Diabetes and Disclosure

This personal perspective by Kaitlyn K. Rogers, a medical student with type 1 diabetes, explores the challenges and nuances of disclosing her condition in clinical settings. The narrative recounts interactions with surgeons during an operating room rotation, where her disclosure of diabetes prompts questions about management and lifestyle. Rogers reflects on the balance between transparency and self protection, as well as the broader implications of patient provider dynamics when the provider is also a patient. The piece highlights the invisibility of diabetes, the emotional weight of disclosure, and the importance of empathy in medical practice. Rogers’ experience underscores the need for greater awareness and openness about chronic conditions among healthcare professionals.

This personal perspective by Kaitlyn K. Rogers, a medical student with type 1 diabetes, explores the challenges and nuances of disclosing her condition in clinical settings. The narrative recounts interactions with surgeons during an operating room rotation, where her disclosure of diabetes prompts questions about management and lifestyle. Rogers reflects on the balance between transparency and self protection, as well as the broader implications of patient provider dynamics when the provider is also a patient. The piece highlights the invisibility of diabetes, the emotional weight of disclosure, and the importance of empathy in medical practice. Rogers’ experience underscores the need for greater awareness and openness about chronic conditions among healthcare professionals.