staff shortage

It’s not a disability under PIP rules.

Well not as a stand alone.

No you didn’t miss anything - diabetes of any kind is not a registered disability in Northern Ireland. Don’t make me quote Stormont, our gov system here is broken.

Was my post a problem?

Keeping threads important? Yes definitely.

Splitting hairs? Hmm merely stated the disability issue is moot in my world.

Sorry if I bored anyone, feel free to skim & ignore anything I post that DCUKMod(s) feel...irrelevant

Btw I work.

My last job was similar to how yours is now @Wendi22, but it was like it from the start. Quite often I would end up hypo after not being able to take my lunch break and if I was really lucky I would be able to treat my hypo and have a sit down. I was mostly working by myself and the rule (that all the customers were well used to) was that if there were customers, you had to serve them (lunch/hypo/whatever else had to come second) In the end I had to leave, it wasn't worth it.

Hyundai rock to work for if you are vulnerable & have to self medicate, really sad state of affairs for 2020

Hope things improve.

@Wendi22 do you have a HR team you can talk to? Rather than 'ask' if they can make provision to keep you safe it works better if you tell them what you need IMO.

As you are not the only member of staff, I do feel that you should at least be able to have a fixed time to eat. If you prebolus, that should be when your colleague should be taking sole responsibility, and you should not be called on until you have eaten. It is essential for your well being, not some sort of huge favour on the part of the management - I really feel that your reasonable needs should be provided for.
Could you have a bottle of something sugary with you, so you could take a swig of it wherever you are at the time?
You'd not be expected to go on speaking to people if you had a dry throat or a cough without taking a sip of water - surely? Why should your need to tide you over be different?

@LooperCat can you help with this by explaining how you manage when working?

Wendi22 said:

it might result in burdening the remaining staff and everyone being under more stress, and resentful to-boot.

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While I admire your attitude, you being below par and struggling is also a difficulty for the staff and stressful for them, even if they dont realise it.

Barb McD said:

It’s not a disability under PIP rules.

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It is under the Equality Act 2010, however, which states that employers/schools/ universities etc must make “reasonable adjustments” for a type one to be able to fulfil their role - be it fixed meal breaks, being allowed to carry glucose, insulin & test supplies etc. In my case, I’m allowed to wear my smart watch despite the NHS “bare below the elbow” policy and during university exams, as it’s how I control my insulin pump. You don’t get any financial benefit such as PIP (unless you have significant co-morbidities that affect your life) but you do get what you need to do your job.

ringi said:

@LooperCat can you help with this by explaining how you manage when working?

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Well, as you asked so politely...

My situation is very different to the OP’s: I understand they are using fingersticks & MDI, where I have built myself an artificial pancreas system by hacking my NHS supplied pump and CGM.

I am still very much covered by the Equalities Act, however I don’t make use of any of my “reasonable adjustments” except for having my smart watch on my wrist and phone/dextro tabs in my pocket (and the ones uni insist on, like sitting exams in a separate room in case I beep). I can happily go the same 7-8 hours into a 12+ hour ambulance shift before a meal break that everyone else is expected to, including a full-time shift pattern, so I haven’t taken up the “fixed meal time” thing occupational health suggested. It’s not operationally feasible, really - I can’t just down tools at a motorway pile-up to go back to base for a meal... I’ve occasionally shoved some dextro tabs down my neck during a lengthy resuscitation or on the way to one if my levels are falling, but my watch alarms me if that’s the case. I don’t stop to test blood.

All I can advise the OP to do is to have a word with their HR department or union disability rep to get some adjustments put in place. Always keep hypo treatment in your pocket, glucose tablets aren’t the nicest, but they work the fastest and are pretty discreet.

Do you not perhaps have an Occupational Health specialist within your HR dept that you can speak to? Many Public Authorities do.