Type 1 and working in a too hot office! HELP!

[kokopuddle]

Hi

I have had type 1 diabetes for 14 years now and work in an office where the temperature regularly exceeds 27'c. Everytime it goes above 26'c my blood sugars go up and I am constantly having to put in more units. As well as this it makes me feel sick, dizzy and light headed and unable to concerntrate on my work. I have spoken to my boss and the office manager about it but he just shrugs it off as if I am being a nuisance but I am not the only one who feels it is too hot in there and who struggles with it infact most of the office does. But I am the only one who's health it affects as far as I know. We used to be able to open a door to let some air in but we have a new health and safty bod who has told us we are no longer allowed to do this.

I do not want to leave my job over this but am feeling I am going to have no other choice soon. Does anyone know of anything I can do about this? We have aircon in the office. I also know there is no legal maximum office temperature limit.

I should point out my diabetes is otherwise well controlled.

Any info or anything that might help would be much appreciated.

Thanks

 

[daisy1]

Hi kokopuddle and welcome to the forum There are some members on here who know a lot about regulations on working conditions and I'm sure they will soon be along and able to help you when they have read your post.

I'm glad your diabetes is well controlled, but a little information never goes amiss so I am attaching some basic advice written by the Forum Monitors for new members. I know you are not newly diagnosed but thought you might find it useful and interesting to read this as it may help you to get even better results.

Have a good look around the forum and then ask all the questions you like - someone will always come up with an answer.

Here is the advice we usually give to newly diagnosed diabetics. We hope that these few ideas gained through experience help you to gain control and give you some understanding of Diabetes. This forum doesn't always follow the recommended dietary advice, you have to work out what works for you as we are all different.

It's not just 'sugars' you need to avoid, diabetes is an inability to process glucose properly. Carbohydrate converts, in the body, to glucose. So it makes sense to reduce the amount of carbohydrate that you eat which includes sugars.

This is NOT a low carb diet suggestion, just a reduction in your intake of carbohydrate. You have to decide yourself how much of a reduction will keep your blood glucose levels in control.

The main carbs to avoid OR reduce are the complex or starchy carbohydrates such as bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, starchy root veg and also any flour based products. The starchy carbs all convert 100% to glucose in the body and raise the blood sugar levels significantly.

If you are on Insulin you may find that reducing the carb intake also means that you can reduce your dose of insulin. This can help you to keep weight gain down as Insulin tends to make you put on weight and eventually cause insulin resistance. This should be done slowly so as not to cause hypos.

The way to find out how different foods affect you is to do regular daily testing and keep a food diary for a couple of weeks. If you test just before eating, then two hours after eating, you will see the effect of certain foods on your blood glucose levels. Some foods, which are slow acting carbohydrates, are absorbed more slowly so you may need to test three or even four hours later to see the effect that these have on your blood glucose levels.

Buy yourself a carb counter book (you can get these on-line) and you will be able to work out how much carbs you are eating, when you test, the reading two hours after should be roughly the same as the before eating reading, if it is then that meal was fine, if it isn’t then you need to check what you have eaten and think about reducing the portion size of carbs.

When you are buying products check the total carbohydrate content, this includes the sugar content. Do not just go by the amount of sugar on the packaging as this is misleading to a diabetic.


As for a tester, try asking the nurse/doctor and explain that you want to be proactive in managing your own diabetes and therefore need to test so that you can see just how foods affect your blood sugar levels. Hopefully this will work ! Sometimes they are not keen to give Type 2’s the strips on prescription, (in the UK) but you can but try!!

If you are an Insulin user in theory you should have no problem getting test strips.

The latest 2010 NICE guidelines for Bg levels are as follows:
Fasting (waking and before meals).......between 4 - 7 mmol/l...(Type 1 & 2)
2 hrs after meals........................no more than 8.5 mmol/l.....( Type 2)

2hrs after meals......................... no more than 9 mmol/l ......(Type 1)

If you are able to keep the post meal numbers lower, so much the better.

It also helps if you can do at least 30 minutes moderate exercise a day, it can be split into 10 min sessions to start with. It doesn't have to be strenuous.

The above is just general advice and it is recommended that you discuss with your HCP before making any changes. You can also ask questions on the forum on anything that is not clear.

Sue/Ken.

 

[Sid Bonkers]

Hi kokopuddle and welcome to the forum. Funny how your companies health and safety officer feels it is dangerous for you to work with the office door closed but apparently thinks its OK for the staff to work in temperatures of 27 degrees. I'm sure there is an upper temp level for a safe working environment just as there is a lower level too, perhaps the Citizens Advice people may be able to offer some advice as to the legal aspect of working in high temperatures. I certainly could not function at those sorts of levels.

 

[lovinglife]

Hi kokopuddle

Sadly like most things in life there is only recommendations and guidelines and not laws for workplace temps - A link below from the health and safety exec. may give you some info that can help.

Maybe you and a few others who are unhappy about the temp can get together and and speak to your HR or H%S about it? - can you not request a desk fan or even get one yourself?

I agree with sid that I would find it tiring and draining working in that constant temp but at the same time it doesn't seem particularly hot to many people- 26 deg is a just like warm summers day to some 8) - If you aren't allowed to open the door maybe you could use the argument that it's more about the change of air and lack of circulating fresh air than the temp?

http://www.hse.gov.uk/temperature/thermal/faq.htm

HSE previously defined thermal comfort in the workplace, as: 'An acceptable zone of thermal comfort for most people in the UK lies roughly between 13°C (56°F) and 30°C (86°F), with acceptable temperatures for more strenuous work activities concentrated towards the bottom end of the range, and more sedentary activities towards the higher end.'

 

[sugarless sue]

I expect the issue of the open door is to do with Fire safety.

You say there is air con , can this not be adjusted for temperature control then ? I would ask maintenance about this.

There are also Health issues involved in constantly recycling stale air !

 

[bowell]

If its an old building the heating and air con will be separate systems May not have air con
Then the heating is likely to be turned off end May turned back on Oct (Old factory's Act)

Newer buildings the air con and heating are more integrated systems so will run all year around

Normally for offices we would set the room temp at 25 Max (Ex Heating Eng)
Carbon /green firm 22 Max

Find the Building Service Eng Ask him if he can do anything for you :wink: (£10) should do it
Room/zone Thermostat for Offices will normally have tamper proof covers,
if not turn it down your self.

Is the office space Rented ? if so from who ? Ask informally the temp settings heating ect
Temp May have nothing to do with your firm ,

Inform management of the savings that could be made from just 2 degrees less :!:
What is the firms Carbon footprint /Greene's :?: worth a try

Ask how many others in the office find it too hot , offer that number to management

Ask for a heath assessment from the safety officer

Purchase a loud clattering fan
Don't bother with deodorants :?
Drip over paperwork extra water marks


Bob

 

[Bob]

You have a "duty of care" towards yourself, not to put yourself into dangerous or life-threatening situations. Your employer has the same duty of care too. If you can prove that your glucose readings are linked to temperatures, you can argue that you cannot be made to work in the office as it is injurious to your health.

It reaches 28 - 29 degrees in my office.We're lucky as a new A/C system is being fitted in the next few days.

 

[goji]

I wouldn't be able to work in an office like that - it sounds very unpleasant.

If your boss isn't prepared to budge then perhaps you should make your own adjustments. You could buy a desk fan or alternatively on Amazon they have some portable air conditioners. You shouldn't have to do that but perhaps it would send a message to your boss.

 

[johnkati]

This is what's going on behind my desk - it's Jamie's part...which is a lot bigger than my corner!