<p>My wife is a type-1 diabetic with an insulin pump. She doesn’t tell people she’s a type-1 unless they happen to see her pump which is usually hidden under her clothes. If people ask, then she tells them, but it’s something very personal to her and her co-workers didn’t even know until months after she first started working there. If you feel the same way, then individuals should understand and not feel that you’re “hiding” it from them.</p>
<p>Most health ailments are personal. I work with a disabled lady who wears a hearing aid. I know she wears one because I’ve seen her turn it on/off when needed and she holds the phone an unusual way than if she wasn’t hearing impaired. I’ve worked with her for over 2 years now and she’s never brought it up in conversation. Am I upset that she doesn’t share it with me because I see her everyday? No, I assume it’s personal to her and I will respect that.</p>
<p>I too would not mention it unless they ask. My wife is a type-1, but she’s also a person and likes to be treated as such without people’s innate judegements about her disease. I think it’s more important for someone to get to know you as you and your personality before knowing you as a disabled peer.</p>