Advice Needed..

[SimonAS]

Hi

I'm after some advice and this looks like the place to get it.

A colleague of mine has (as of this week) been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

I've done some reading on the subject to familiarise myself with the condition.

The question I have is how can I support him coming back to work?

I've already spoken with HR around making sure we understand his condition, write to his GP for info etc and support his plan with the life style changes he will have to make.

What I'm really after is is there anything specific to type 1 diabetes that I should be aware of that as an employer can help with?

Just for background we work in an office providing IT Support, it's a demanding role with it's fair share of out of hours work (planned and unplanned).

I'd appreciate any advice!

Many Thanks

 

[Steff]

i think 1 of the main things you can do is learm the signs and symptoms of hypo/hyper because sometimes the sufferer cant tell.

symptoms of hypo

What happens during a hypo?

You can experience some or all of the following symptoms:
* paleness
* shaking
* perspiration
* a feeling of weakness
* rapid heartbeat
* hunger
* agitation
* difficulty concentrating
* irritability
* fatigue
* blurred vision
* temporary loss of consciousness
* confusion
* convulsions
* coma.
symptoms of a hyper
Classic Symptoms
# Classic symptoms of hyperglycemia diabetes are found in all diabetes patients. They include frequent hunger, urination and thirst. Although each of these symptoms does not necessarily lead to a diabetes diagnosis, taken together they form an aggregate of significant signs that is most likely caused by hyperglycemia.
Other Symptoms
# Other symptoms related to hyperglycemia diabetes include blurred vision, fatigue, weight loss, the inability to heal wounds properly, dry mouth, dry or itchy skin, male impotence and the propensity to contract infections such as vaginal yeast infections, groin rashes or external ear infections.


just remember some people may only suffer from one or the other but few do suffer both

 

[Viki]

Hi Simon,

From personal experience i would say the following:

Make it clear that you are understanding of the condition and are more than willing to support in any way, but that your colleague needs to let you know how best you can do this and what he wants. Illness are very personal things and some people do not like sharing the in and outs with others. (I personally dont shut up if someone asks me . . as you are about to see 🙂)

At the beginning, the symptoms of low and high blood sugar can be scary and even embarrassing. (they range from feeling a bit shaky to extreme confusion and even passing out). Id read up on these and have a quick chat about what your colleague would like you to do in this event. (For me my team know when i start munching sugar tabs that i will need to be left alone for a while to come to life again at my own speed. However i did sit with one colleague and go through recognising the signs of low and high blood sugar and gave her a quick bullet point list of what to do in both cases.) Again i would make it clear to your colleague that you are happy to do this but let it be on his terms.

Another thing is be understanding when it comes to time off and sickness. My boss seems to forget that going to hospital and being at home ill are not pleasant experiences for me and i am not sitting at home for the fun of it.

Sounds like your colleague is lucky to work with someone who is willing to help so much, the fact that you have started to seek information for yourself before he has even returned to work is far more than a lot of employers would do.

If you have any questions feel free to come back here, but also dont be afraid to ask your colleague. If he is open to talking about it they will appreciate your interest, if not then he should at least appreciate the effort. 😛

Might be worth pointing him in our direction too!!

Good Luck xx

 

[Emmal31]

I think it's brilliant that your taking your time to research the condition and make people aware of what it intails and how you can help your collegue. I wouldn't have left my job if people had been more understanding and supportive towards me instead of just ignoring my condition.

 

[am64]

I think it's brilliant that your taking your time to research the condition and make people aware of what it intails and how you can help your collegue. I wouldn't have left my job if people had been more understanding and supportive towards me instead of just ignoring my condition.

Totally agree re having to leave job and my last boss was diabetic aswell! just give your friend support as he will be feeling strange, can he work from home, till he feels more settled?? he is obvoiusly a worthwhile employee and the firm must be a good employer to have this amount of concern well done!

ps got any jobs?

 

[Copepod]

Hi Simon
Above all, ask your colleague what help he wants - personally, I prfer as little fuss as possible, so most colleagues in the various jobs I've done in 13 years since diagnosis with type 1 diabetes (T1D) as a 30 year old adult don't actually know I have it, as I've never needed any intervention from anyone else, whether colleagues, partner, family or friends. I know some other people on this forum want understanding etc, but I prefer for my diabetes to be ignored by everyone else, as I have always managed it myself. So, that's why it's so important to ask your colleague. You may be surprised how little help / adjustments / interventions he needs. If he's already pretty physically active, normal weight and eating a normal balanced diet, he may have to make very few changes to his lifestyle. The one thing where insulin does make a difference (and if he's got T1D, he will need insulin) is driving, but for car and motorbike driving, a shorter 1, 2 or 3 year licence will be issued by DVLA - see driving section of this forum for more information. You might also like to suggest he logs on here to ask questions himself, directly.
However, a few things that I have found particularly useful - a locker / lockable drawer etc where I can store blood glucose meter, insulin (in a discrete pencil case) emergency food eg sweets (no need for disgusting tasting glucose tablets, in my opinion, but some people with T1D swear by them, muesli bars etc as meal replacements; emergency sweets etc are for emergencies only, not for sharing around, although I will sometimes bring sweets / chocolate / biscuits / cake / fruit etc to share at work; if there is a work fridge, then it might be useful to leave a couple of spare cartridges of insulin there (1 of each type used - I use 2 types); my car and rucksack I use when cycling always have an extension selection of sweets, muesli bars, drinks with and without sugar etc. It's never happened at work (although it has happened in shared houses), but I would be extremely angry if anyone ever interfered with my food!

 

[NiVZ]

Hello,

I'm a 31 year old male with Type 1 and I've been diabetic for 13 years and also work in IT and I've never had any problems. I do occassionally go low, but I have good warning signs and am always able to sort myself out. I normally just take my hypo treatment and wait 5-10 mins to feel better before getting back on with fixing computers and writing programs.

My colleagues are aware that I am diabetic but don't tend to take an overbearing interest other than asking what I'm doing when I test my BG or do an injection and to be honest thats the way I like it.

Like Copepod I'm lucky that I've never needed anyone to intervene with my diabetes. I have a stash of diabetic paraphernalia scattered around my workplace. I take a rucksack to work which has my needles, BG monitor, hypo treatment (200ml carton of fruit juice) plus my lunch and snacks to keep me going through the day. I have spare fruit juice cartons in my desk and car, that way I have hypo treatments close at hand at all times. So don't be shocked if you see your colleague guzzling lucozade or eating handfuls of destrose tablets from time to time (as these are other common hypo treatments).

Hypos are the scariest part of diabetes as it causes, sweating, dizzyness, confusion and can stop you thinking clearly. Again it can be hard to help in these situations as diabetics are prone to go into denial and snap at anyone that asks them 'are you feeling ok' or 'do you need to check your sugars'.

A lot will depend on how well your colleague is managing their diabetes, and how comfortable they are letting others help them. You can only help someone as much as they want to let you help them so it might be worth having a conversation saying you want to support them but don't want to overstep the mark, that way they can let you know their boundaries and you both know where you stand.

It's really good you're taking so much of an interest though - it's a pity more people don't take the time to understand all the in's and out's of diabetes.

NiVZ

 

[HelenP]

I want to work for Simon!!

Sorry, nothing helpful to add!! Hope your colleague is able to manage his diabetes well.

xx

 

[Caroline Wilson]

Brilliant you want to support your colleague, can't add much more to others advice.

The only thing I would caution is support without being intrusive. Some people appreciate knowing they can ask for help but don't want it to be in your face, so let him guide you to the ammount of help and support needed. I personally (and this is just mebeinf sensitive) find it very patronising when a non diabetic says I understand how you feel, I know all about diabetes.

 

[Patricia]

I second everything here, and esp the fact that it is SO good that you want to know more... Sometimes just someone's unspoken understanding is enough to help me through anything...

I guess I would add that if he's newly diagnosed and comes back to work soon, he will have a lot to learn about his condition and his own reactions/preferences around it...So don't expect him to know it all yet. It will take him months to come to grips with the physical, psychological, and social aspects of it -- and to find out what he thinks and wants. So be patient, and be there in whatever way he expresses he wants you there -- as you are clearly so capable of being.

All the best!

 

[SimonAS]

Hi All

Thanks very much for the feedback and comments. There is a fair bit to take in for my colleague so I'll give him some time and space to decide what he'll need support with.

Appreciate the comments about finding the right boundaries / not being too intrusive he's been quite open so far but I'll still see how it goes.

One thing he did say is he may need someone to keep an eye on him in case he is showing any symptoms of hypo / hyper.

I think it is really key for employers to support staff, especially as it is such a "win win" situation.

I really appreciate the feedback and will point my colleague in this direction.

Cheers!

Simon

 

[am64]

Hi All

Thanks very much for the feedback and comments. There is a fair bit to take in for my colleague so I'll give him some time and space to decide what he'll need support with.

Appreciate the comments about finding the right boundaries / not being too intrusive he's been quite open so far but I'll still see how it goes.

One thing he did say is he may need someone to keep an eye on him in case he is showing any symptoms of hypo / hyper.

I think it is really key for employers to support staff, especially as it is such a "win win" situation.

I really appreciate the feedback and will point my colleague in this direction.

Cheers!

Simon

Wow what a good colleage... look forward to yor friend joining up it has really helped me.

 

[Pigeon]

Not much to add really, except that it's helpful if you make it easy for him to attend clinic appointments and any education courses that the clinic may run. I work for the NHS, so they were really good about me taking time off to go on a support group for newly diagnosed people, and then a carb-counting course. I definitely would struggle to have come to terms with it and keep it under control without these.