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Konstantina Taki - Managing Type 1 Diabetes Working as a Full-Time Doctor

Writer's picture: Alyssa FaulknerAlyssa Faulkner

I first interacted with Konna, a doctor from Greece, last year, when she interviewed me for the podcast ‘Global Diabetes Insights’. Following this, we both attended IDF Europe’s Youth Leadership Lab, Konna as a participant and me as a mentor. During this event, me and Konna spoke about her job as a doctor, and how difficult it can sometimes be balancing her job and her diabetes. I thought it would be an excellent insight to share, so please enjoy this guest blog from Konna!


Until Next Time,

Alyssa x

I've always considered diabetes to be a 24/7 unpaid job, and medical residency is similar, where your job often tends to define your life. You face personal limits, both physical and psychological, and have to challenge yourself to show up no matter how stressed, tired, or burnt out you are.


Being a medical doctor with Type 1 Diabetes is something I have found quite challenging. There are really hard days where my blood glucose just doesn't cooperate. Trying to balance the frustration of T1D and the stress of my work, I end up analysing every situation to ensure I make the best possible decision. For example, if I know that the next few hours will be physically demanding, I ensure I lower my background insulin, and that I eat/drink some extra sugar to avoid a low blood sugar (a hypo). Hypos are my enemy at work, and sometimes my efforts to avoid them in turn lead to high blood sugar.

Something I never expected is that when I'm at work, there are moments when diabetes doesn't affect my psychology as much as it would in my regular life. Being overfocused on my work reduces the attention I dedicate to diabetes. I have to highlight that I've never neglected my diabetes care due to work. 


Something I never expected to happen in my job is that I have less time to dedicate to managing my diabetes. I have never neglected it due to my work, but the high pressure environment of my job, and being overfocused on my work, makes it difficult to give it as much headspace as I would like. My diabetologist, who also happens to have Type 1 Diabetes, always says to me: “It takes only 2 minutes to focus on Blood Glucose, please don't forget it”, and he is right. I often overestimate the time I need to dedicate to my diabetes, and if I break it down, it's only 2-3 minutes 4 to 5 times a day. At the end of the day, when one demanding shift is over, and I see that I managed to keep my BGs in range, I feel extremely proud of myself. If you don't have diabetes, the feeling of having kept your blood sugar in range and being successful in your diabetes management, whilst also giving quality care of your patients, cannot be described.


I am still building my professional identity, and I know it's a long journey, to also learn how to fully take care of myself during work whilst living with type 1 diabetes. I hope that one day all this effort will bring me closer to my fellow diabetic patients. I dream that the blend of my medical knowledge and personal experience with type 1 diabetes will enable me to offer a truly holistic approach to their care.


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