Do you guys actually tell your employers you are diabetic?

[Buuuda]

[color=#000080]See when i first started work at 16 i hesitated telling my employer about it, but after much consideration i didnt care how people treated me in the work place, everyone judges everyone no matter if your classed as 'disabled' or what ever i had type 1 diabetes for over 17 years and it has never held me back in anything, i have boxed for nearly 10 years semi professionally and have always had manual labor involved jobs. I used to ask why me or why has this happened to me, as if it was a majorly bad thing, and my nan gave me the best advice in the world...okay she was very religious but i completely understood what she meant, she used to say 'god knew you going to be strong so he decided to test you' and i live by that saying day in and day out now, god bless her she passed away a few years ago but still i still thank her for those words. If your worried about how people react to you telling them you have diabetes then you care about what they think about you, obviously people will keep a keener eye on you but thats up to them, aslong as yoiu have it under control then you need not worry [color]

[Lucypieee]

I've always told my employer that I'm diabetic, as one thing I do ask in the interview is regarding company policies on hospital appointments. Unless it comes up with colleagues, I don't tend to tell them, at the same time, I don't shy away from doing an injection or BG test at my desk (unless there was a particularly bad needle phobic in the region).

I think it's important for the employer and the first aider at the company to know, just in case something did happen. I have, as have many, had occasions where I hadn't realised my BG Level had dropped. If my employer knows I'm diabetic as well, it makes it easier to inform them that I have a hospital appointment with my consultant or DSN.

[Kerry-Michelle]

Hi,

I'm a nursery assistant, so I'm always running around after the children, when I've had interviews before I havent told them I'm type 1 diabetic until I've got the job. The reason I did this was because I told one company I was diabetic before my interview started and she told me to leave straight away.. I didn't even sit down in the interview room before I ended up leaving... So once you've got the job they can't do anything about it as it's classed as discrimination (so I've been told) so in your case I would let your employer know and maybe some close workmates incase you have a bad day and you have a low or whatever so they know what to do and can get you help..

My employers are fine with my diabetes they always ask me how I'm doing and feeling and if I need a break or anything to sort my self out or my levels and I've taught them all what to do if I have an episode.. To my surprise one day I came to work and they all told me how they researched into type 1 diabetes so now they know what it is and I don't have to explain why I take what medication I do to each different person at a different time...

All in all I think you should tell them..

I hope you get on okay

Kerry x

[Debsydora]

My last job I told them I was a diabetic, but still I had to work long hours on my own without a break, that was until I joined a union who sorted things out, my supervisor was the worse she just didnt understand diabetes, or didnt want to and always gave me the worse shifts when deliveries were coming in and I had to split myself in 4 to check deliveries, serve customers, cook and make sandwiches it was disgusting, but did get sorted out but with a union dealing with it.

[MonoJono]

It varies from place to place. I tend to think that the less you mention it, the less likely any employer is to think the diabetes will interfere with work. I mention it in any application forms but dont talk about it in interviews. When i begin a job i just mention it to my line manager.
One of my previous managers made me use up holiday time to attend hospital appointments (as the nhs far too slow to fit around a job) When that manager left, my new manager gave me the holiday days back.

[karen13]

I told mine and they have been great , infact most people i work with know about it , i dont get treated any diffferent and i don;t think its a big secret anyways .

[Glynis01]

I think it's irresponsible not to tell your employers. They can instantly dismiss you if you don't tell them and they later find out you deliberately kept it from them. It can invalidate their insurance. They also have a legal obligation to make sure all reasonable adjustments are made if necessary, to allow you to look after yourself and carry out your job . At the end of the day, regardless of all the legal sides, you morally owe it to them to make sure they know what to do if you have a hyper or hypo, or anything happens that you cannot deal with yourself. Even your social friends have a moral right to know what to do in the event of a crisis. Even the staff at the swimming pool know of my problems just in case anything happens while I am swimming. Nothing ever has happened while I've been in the pool, but there are no guarantees. I just asked to speak to the manager. He was lovely, and I have had so much fun in the pool. Employers are't gossips. They can't gossip and do the job they are doing. But they do need to know so they can do their job properly. So please, don't keep it secret. People need to know for your own benefit and safety.

[rayraysopp]

I've always told everyone around me, throughout school, college, university and all of my jobs. It's never been a problem and I'm glad to have had the support over the years from my peers, who have always treated me normally.

Personally I feel that by not telling people you're potentially putting yourself and others at risk. If you have a hypo (you say your control is tight but we can all get caught out at any time...) then especially doing manual labour- shouldn't you take responsibility for yourself and others by opening up about it and being like "this is me, I've not told you for this long so you know it doesn't make me different...so like it or lump it ! I work in a career when potentially, me having a hypo could be catastrophic for both me and my colleagues...I'd hate to have that having over my head. So I'm open, and it's not an issue but they know if I need 10 mins out or some help, then it's for them as much as me!

[Glynis01]

Well said, rayraysopp. Spot on. xx

[glenmoray]

At any interview or application form usually asks if you have any medical condition or illness. If you fail to disclose this information and they find out at a later date ( if you have a hypo or they see you injecting yourself) they could sack you. However if they do not ask you anything about your medical past you don't have to disclose it.

[Paul Oak]

If you do not tell your employer, you are in breach of contract for withholding a relevant fact, you will also forfeit some of your rights as well as putting yourself at the obvious risks. Also, in UK, you increase your protection as the latest disability and employment regulation considers type 1 as a disability, and one employer I spoke to welcomed type 1's as it made his record in employing disabled lok good at little or no expense to him, as we do not need access and all the other things more severely disabled need!!

[WhatNotToEat]

Yes because I work alone. Thankfully I am T2, and can eat whenever I am feeling 'low' and they're pretty good about it.

[Bodybuilder type1]

I did not tell any i employer I was diabetic until about 3weeks in as they did not need to know but after that I would always LET them find out and not make a big deal about it It is one of the first things I tell people even random people I it was even the first thing I spoke about to my girlfriend and she loved my knowledge and confidence with what I was .diabetes is just here for the ride don't let it take over your life you have nothing to be ashamed about you will be surprised when u tell people I have diabetes what they will tell you in return everybody has something wether it diabetes or whatever