as a T2 diet controlled diabetic you medically need to eat at set times either
It's not set times. It's consistently spaced and/or predictable times. These are two very different things. If you go back to my original post, it's about not having massive and tiny gaps between meals that aren't reasonably consistent across multiple days. A one off is one thing, and if this was every single day, that'd be different - I'd adapt and it'd be fine. Doing this only one day a week for 12 weeks is a problem.
There is science to back this up, as
@JimmyBlue has pointed out above. Timing is actually a very useful tool for Type 2s who, like me, seem to thrive on a consistent routine metabolically. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I do have evidence of this making a difference - my trip back to the US - which involved not only a time change but also extremely odd gaps between meals. My fasting levels, which without exception had been sitting at normal for a non-diabetic, were up by at least 2 mmol/l
the whole time (3 weeks). I was careful to keep my diet and movement levels as close to what they could be in the UK while I was in the US. It might not be a big deal for many people who may not be so consistent otherwise, but it was
very different from the consistent baseline that I'd had for several months leading up to that point. Some of this was the time difference, of course, but it was also weird mealtimes across the board for a few days between travel/flight 'meal' times/etc (immediately after was where I saw the biggest difference - which was up to 4mmol/l off of my usual for the first few days). Similarly, my BS will be pretty consistent pre-evening meals, but there is a point where if I end up having to wait more than about 6 hours between meals, things start rising rather than falling, particularly if I need to do a lot of physical activity (not to mention the ravenous hunger, moodiness, etc.). I've replicated this multiple times, both using finger pricks and CGMs, and I prefer to avoid it. So yes, I have my own anecdotal evidence and the scientific research to back up this approach. It works for me - it wouldn't necessarily the the case for everyone. Having relatively consistent mealtimes helps a lot.
Again, to stress: it's not about exact times. It's about what was originally a bizarre scheduling snafu combined with something that would make managing my condition in the way that has allowed me to go into remission difficult. And the fact that it let me make Timetabling do something useful rather than it being an unassailable monolith was nice. My students would have also struggled with this timing, but it's far easier to go the occupational health route.
The other side of the equation is whether people have asked for the adjustment but again, this is a tricky issue as a lack of knowledge or understanding of not only diabetes in general but type 1 and 2 specifically on the employers part could cause people to lose their jobs. Equally, some employers may be willing to give the adjustment but never think to ask whether people need it.
Yes. Know your rights as a worker (and ideally your rights as a diabetic under the disability act 2010). Most employers, mine included, expects workers to just 'know' what they need. You are allowed to make reasonable requests of your employer to help you manage your condition, and it's worth remembering the definition of 'disability' is rather broad. Even if someone is metabolically normal, they really should be allowed to request reasonable lunch breaks at a fairly normal and consistent time because it's good for all sorts of reasons (says me, the union girl). (Join a union, &c, &c.)
