Hello fellow forum users
I'm a newcomer to the site and I have to say I am shocked and dismayed at the number of individuals struggling to cope with the ignorance demonstrated by employers and managers, when they employ staff with type 1 or 2 diabetes, not to mention other medical conditions. What concerns me is that employers seem to getting away with it more and more in today's society.
I am no exception to this. I recently left a job through bullying by a senior member of staff who treated me more or less as an embarrassment, and with nothing but scepticism when I tried to explain the importance of treating a hypo urgently.
I decided enough was enough and I felt so beaten down by this, I wasn't strong enough to fight back and I'm now under the care of my GP who has put me on antidepressants and referred me to a councillor.
I really don't think enough is done as far as the Equality Act is concerned and I do feel that this is a real issue which should be addressed at Government level.
Yes we may have a medical condition / disability / chronic illness, however you choose to term diabetes, and yes, it can be hard to control at times. Our bodies are working twice as hard to stay on an even keel, as someone without a medical condition, which is something people either don't appreciate or simply don't care about.
We simply need to be allowed to look after ourselves, and employers need to know that if illness affects us, it is likely to hit us harder and take a longer recovery time but we should not be made to feel guilty for this...no one can help being ill.
Instead of placing further pressures on us such as threats of disciplinary action, losing jobs or general maltreatment, we need to be supported. Is that so difficult?
I do think there should be an organisation designed to protect people with diabetes, not because it's worse than any other condition but because so little is understood about it and employers need to appreciate the implications connected with not supporting or allowing people to control it safely. Perhaps an advisory service that employers can consult if they need information to support an employee and/or a service that patients can contact if they are having problems and need advice/an advocate.
If such a body existed, I think I would contact them right now.
If anyone has the means to set something like this up, I would be delighted to work with them.
Stay strong all, it's easy to say and not easy to do but we've all got something positive to contribute to society.
Yours sincerely
S xxx
I'm a newcomer to the site and I have to say I am shocked and dismayed at the number of individuals struggling to cope with the ignorance demonstrated by employers and managers, when they employ staff with type 1 or 2 diabetes, not to mention other medical conditions. What concerns me is that employers seem to getting away with it more and more in today's society.
I am no exception to this. I recently left a job through bullying by a senior member of staff who treated me more or less as an embarrassment, and with nothing but scepticism when I tried to explain the importance of treating a hypo urgently.
I decided enough was enough and I felt so beaten down by this, I wasn't strong enough to fight back and I'm now under the care of my GP who has put me on antidepressants and referred me to a councillor.
I really don't think enough is done as far as the Equality Act is concerned and I do feel that this is a real issue which should be addressed at Government level.
Yes we may have a medical condition / disability / chronic illness, however you choose to term diabetes, and yes, it can be hard to control at times. Our bodies are working twice as hard to stay on an even keel, as someone without a medical condition, which is something people either don't appreciate or simply don't care about.
We simply need to be allowed to look after ourselves, and employers need to know that if illness affects us, it is likely to hit us harder and take a longer recovery time but we should not be made to feel guilty for this...no one can help being ill.
Instead of placing further pressures on us such as threats of disciplinary action, losing jobs or general maltreatment, we need to be supported. Is that so difficult?
I do think there should be an organisation designed to protect people with diabetes, not because it's worse than any other condition but because so little is understood about it and employers need to appreciate the implications connected with not supporting or allowing people to control it safely. Perhaps an advisory service that employers can consult if they need information to support an employee and/or a service that patients can contact if they are having problems and need advice/an advocate.
If such a body existed, I think I would contact them right now.
If anyone has the means to set something like this up, I would be delighted to work with them.
Stay strong all, it's easy to say and not easy to do but we've all got something positive to contribute to society.
Yours sincerely
S xxx
