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Have you disclosed your diabetes diagnosis as a disability with your employer?

Have you disclosed your diabetes diagnosis as a disability with your employer?

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    2
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T

Tedrama

Member
Messages
6
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Should I disclose my Diabetes diagnosis as a disability in the equality information in my staff record with my employer?

I'm updating some of my personal details on my staff record in the equality & diversity section and I can disclose it as a long term condition disability as I understand that the law recognises the condition as one. Obviously I recognise that some people have serious symptoms and illness. However, I'm not experiencing severe symptoms, other than my frustrations trying to bring my weight and blood results down after a period of neglecting my diet and exercise due to work stresses.

I feel like it important for organisations to be aware but I wondered where you stand. I would welcome your opinions.
 
When I was working my employer knew my medical history , I had a medical which was quite thorough so I confessed all saying that I’ve never hidden it to employers ,friends , partners ex wife’s x3 .. doh
 
Ushthetaff said:
When I was working my employer knew my medical history , I had a medical which was quite thorough so I confessed all saying that I’ve never hidden it to employers ,friends , partners ex wife’s x3 .. doh
Click to expand...
Thanks.

I haven't had a medical at work. I guess that would make a difference as that would be a thorough set of questions that need answers, as oppose to self-declaration which is what I have done.

It was the question concerning the legal definition of it being a disability that also interested me. I want to honest but not overdoing it. I'm Type 2 and recognise that other people with Diabetes have different challenges and health complications that I don't currently have. I have declared myself as having a long term condition but it doesn't require me to explain what that is. My boss and colleagues know that I have diabetes because I openly discuss it, particularly when food is a conversation point.
 
@Tedrama
Does your diabetes cause you any difficulty in carrying out your work? Hypos,for example, that need time out to be treated?

Under the Equality Act 2010, a person has a disability if they have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. So, having T2, or any health condition, does not confer immediate disability status. It is individual, depending on how the condition affects you.
 
I have declared my diabetes although I do not need any support from my employer.
The only requirement I have of them is to make reasonable adjustments for annual appointments.
If I have not told them, they could refuse my time off or try to make life difficult when I request it.
This has never happened but I see no reason to hide it from them. I just don't make a big thing about it.
 
I didn't report this as some kind of requirement for additional conditions, but he knows that I have diabetes and very nicely tried to take care of it by organizing a party for colleagues and buying me food marked "sugar-free" (and 70g of carbohydrates) :=D
 
I always tell any new employer that I have diabetes, especially since I know I will need time off for appointments and don't feel I should always use my annual leave for that. Funnily enough, my manager although he doesn't have diabetes some of his family does and he suffers from hypos so has a finger pricker which if mine runs out of strips/power I go ask him for some and vice versa!

Like others have said I don't make a big deal out of it but do like people to be aware in case something does happen.
 
I work on sailing ships, where there are only two people working, the employer and myself.
So yes, I always tell my skipper.
I'm very good at preventing hypos during sailing, but you never know, and I want my skipper to know what to expect if I make a mistake. We also usually eat with the (paying) guests, so I want both my employer and our guests to know why I'm not always eating with them, I don't want to look rude.

Currently I'm doing technical work on a ship to prepare it for the sailing season, so no guests, just my employer and I, and sometimes a specialist on electricity or wood or steel work.
I didn't feel the need to disclose, but my diabetes was pretty clear when I injected for lunch, I didn't feel the need to hide it either. Turns out he has diabetes as well. :hilarious:
 
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