Nurses with Diabetes

Specialties Endocrine

Published

My life changed this week. I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Fasting bs in the 400s :uhoh3: My doctor is wonderful....started on metformin, up to 1000 mg today.

My fasting was 256 this AM...and I am struggling to get it into normal range. BTW, I have had my days off during this. My questions are:

1. Should I return to work with high blood sugars? I noticed I had a headache, felt tired and grumpy the last several shifts I worked before I was diagnosed.

2. How does one manage this while working on a hectic Med/Surg Tele unit, working 7 PM to 7 AM 3 nights/week? :eek:

Thanks in advance for your advice. :bowingpur

Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

I hope you see an edocrinologist. Personally, I think your BS is still too high and the metformin may not be sufficient. I know I felt a lot better once I got under control and that happened only with long acting insulin (Lantus).

As for working, I made two med errors due to fatique, blurry vision and not being able to concentrate. Consider what you are capable of doing before returning to work. That happened years ago. I finally had to quit 12 hr shifts and find another nursing position with 8 hour shifts.

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