What's Your Passion?

I know I don't blog about work too often, but I just had to today.

As most of you know, I sell insulin in the pharmaceutical industry and I LOVE my job for so many reasons. I love my territory (no overnights away from home), I love my manager (his goal is to help coach me and not try to pick me apart), I love my doctors (they are so nice and accessible), but most of all I love knowing that I am making a difference to someone's life.

A few weeks ago I decided to start up a support group for diabetes patients. The first meeting was today and the office told me MANY times that attendance would be horrible and we would be lucky if 2-3 people showed up. I prayed about this meeting from day one. This would be the first time that I could actually see patients first hand and hear what they are going through. I could not interact with them, but I did bring in a diabetes educator to teach the class.

Anyway, 14 patients ended up showing up! I was so excited to see them all there and as I sat there, I got to listen to each of their stories. I had to get up at one point because some of the things I was hearing just broke my heart. Knowing that this little old lady started a new pill to treat her diabetes and two days later passed out and fell because her sugars got so low, upset me. But what she said next broke my heart! The educator asked if she called 911 or went to see her doctor, and her reply was "No, that is just part of what I have to deal with since I have diabetes." I had to walk out because I know that is not true yet I couldn't say anything. Why aren't providers more proactive with better treatment for their patients??

I know this is my job, but it is also my passion! I want only the best for these patients. Is my product perfect for all of the patients? Of course not, but passing out and falling is not part of having diabetes either. Please keep the diabetes educator, doctors, and patients in your prayers so that together they may find the best treatment for the patients that will allow the best quality of life.

This group is going to meet every month. Please keep these patients in your prayers. Diabetes is a life long thing and I can assure you that unless you have diabetes or know someone that has it, you have no idea what they go through on a daily basis. I can't even imagine living their life! The scariest thing is more and more people are getting diagnosed with diabetes everyday!

Just tonight I was talking with a friend from a past job and we were talking about our new careers. We both agree that what we are doing now is so much better than before(she is in a different industry from me). I told her I know it is because we are making a difference every time we walk out of our doors in the morning. Nothing in life is more fulfilling I don't think!