• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

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

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

  • Total voters
    2
  • This poll will close: .
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.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn More.…