New to the forums, but thought I'd drop a word of the situation I am in at present, as both example and motivation for some ...
I have been Type 1 for the last 13 years and 'control' has never been what a professional would classify as 'good'. At worst an Hba1C of 13+ ... today I am glad to say it is much better, but over 13 years I have had so many different 'opinions' and 'advice' I have barely found it easy to find a 'balance' of control.
Three years ago I applied to my local Police Service at the role of a PCSO - a role as physically active, involving a LOT more walking than that of a PC. I was accepted - with an Hba1C of 9.6 at the time. However, it wasn't without gritted teeth. I was offered the job and the offer then retracted a WEEK before starting due to the Hba1C. At the time, I was cycling many miles a week, running, playing squash three times a week, etc. They had no grounds to tell me I wasn't 'fit' for the job. I dug my feet in with the FMA (Force Medical Advisor) and demanded he 'prove' I was unfit. I had sailed though the medicals and physical tests the force presents.
I was permitted to start and advised he would want to see me every three months for 'check-ups'.
Two check-ups into the job and no more were required.
Two years into the job, I have had NO days off sick and NO issues at all on of off duty relating to diabetes. I walk more than most on my team and put in more effort and hours than required almost all the time. He has therefore had NO grounds to follow up on my condition.
Currently my Hba1c is at 8.6 and still falling having recently started on a new regime with another hospital.
The current situation, specifically relevant to my job - in February I applied to work as a PC. Occy Health was facing a choice - they either said 'Yes, you've proven you can do it without any issues, you can start' ... or they said 'You're not fit to do it' - but if they did that ... they were effectively saying I wasn't fit to do the job I was in ...
The inevitable occurred ... I was immediately suspended from Driving at work AND cycling (even though I was cycling up to 8 hours a day on duty without issue and had re-introduced the 'bicycle' to the local team and region who were now all starting to use them!
Three months have passed ... I have presented them with letters and blood results from my local GP who is supportive of my situation and disagreeing with their decisions ...
I can therefore empathise with ANYONE who has reached what feels like closed doors and brick walls on the job front. My advice from experience is to fight decisions (even though you shouldn't have to and to prove yourself no 'different' once in the role)
I have never on an application form until recently even considered putting diabetes as a 'disability', but now feel that it is the employers who chose to make this a disability and not the individual.
I urge individuals to keep fighting for the jobs THEY WANT because at no time will large organisations back down and accept that their opinions are wrong until someone PROVES them wrong.
For those interested in the Police Service their is the NPDA (National Police Diabetics Association) who were founded to support such situations and offer advice.
Speaking from experience there is NO reason that a controlled diabetic (ie, anyone similar or better controlled than myself - I still have very clear hypo symptoms and am on Novorapid/Levemir for variable meal times) cannot work in the Police Service.
My next goal ... when I get in as a PC ... will be to target the 'Driving' issue of the Police Service as currently nationwide, with only a few exceptions, no diabetic is allowed to 'Response Drive'.
I hope someone gets something from my jabberings ... it's my first, so I apologise for the length of the message.
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