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Gym Referral Schemes and lying on forms

C

cmath

Newbie
Messages
4
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I am 21 and have had type 1 diabetes (or as my dad likes to call it, "cant be trusted with sugar") for 11 years now. I am very fit and have been a member of different gyms since I was 14. I run an average of 10km a day or 20km on some days and also swim and cycle. I have never had a problem with joining a gym and do not see my diabetes as a problem in any way. if my blood goes low i fix it, if its slightly higher, i fix it and I make sure i exercise as much as physically possible to help with my diabetes.

So recently I have graduated from my degree and have returned home and driven straight to a gym to continue my exercise routines. I was told here that i would need a doctors note (which i was told would be £25) and also a special meeting with somebody at the gym to determine wether i am suitable to go to this gym with either a special made fitness plan or a normal . After finding out the extra cost i returned to the gym and lied on a new form about my diabetes because why should i pay extra? Of course they found out and have told me to get the referral which should be free.

I then tried to make appointments for both the doctor and the gym to find out it would take just over a month to sort all of this out, which for somebody like me that likes to maintain a consistent exercise routine is just silly.

so the point of this long winded post is to first rant about this experience and also to ask, should referral schemes be compulsory for diabetics or a choice? and also if anybody else has ever lied on forms as this is what i am planning on doing in the future if i am ever asked because of this hassle.
 
I have declared it if asked, but the only time I was asked for similar to what you have been requested, I told them to create a waiver that I could sign which removed any responsibility from them for anything that happened as a result of my diabetes. As a person who is similarly active, it is crazy that a doctor's note to state that I am fit enough to use a gym is required, and I know how to use it thank you very much.

It is a Cover your **** move from the gym so that they can't be held responsible if something happens to you as a result of your diabetes. I personally would take my gym membership elsewhere!
 
I have taken it elsewhere. The new gym basically said do you have any illnesses just for our records and that was the end of it. the only other thing it has been an issue with is my first tattoo (which is now a full sleeve and ribs tattooed) from my consultant just to cover the studios back. however as this was a simple phone call to him which took all of 3 minutes i was more than happy to do it.
its when the requirements get silly and make you feel like you are jumping through hoops that i find an issue with it.

I went today and pushed a 1 hour 40 minute session on the treadmill and according to the machine covered just over 20km which is no means my best but my routine hasnt been great due to university commitments for 3 years
 
Maybe they are attempting to be responsible and ensure that your fitness programme is appropriate for your needs. My local gym does an initial assessment on everyone who joins regardless of their circumstances. They also require anyone who has a serious health condition to provide a doctors certificate. Personally I welcome this, one they are demonstrating they take seriously that they have a duty if care to their customers (and how many times do most if us experience the opposite!) and secondly they have to abide with their public liability insurance. Just my opinion, Sue xxxx
 
i understand they have some responsibility when it comes to my health, but i dont understand what they could tell me as i average an hour and a half to 2 hours at the gym doing quite heavy cardio exercise, my BMI and body fat percentage is perfect, my resting heart rate was compared to that of a professional athlete, I have previously run for diabetes uk and am planning on continuing to do this when my fitness is where i would like it again, and i always ensure i carry multiple packs of glucose tablets in my car and on my person at all times. For people who have just been diagnosed or arent used to a gym environment i understand it but the 2 month back and forth was a hinderance that i would have rather avoided as all i wanted to do was get back to my routine. so personally i think it should be a choice of what the person feels is best for their own diabetes as i do not like being treated as any different and havent since i was first diagnosed. In my eyes all i do is the job my pancreas should be doing and thats it
 
It's never been a problem. It feels like you might have a gym that basically gets paid more for diabetics when referred than when they come in. May try somewhere else can I ask I love fitness but have always struggled to get control before and after meaning I can only get 20minutes when I want two hours. Any tips?
 
Hi @cmath and welcome to the forum

I'd imagine its all just for insurance purposes and they will ask anyone with a health condition such as Diabetes, Asthma, CVD or joint problems to produce a letter from their Dr to say they are fit and well enough to attend a gym.

If your Dr is going to charge £25 you could ask your hospital clinic (if under their care since returning home) to write you a letter, often they'll do this for people who are travelling abroad and don't charge unlike some gp surgery's, if anything its worth a try.
 
The new one I joined has said this ... If you want to join then as long as we are aware of the condition it's fine ... I really would not have minded going to get a doctors note and had a meeting if it wouldn't have taken a month to do so ... I just want to get on a machine and run on the spot for an hour or so
 
@cmath i can totally understand your frustration at the amount of time the process would take to accomplish. I think every gym has its own procedure. I have print metal angina and would be happy for someone to ask me about medical conditions just so it is recorded. I'm glad you are now a gym member and back on track with your exercise programme
 
I tell them I am T1 if they don't make an issue of it as I think honesty and safety are best. However if they behaved like this lot I would just lie and/or go elsewhere.
 
The inconsistencies are trying.
For me - I was using my council gym/swim pool - particularly pilates, swimming and zumba. I then realised if I joined on a pay by month, then my sessions would be much cheaper.
However, that meant I needed to be gym assessed - gym was part of the membership deal. So I needed a gym induction, and a medical form from my Doctor - which I had to pay for.
The inconsistency is amazing. I do not use the gym - it strikes me as boring and repetitive. However, I go to Pilates 6 hours a week, 1 hour body conditioning and 1 hour zumba. I could have done all these without a medical. But the cheaper rate through the Gym membership necessitated the medical form.
It strikes me that Doctors' are after extra money! and they then claim they want their patients to exercise more.
Then there is a bigger irony in my case. I have a back problem, and was referred to physio. I wanted to do Yoga, but my GP said a distinct NO. He was happy with Pilates. When I told my physio, she was astounded, and said that Yoga would be fine. However, my friendly GP has blocked that on my Gym medical form. Great stuff, Doctors! I wish you would get your act together!!!!
 
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