Hi everyone,
I hope its ok to post here. I'm not diabetic but this seems like a good place to get some advice about how to help my colleague after a recent situation
I work in a small office with about six other people. One of my colleagues, who I work very closely with on a day to day basis, is T1. I've worked with him a long time and have seen him go through the shock (and initial denial) after his diagnosis about 9 years ago, to where he is now. As far as I know his diabetes is well managed - he has had no time off work apart from appointments and a week long diabetes course about a year ago.
Last week while in the office he had a bad hypo - I've seen him hypo before and am first aid trained and clued up on what to do in this situation, but he has never really needed any help before. This time He was clearly in a bad way, so I went with him to the kitchen To help get him some Lucozade. At this point he went downhill rapidly, became really quite disorientated - his arm kind of flailed out of its own acclrd and caught me smack bang on the nose - Which then bled everywhere! It was a freak accident, there was no intent there and obviously my main concern was getting sugar into the guy rather than worrying about my bloody nose
However, At this point a (notoriously dramatic) colleague walked in, saw the scene panicked, and ran to Tell our boss I was being murdered. At which point all hell broke loose - security called etc.
My colleague recovered quite quickly after the Lucozade and was obviously mortified that he had hurt me. The office rumour mill did its work and soon everyone was saying he had "lost it" and punched me.
Long story short my poor colleague has been suspended from work for assaulting me! Now he absolutely did not mean to hit me (was In such a state that even if he had tried, he wouldnt have been able to). It wasnt a case of him getting stroppy while hypo and lashing out. His arm literally just flailed out, he had no control over it and my stupid nose just happened to be in the way.
I've said this to my bosses time and time again and have given them a written statement saying I want no part in these disciplinary measures- it was an accident! - but they are adamant he is not safe to be in the office.
My first question really is - can our bosses really go down the disciplinary route for this? Surely there are laws in place that protect people with conditions from being pushed out.
My second question. has anyone here ever accidentally hurt someone while hypo? As far as I was concerned it was no big deal - but my colleague is devastated. Iv never known him be down about anything diabetes-related before, but we spoke on the phone last night and he sounded like he's lost all confidence. We have always been quite close - we're friends as much as colleagues - and I want to be supportive but I guess I can't understand the emotional impact of a bad hypo. I don't know what to say, beyond reassuring him that it wasn't his fault and that Im trying to tell our bosses that!
I feel a bit guilty too for not staying out of arms reach while trying to help him!
It shook me up too if Im honest. Not so much getting smacked on the nose! but just seeing how rapidly he went downhill - It was just a horrible experience all round. I think I just needed a place to get it off my chest!
I hope its ok to post here. I'm not diabetic but this seems like a good place to get some advice about how to help my colleague after a recent situation
I work in a small office with about six other people. One of my colleagues, who I work very closely with on a day to day basis, is T1. I've worked with him a long time and have seen him go through the shock (and initial denial) after his diagnosis about 9 years ago, to where he is now. As far as I know his diabetes is well managed - he has had no time off work apart from appointments and a week long diabetes course about a year ago.
Last week while in the office he had a bad hypo - I've seen him hypo before and am first aid trained and clued up on what to do in this situation, but he has never really needed any help before. This time He was clearly in a bad way, so I went with him to the kitchen To help get him some Lucozade. At this point he went downhill rapidly, became really quite disorientated - his arm kind of flailed out of its own acclrd and caught me smack bang on the nose - Which then bled everywhere! It was a freak accident, there was no intent there and obviously my main concern was getting sugar into the guy rather than worrying about my bloody nose
However, At this point a (notoriously dramatic) colleague walked in, saw the scene panicked, and ran to Tell our boss I was being murdered. At which point all hell broke loose - security called etc.
My colleague recovered quite quickly after the Lucozade and was obviously mortified that he had hurt me. The office rumour mill did its work and soon everyone was saying he had "lost it" and punched me.
Long story short my poor colleague has been suspended from work for assaulting me! Now he absolutely did not mean to hit me (was In such a state that even if he had tried, he wouldnt have been able to). It wasnt a case of him getting stroppy while hypo and lashing out. His arm literally just flailed out, he had no control over it and my stupid nose just happened to be in the way.
I've said this to my bosses time and time again and have given them a written statement saying I want no part in these disciplinary measures- it was an accident! - but they are adamant he is not safe to be in the office.
My first question really is - can our bosses really go down the disciplinary route for this? Surely there are laws in place that protect people with conditions from being pushed out.
My second question. has anyone here ever accidentally hurt someone while hypo? As far as I was concerned it was no big deal - but my colleague is devastated. Iv never known him be down about anything diabetes-related before, but we spoke on the phone last night and he sounded like he's lost all confidence. We have always been quite close - we're friends as much as colleagues - and I want to be supportive but I guess I can't understand the emotional impact of a bad hypo. I don't know what to say, beyond reassuring him that it wasn't his fault and that Im trying to tell our bosses that!
I feel a bit guilty too for not staying out of arms reach while trying to help him!
It shook me up too if Im honest. Not so much getting smacked on the nose! but just seeing how rapidly he went downhill - It was just a horrible experience all round. I think I just needed a place to get it off my chest!
.
