Work

[Tumble]

Hi,

When I was first diagnosed with diabetes four years ago I was very honest with work and the people around me about my condition and how I control it and how I would like help if I had a severe hypo (coma). I did a small training session with some colleagues and explained how my Glucogen Hypokit works and how to administer it. All has been fine for a few years, work even supplied me with my own fridge. However on the latest first aid training course that my colleagues attended they have been told not to administer the Glucogen pen if I was unconscious because if something happened then I could sue the company. So the whole thing has escalated and now they want someone to come in to do a training course and then certify that certain people within the company can inject me if necessary. (I would also like to point out that I have never needed medical assistance when dealing with hypos). They are also going to put a lock on my fridge as it contains drugs and sharps as they are worried that the cleaners or other members of staff will want to steal the contents. So does that mean that I have to lock my insulin up that I use at least two times a day at work. They want to do a full risk assessment on me as they said that our insurers will not cover them if there is an issue.

I feel like I've been turned into a bit of a freak show has anyone else had any problems? Who should I ask to do a training course that can certify others to use the Glucogen pen? Any help or advise is greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

 

[jopar]

As to your glucogen jab, your company are acting correctly, as their First Aiders will need specific training by a qualified nurse to ensure that they and also yourself are all covered by your companies insurance... It's not just to protect your companies back, it protecting you as well! And the First Aiders will have the right to refuse training..

The most important thing for you First Aiders and your surrounding colleagues to know, actually picking up your hypo, and if you are struggling, so that they can prompt you to start treating it, so your hypos doesn't get into emergency medical's and at what point to call the paramedic's in,,,

There's isn't any need for any of the First Aiders to be trained to give you a glucogen jab, I've certainly never bothered with this, and my instructions has always been around prompting me to eat/drink (jelly babies/Luccozade) if I won't/don't or if they are worried get the paramedics!

As your insulin, firstly you shouldn't be keeping your insulin in the fridge, Once you've loaded a cartridge into the pen for use either background or quick acting, this is then kept out the fridge as long as it's kept out of direct sunlight and extreme temperatures then it's fine... So the fridge is total over reaction whether locked or not!

You only really need to either keep it all on/with you while working if practical such as in your bag or just in your office desk draw, even on the desk to the side... Or your meter/hypo on you and your insulin in your locker in the locker room etc... The only time your meter/hypo kit is not kept on you, is when there is an environment factor, such as you work with chemicals, sterile area, dirty area etc... Then you kit needs to be in a place where it's easily accessible to you.

The only time I've had anything in a locked fridge, was my lucccozade but this was because even though I had it labelled as my hypo kit, some fool keep helping themselves to it when I kept it in the staff fridge (I did know who was doing it, but we couldn't prove it) so CQS agreed that due to it being used for medical purposes it could be locked in the Drugs Fridge, (we asked for advice) downside the only person to have keys to the Drugs Fridge was the Duty Supervisor!

 

[Lordy100]

What about using hypo stop or gluco gel whilst at work. You can keep it close by to you and it doesn't have any sharps, easy to use etc. If you have a hypo do you always need glucogen injection?

 

[Juliette40]

Hi,

However on the latest first aid training course that my colleagues attended they have been told not to administer the Glucogen pen if I was unconscious because if something happened then I could sue the company. So the whole thing has escalated and now they want someone to come in to do a training course and then certify that certain people within the company can inject me if necessary.

Hi there!

What a nightmare! No wonder you are so exasperated. I think the problem is that the world has gone health and safety mad. I work in a school and we have to undergo annual epi-pen training in order to administer medication to children who are having a fit. This too seems crazy. I'm sure the parent wouldn't mind who administers the pen, certified or not, if it saves their childs life! It seems that diabetics are to be treated the same way!

Try not to depair too much. It's 'the system' not your colleagues. At least they seemed genuinely concerned and interested.

Good luck
Juliette :thumbup:

 

[alisoningold]

"Oh sorry, I haven't taken a half hour course, I had to let you die"... WHAAAAT

 

[Morganator]

Hi,

However on the latest first aid training course that my colleagues attended they have been told not to administer the Glucogen pen if I was unconscious because if something happened then I could sue the company. So the whole thing has escalated and now they want someone to come in to do a training course and then certify that certain people within the company can inject me if necessary.

Hi there!

What a nightmare! No wonder you are so exasperated. I think the problem is that the world has gone health and safety mad. I work in a school and we have to undergo annual epi-pen training in order to administer medication to children who are having a fit. This too seems crazy. I'm sure the parent wouldn't mind who administers the pen, certified or not, if it saves their childs life! It seems that diabetics are to be treated the same way!

Try not to depair too much. It's 'the system' not your colleagues. At least they seemed genuinely concerned and interested.

Good luck
Juliette :thumbup:

Sorry if I'm being picky but Epi-pens are for Anaphalaxis which is totally different from fits.

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App