Please could Diabetes .org.uk request for the Government to include diabetics to be included in the self isolate group for up to 12 weeks and extend the period of time after that period depending on the on going epidemic. I work in retail as in a supermarket. I cannot social distance at 2 metres as I work at a till far closer to the customer. I am type 2 diabetes . We are in a high risk catagory and would be severely ill due to diabetes related complications as said on this website's news section of information, so why are we only to self distance like everyone else who do not have underlying health issues if we are high risk? I personally have had to negotiate with my bosses to take off holiday due from the following year to keep away from close contact of customers in my job which i cannot stay 2 metres away at a till. Even wearing gloves this is not going to completley protect me. Customers talking laughing coughing in my face. I am in close contact with staff in a tight working area. I am so angry that if we are high risk and have to work in an environment whereby it would be in effect high risk of catching it that diabetes has not been hightened up into the self isolate group and instead just social distance when diabetic retail workers are risking grave repercussions of contracting coronavirus. Can a petition not be set up to put to the government about this .? To reiterate. If Workplace social distancing less than 2 metre contact in retail ie supermarkets small convenience stores not possible then diabetics are as said high risk and vuleranable and should therefore be told to self isolate.It is incomprehensible to see that we are not in the self isolate group and if you work in retail then you have to social distance 2 metres away but that is impossible. So if we as the public have to socially distance and diabetics have to socially distance but cannot due to working situation but still have to work then there must be that those rules are not being followed through by our employers as much as for the diabetic population not being able to follow the set guidelines as we have been told to social distance when we cannot yet are high risk. A petition to the government needs to be put to them concerning this. Please can this site support us to be Self isolating if having to continue working in retail sector in close contact of customers via within the 2 metre distance regulation which is presently the rule.
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Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
No self isolating for diabetics !
- Thread starter Lee2030
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I'm a postal worker, and type 1. I've been off since Monday but work told me I need to show them a letter from the NHS to continue getting paid. I've not received a letter yet and I'm worried I won't be deemed high enough risk. We're on the gov.uk list of people who should social distance for 12 weeks though. What gives?!
Sally71
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Parent of person with diabetes
My daughter's doctors have all said that because she is well controlled she is at no greater risk than anyone else so why should we have to completely isolate ourselves? Social distancing makes sense yes, but everyone should be doing that now and it's not the same as isolation. Having said that I wish I knew what the answer is for people who work in frontline services who would rather not at the moment but need to get paid. Are shops and so on not starting to mark floors and only let a few customers in at a time and so on, so that everyone can keep a safe distance from each other?
mikeyB
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Good grief. It would appear the some folk don’t believe the government medical experts’ list of conditions that put people at risk. Diabetes isn’t on it because it doesn’t put you at greater risk.
Your complaint should be directed at your employer if you are unable to keep a safe distance from customers, not Diabetes UK or the government, which at last is giving out decent advice.
Your complaint should be directed at your employer if you are unable to keep a safe distance from customers, not Diabetes UK or the government, which at last is giving out decent advice.
No
I work in a local but large convenient store but is very busy.you cannot self distance from customer to till are its too close. We dont have self service ie checkout options in the store. Its too crowded and constantly busy and we have no protection from close proximity to them. I want to work . i dont want to catch it in a high risk workplace in a high risk group such as I am and others with high risk conditions. I believe the government need petitioning on this.
Robin
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Round here all the shops are operating a queuing system with only a few customers allowed in the shop at any one time, and tape on the floor that they have to stand behind at the checkout, contactless payment where possible, perhaps it’s your employer who needs petitioning if they aren’t implementing any of this.
I am the only one with diabetes at work.i am on my 50s with other less serious underlying issues . My job is covered by young staff. Yes we all need our shops fully manned. But if like in my case being diabetic and get it and die then how are they going to cope then? No more or less when i could have isolated and had a chance to survive like all . My job is dispensable. They can replace me. I am in a catch 22 situation like many.they shouldnt have bothered putting us then in a high risk group if it means nothing in respect of being protected.
We cant keep 2 metres apart behind the till from other workers. We have to stand and movdcaround constantly swueezing past each other. My employers can only do so much. Ok i accept .we just get on with it.
High risk includes diabetics.
Its all too much. X
Of course they are giving the appropriate general advice. The repercussions of getting the virus for diabetics is that we are far greater at getting complications and therefore we have been put in a high risk catagory because of that. If i was working in anothet job i would have been sent home ! That in itself is still horrendous for the majority of the country! But i have to stay at work working within 2 metres of customers and am high risk as a diabetic !! Are you at home??? Or working !
Pumper_Sue
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
If you have no complications and are a well controlled diabetic then you have the same chance as everyone else of catching the vrus.
I was invited to go for day surgery today, yet as I have type 1 diabetes, MS, Addison's disease and an underactive thyroid plus coeliac disease I am not considered a high risk. So I doubt you will stand a chance in hell of saying you are high risk.
Perhaps ask to stack shelves instead if that makes you feel safer.
We are not in a high risk group. If your diabetes is badly controlled then perhaps have a look at how you are managing your diabetes so you will have a better chance of not getting any bad symptoms from the virus.
I was invited to go for day surgery today, yet as I have type 1 diabetes, MS, Addison's disease and an underactive thyroid plus coeliac disease I am not considered a high risk. So I doubt you will stand a chance in hell of saying you are high risk.
Perhaps ask to stack shelves instead if that makes you feel safer.
KARNAK
Much Missed Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hello @Lee2030 sorry you feel the way you do, as a T1 with problems as quite a few of us have but it doesn`t stop us having a normal life under control. Ok I accept you have to deal with the public but there are people far worse off than us, you need to put your concerns to your employer or self isolate. I wonder how many Diabetics get served by you? Please don`t get despondent we are all in the same boat thousands, millions of us all we can do is to control our big D as best as we can and get on with life under the present circumstances. One more question how are you going to get your shopping if you are being served by a Diabetic? I have to respond to your last post, our valued member is a qualified Health Care Practitioner, (Doctor) retired due to major health problems, we all look to him for medical advice so if you feel your Diabetes is a problem with your very grateful work self isolate, take care we are all here for you.
Come and work with me then
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