Just how vulnerable?

[TeeGee]

Sorry, this is a Covid question.

I am a 55 yr old type 1 (late onset), on a Omnipod pump. I've been working from home since a week before lockdown and only walked the dog.
I run my own business and have 3 staff, 2 of which are furloughed. I'm now getting requests from customers to visit their sites again, subject to all the stated precautions etc (we support several factories). I'm not keen on going back in but neither am I keen to ask my staff to do something I won't.

The government website says diabetics are 'clinically vulnerable'. Is there any more information around this? I'm finding it hard to gauge my risks. I do have a tendency to hypochondria.

What are other Type 1's doing?

 

[Pumper_Sue]

You are fine as long as you follow the social distance rules and use common sense by using hand cleaners etc.

 

[trophywench]

Do you want the customers to go elsewhere for whatever it is you do for them or do you want to keep them as customers? It ain't all about you when you have employees is it. If the customer is NOT running a tight ship themselves, then you'd be better off without their custom.

Having been continuously employed in the commercial insurance industry all my working life - legal liability insurance my speciality - I honestly and truthfully consider that you'll have to inspect the situation first in order to make a proper Risk Assessment.

 

[SB2015]

Sorry, this is a Covid question.

I am a 55 yr old type 1 (late onset), on a Omnipod pump. I've been working from home since a week before lockdown and only walked the dog.
I run my own business and have 3 staff, 2 of which are furloughed. I'm now getting requests from customers to visit their sites again, subject to all the stated precautions etc (we support several factories). I'm not keen on going back in but neither am I keen to ask my staff to do something I won't.

The government website says diabetics are 'clinically vulnerable'. Is there any more information around this? I'm finding it hard to gauge my risks. I do have a tendency to hypochondria.

What are other Type 1's doing?

Welcome to the forum TeeGee

The most recently updated advice on Diabetes and Corona Virus is here

Coronavirus and diabetes updates

All the coronavirus information below applies to the whole of the UK, unless specified. We've noted where are some differences in guidance and diabetes services across the UK.

www.diabetes.org.uk

As someone with T1 we are not on the list of people that need to shield, and remain out of circulation completely. We are advised to be extra vigilant. We are no more likely to catch it than anyone else, having weaver if we catch it things then become more difficult and we need to be vigilant with our sick days rules.

There are some members that have chosen to take themselves out of circulation, especially older members who do not need to go to work. Many others are just being very careful. Others are key workers and have carried on working throughout.

 

[Becka]

I'm not keen on going back in but neither am I keen to ask my staff to do something I won't.

Firstly I would say to talk to your employees. For various reasons, maybe for their mental health rather than financial ones, they may want to work regardless of whether you should or would want to yourself.

It sounds like you would not force people to take risks they do not want to take, which is obviously a very good thing. But you should also not force your own fears onto them. If you want to protect them then, if it would not damage your business, you could instead give them the right to walk away from any sites which are not following distancing requirements where they feel unsafe.

But if you talk to them then you can decide what is best for the company and your employees rather than, with all due respect, some kind of "if I can't do it no-one can" nonsense.

 

[TeeGee]

you could instead give them the right to walk away from any sites which are not following distancing requirements where they feel unsafe.

I think this is where we're levelling out on this. I'll try and draw up a template for what we want in place and agree this with the customers, before my guys hit site. If what we're promised isn't there - then they must walk away.

Funny - this has turned in to a business/work discussion rather than a Diabetes one.

 

[trophywench]

I find nothing whatsoever strange in having a discussion about a totally blank area in all of our lives, with other people we think are probably sensible adults we happen to know, who have no bias!

You are merely running the scenario past us whilst wondering whether to trust your own judgment - and that's an affirmative TG !