be a heavy equipment operator.

Make sure that you fully understand the schedule and the job requirements before you make any career-changing decisions. Be sure to investigate whether your diabetes qualifies as a "precondition," which might affect the health care coverage you receive through your new employer.

You don't have to tell your bosses that you have diabetes.

In general, your supervisors can only ask you about any medical issues if they believe you have a condition that's causing changes in your job performance, or if a medical condition may pose a safety risk in the workplace.