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Ever been asked to leave a shop or restaurant due to a hypo?

Do you carry an ID that explains your condition? I have a card in my purse, havent had to use it yet but have come close a few times, I almost always hypo in supermarkets due to the stress (shopping with a boisterous 3 year old!) And have been tempted to eat/drink sometihing before paying for it (obviously save packaging to pay for at end of shop) but I havent felt quite brave/desperate enough yet, im sure havung my little "I have diabetes" card would help me in a situation like that though, also if it happened in my local tescos it wouldnt be an issue as the pharmacy staff know me pretty well now!


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I wear one of,the wristbands purchased from the shop on here. It just says "Insulin independent diabetic" which is all that folks need to know initially.



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I would have kicked up such a stink in that restaurant. Her attitude caused you to cry for 20 mins afterward.. that is not good for your unborn baby. She caused you additional distress. She's acted like a moron.
 
Hello everyone,Diana from Greece :cat:

I really find it very weird to happen sth like that....i m sure that this never would happen somewhere in Greece.
But i don t know how you people find so empty space to carry juices and other staff like this....Personally i only carry candies in a small pocket of my bag....anyway i think it's really some formal situations that happen in northern European countries like Britain...

I wish you never happen sth like this...
 
The cafe's response was an unlawful breach of the provisions of the Equality Act 2010, which require service providers to make reasonable adjustments for people with long term chronic illnesses (such as T1 or T2 diabetes, which are considered disabilities under the Act's provisions).

I would suggest you write to the cafeteria's owners, explain that diabetes is covered by the Equality act 2010, s.6 and that what took place constitutes is direct discrimination.

Explain that you could pursue a successful case against them in court, for failing to make the simple and very reasonable adjustment of allowing you to drink the small can of coke, however you would not wish them to have to spend a lot of money, even going bust, in order to defend themselves, when it was clearly indefensible.
Suggest instead that they could spend a very small amount of money making their business 'disability friendly'..

Refer them to the Service Provider's Guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission at http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/...eone-says-they-ve-been-discriminated-against/.

Ask them how they are going to ensue that in the future they make reasonable adjustments for people with long term chronic conditions such as diabetes, and suggest that perhaps staff training might be the best way forward. - there are many agencies offering such training such as http://www.inclusivityconsultancy.co.uk/training.html (and no I am not on commission from them)

If they don't respond I suggest you contact the EHRC about pursuing a case against them - you won't win a lot of money, but it will make them and other similar services start to get their act together.

(In case you wonder whether I am correct in this, I teach Equalities Law at University level, and work as a voluntary equalities adviser for a charitable organisation).
Stephen
 
kimkennedy89 said:
Hello :)

I was going to a local cafe for a bit to eat with my other half. I felt a little light headed, checked my BG and was 2.6, due to being 22 weeks pregnant I automatically took a little kids size can of coke out my bag and drank it.

The waitress then shouted across the cafe to advise that I could not drink the juice on the premises as it wasn't bought there. My partner explained I'm T1 and that I was low as well as being pregnant, he explained I needed something sugary due to this and also advised that we would be buying juice along with a meal each for our lunch.

She proceeded to tell us that management had a strict policy and that I would have to leave the cafe and go back for lunch once I was 'normal' again. I was so embarrassed, the cafe was busy and I was very upset at how she approached the whole subject.

I know that lots of people don't know anyone who's T1 therefore don't know much about diabetes as a whole but my partner explained accurately and in detail about what was happening and why, safe to say I'll never think of eating from the cafe again!


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Personally I would name and shame the cafe, and hope that people would begin a campaign to boycott it. Regardless of whether the staff member was working to management rules as stated by a latter reply, the waitress a) should have been more tactful if applying the 'rules', b) listened to the partners comments and understood the situation could develop more if quick action not taken and c) used her common sense, stop being so arrogant and 'jobsworthy' and stop being a bully. There is too much of this narrow minded ness going on these day, and nobody should be discriminated in anyway (which this was) . This was as bad as treating the lady as a leper in the old days ( no offense intended to any suffering from leprosy, sorry).
 
Sorry to hear about your bad experience, I guess the reaction of the waitress, shows that she was overworked and had too much to do, all for the minimum wage I bet, and she was trying to look after the company that is screrwing her.

I had a similar experience in Asda in Motherwell, last year, I went there for breakfast i think it was 6 items for a fiver, so I got my usual 5 rashers and a portion of tomatoes.

Another stressed out woman said I had to put four of the rashers back, I said the sign said 6 items for whatever, so she said they all had to be seperate, I said but I'm a diabetic and I need a protein breakfastand I cant eat egg.

The silly moo, said Well OK this time'
 
My daughter has been asked to leave Debenhams and Costa coffee. The costa coffee one had an upside because the manager of a crispy creme donut outlet witnessed it happening, and helped my daughter to a seat and brought us both a tea on the house and told us we could sit there till she was fully recovered.
 
I would name and shame the thoughtless cafe. They could have just charged you a small tax on the drink and be done with it.
 
Stephen1955 said:
The cafe's response was an unlawful breach of the provisions of the Equality Act 2010, which require service providers to make reasonable adjustments for people with long term chronic illnesses (such as T1 or T2 diabetes, which are considered disabilities under the Act's provisions).

I would suggest you write to the cafeteria's owners, explain that diabetes is covered by the Equality act 2010, s.6 and that what took place constitutes is direct discrimination.

Explain that you could pursue a successful case against them in court, for failing to make the simple and very reasonable adjustment of allowing you to drink the small can of coke, however you would not wish them to have to spend a lot of money, even going bust, in order to defend themselves, when it was clearly indefensible.
Suggest instead that they could spend a very small amount of money making their business 'disability friendly'..

Refer them to the Service Provider's Guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission at http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/...eone-says-they-ve-been-discriminated-against/.

Ask them how they are going to ensue that in the future they make reasonable adjustments for people with long term chronic conditions such as diabetes, and suggest that perhaps staff training might be the best way forward. - there are many agencies offering such training such as http://www.inclusivityconsultancy.co.uk/training.html (and no I am not on commission from them)

If they don't respond I suggest you contact the EHRC about pursuing a case against them - you won't win a lot of money, but it will make them and other similar services start to get their act together.

(In case you wonder whether I am correct in this, I teach Equalities Law at University level, and work as a voluntary equalities adviser for a charitable organisation).
Stephen
Click to expand...
Good advice. I have a Diabetic Alert Dog (registered assistance dog) I was refused access to a restaurant for a friends birthday meal. I explaIed the need for my Hypo alert dog and I was told they did not allow Asssitance dogs as it would offend other customers. I complained to the manager in writing and did not get any response. I persued this and It as cost me £180 so far in court fees. The Judge has awarded me £1500 in compensation, but I have yet to recieve a penny of it. The money is being donated to charity, It was the principle for me as a paying customer I should have the same right to eat where I choose for a meal. Too many people end up just giving up and taking this treatment and thats how some business get away with it. Saying that i have had many many really positive experiences in food outlets so the message is getting across.
 
I think this is absolutely appalling. I find a small 150ml can of coke is perfect for treating my hypos and dextrose, jelly babies, hypostop make me feel sick. I refuse to not treat a hypo in a restaurant or cafe this is ridiculous and putting your safety at risk, I've never been questioned, but if a member of staff arrives at the table whilst I'm drinking my little can I usually explain the situation just so they're aware really to avoid this kind of problem. I could understand if you weren't buying a drink to have with your meal but I think it's pretty obvious a 150ml can isn't a substantial drink along with a meal. This post has got me so mad!! (I'm also a hormonal pregnant woman lol!!)
 
I was at a Morrissons café during the summer for my lunch hour with some colleagues, I went to the toilets to do my injections and was detained by a member of staff until the police arrived as a little old lady had complained that I was "doing drugs in the loos" The police officer was sympathetic and nothing came of it but I was really embarrassed, not to mention late back to work and having to explain to my employer why!
 
Sadly this was an uneducated response - and handled appallingly, even customer service was rubbish to yell at you across a cafe - disgusting. I can't even imagine what my rant would of been back to her under the circumstances as I normally see red when having a hypo !!

Contact the restaurant manager and advise them of the situation, as well as the local newspaper and don't forget Tripadvisor.

To turn this to a positive it's a chance to educate those less fortunate than ourselves !!
 
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