New(ish) oldie

[Ivostas66]

Hi everyone.

A fairly fit and healthy '40 something', I was diagnosed in January after the usual symptoms (lost 1 1/2 stone, constant thirst, improved vision etc). Admitted to hospital with ketoacidosis. An overworked junior doctor gave me an incorrect dose of insulin (30 instead of 6) when she misheard the consultant on the phone, which led to a spell in hospital with constant monitoring of my levels. Anyway, things have really stabilised since, (dose of 6 Toujeo each morning and three Novorapid (carb counted) have seen a very 'green' chart, but every now and then I have had quite bad hypos almost out of the blue. They tend to have followed periods of 'stress' (I recently had an interview, spoke at a two day conference and then took 45 kids to Belgium for a 3 day History visit - all in one week, which resulted in exhaustion and very low levels and two weeks away from work).

Wondered what everyone's experiences are at work? My consultant and nurses have been phenomenal and when my levels have been causing me issues, they have virtually ordered me to stay at home until my health has improved. I have had three short periods of absence since my diagnoses in January (including my hospitalisation). I was sent to see Occupational Health by my boss and they wrote a 6 point plan for school to implement - none of which has been done. OH were shocked that I had been referred when I told them I had just been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Turns out work wanted OH to simply get me back permanently and weren't interested in a phased return etc. Anyone else had this?

 

[CathyB]

Welcome Matt, I’m type 2 so my experience is completely different but I wanted to say hi. Have to admit, when I got to the bit about taking 45 kids to Belgium for 3 days, my own blood pressure started to rise 😱
Sounds like you have been through quite an ordeal and work are not being particularly helpful or supportive! Diabetes is a recognised condition under the equality act so your work are on thin ice, especially if they have a plan from OH!
I’m sure others here will have much more experience to share with you 🙂

 

[Northerner]

Hi Matt J, welcome to the forum 🙂 Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, it can be quite a shock out of the blue 😱 Good to hear that you're largely getting to grips with things now 🙂 Stress is one of those things which can send people's levels either up or down - it sounds like it's 'down' in your case ('up' for me! 🙄). One possible solution is to reduce your insulin when you know you have something stressful coming up, although I realise you can't always plan for these things! 😱

I would certainly have expected your work t have made some arrangements as per the OH plan. Type 1 diabetes is a very serious and complex condition and it can take some time for things to settle down into a recognisable pattern after diagnosis. I was in the fortunate position of not working when I was diagnosed, so didn't have employers to deal with. Whilst I was OK most of the time it did take me a while to get my insulin doses settled, which is quite common as people often experience what is termed a 'honeymoon' period where the pancreas occasionally splutters out a bit of it's own insulin which mucks up your careful carb counting doses and can lead to unexpected hypos Hopefully, you have good hypo awareness and are well-prepared to treat any hypos that might occur - for a fast-falling hypo with strong symptoms I find a sugary drink works faster than my usual jelly babies.

I'd recommend contacting the Diabetes UK Helpline service to see where you stand with regard to your employers and your rights, contact details here:

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/how_we_help/helpline

Also, I'd highly recommend getting hold of a copy of the excellent Type 1 Diabetes in Children Adolescents and Young People by Ragnar Hanas which covers all aspects of living with Type 1. Don't be misled by the title - this book is relevant to people of all ages!

Let us know if you have any questions or concerns and we will do our best to help 🙂

 

[Ivostas66]

Thanks for the advice! It seems to be periods of tense activity (working to tight deadline etc) raise my levels, but once the activity is passed, they drop rapidly. I also have a delightful 14 month old who keeps me on my toes!

 

[Northerner]

Thanks for the advice! It seems to be periods of tense activity (working to tight deadline etc) raise my levels, but once the activity is passed, they drop rapidly. I also have a delightful 14 month old who keeps me on my toes!

With some people the stress hormones prompt the liver to release extra glucose into the blood for the 'fight or flight' you are about to undergo. Once the 'threat' has lifted and you are feeling calmer the liver can try to reclaim that glucose, causing levels to fall again, so it can be a bit of a roller-coaster at times. I'm sure you'll get the hang of things as you build up experience of how you are affected personally, and be able to work out strategies to handle different situations - much of the learning we do is 'on the job'! 🙂

 

[SB2015]

Hi everyone.

A fairly fit and healthy '40 something', I was diagnosed in January after the usual symptoms (lost 1 1/2 stone, constant thirst, improved vision etc). Admitted to hospital with ketoacidosis. An overworked junior doctor gave me an incorrect dose of insulin (30 instead of 6) when she misheard the consultant on the phone, which led to a spell in hospital with constant monitoring of my levels. Anyway, things have really stabilised since, (dose of 6 Toujeo each morning and three Novorapid (carb counted) have seen a very 'green' chart, but every now and then I have had quite bad hypos almost out of the blue. They tend to have followed periods of 'stress' (I recently had an interview, spoke at a two day conference and then took 45 kids to Belgium for a 3 day History visit - all in one week, which resulted in exhaustion and very low levels and two weeks away from work).

Wondered what everyone's experiences are at work? My consultant and nurses have been phenomenal and when my levels have been causing me issues, they have virtually ordered me to stay at home until my health has improved. I have had three short periods of absence since my diagnoses in January (including my hospitalisation). I was sent to see Occupational Health by my boss and they wrote a 6 point plan for school to implement - none of which has been done. OH were shocked that I had been referred when I told them I had just been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Turns out work wanted OH to simply get me back permanently and weren't interested in a phased return etc. Anyone else had this?

Welcome Matt

Sorry to hear that work have been less than cooperative. With all that you are doing with the conference and trips they should be doing everything they can to hang on to you. You are becoming a rare breed!!

I was teaching when I was diagnosed with T1. They organised a phased return for me, initially picking up just Y9 and Y11. I found it difficult to manage things at the start as I also had unexplained hypos, which I think were due to the laughably named ‘Honeymoon Period’, and my pancreas just decided to play at times, chucking out some insulin from the few remaining beta cells. The students were great and always helpful when things went wobbly.

Having sent you to OH, the school now need to comply with the plan in order to help you be at work and remain seated and healthy. Definitely in their interest. I did simple things like having jelly babies (my chosen hypo treatment) in a variety of places around the school, kept a spare set of pens in the fridge in the medical room at school for the rare occasions on which I forgot to bring mine, or had forgotten to do my background insulin in the morning. I also had a hypo plan set up with my head of department, and my students.

I hope that things settle and that your school get themselves sorted.

 

[SB2015]

Ps. The book that @Northerner has recommended by Ragnar Hanas is excellent. Very well explained and seems to deal with all eventualities.

 

[Ivostas66]

Welcome Matt

Sorry to hear that work have been less than cooperative. With all that you are doing with the conference and trips they should be doing everything they can to hang on to you. You are becoming a rare breed!!

I was teaching when I was diagnosed with T1. They organised a phased return for me, initially picking up just Y9 and Y11. I found it difficult to manage things at the start as I also had unexplained hypos, which I think were due to the laughably named ‘Honeymoon Period’, and my pancreas just decided to play at times, chucking out some insulin from the few remaining beta cells. The students were great and always helpful when things went wobbly.

Having sent you to OH, the school now need to comply with the plan in order to help you be at work and remain seated and healthy. Definitely in their interest. I did simple things like having jelly babies (my chosen hypo treatment) in a variety of places around the school, kept a spare set of pens in the fridge in the medical room at school for the rare occasions on which I forgot to bring mine, or had forgotten to do my background insulin in the morning. I also had a hypo plan set up with my head of department, and my students.

I hope that things settle and that your school get themselves sorted.

Thanks for that. My consultant as well as the nurses at my clinic keep telling me I am doing a sterling job. The problem I faced was being told not to open emails or respond to any work requests when I was unwell (consultants advice as I was having the effects of hypo even though my levels were over 5). Cover was an issue and as a member of the school leadership team a couple of HODs whom I line manage needed support. I simply had to tell school that I had been told to forget about work as it could cause stress/ adrenaline levels to rise which could be a cause of the hypos. The heat was an issue, but I seem to have gotten used to that. Jelly babies have been my go to 'medication' if levels are low (usually just prior to morning break).

 

[trophywench]

Your employer learned their HR and Diplomacy skills at the same Uni as my former employers it seems. Off work for 4 months with stress, they arranged a phased return, so I started back at 10am on a Tuesday and leave half a hour earlier than normal. At some time that day, I enquired what they wanted me to do from the Wednesday forwards? The answer was back to 9 to 5.30. However since the only work of mine anyone had done was after the client had complained - I came back to 4 months backlog and soon had colleagues badgering me as to why I hadn't done this before I went of sick and it wasn't fair to expect them to sort it!

You've been given several sensible suggestions what to do, with which I wholeheartedly agree. I'd like to ask what policies the school has in place for very newly diagnosed T1 pupils and if they expect their kids brains and bodies to adapt instantly like they expect yours to and comply with everything the school wants them to do with no allowances?

I rather think they need to learn the real meaning of the word 'Disability' ! Get ringing that DUK Helpline PDQ.

 

[HOBIE]

Welcome Matt J ! I have been T1 for a long time & Never been unemployed in my life. Really good luck with work & keep at it 🙂

 

[KARNAK]

Hi Matt🙂 Nice to hear from you. I think Jenny and northerner hit it on the nail. Welcome to the forum, I know it`s late but who cares.

 

[SB2015]

Thanks for that. My consultant as well as the nurses at my clinic keep telling me I am doing a sterling job. The problem I faced was being told not to open emails or respond to any work requests when I was unwell (consultants advice as I was having the effects of hypo even though my levels were over 5). Cover was an issue and as a member of the school leadership team a couple of HODs whom I line manage needed support. I simply had to tell school that I had been told to forget about work as it could cause stress/ adrenaline levels to rise which could be a cause of the hypos. The heat was an issue, but I seem to have gotten used to that. Jelly babies have been my go to 'medication' if levels are low (usually just prior to morning break).

Hi Matt

Other staff may we’ll need support, and a lack of cover availability is no surprise, but they need to look after you at the moment. Is there any flexibility by using gained time from others for this final week to get through to the end of term?

The ‘honeymoon’ could well extend into next term and it would be good to get together a plan for the start of the year, following the OH requirements to enable you to return safely to work.

With all that the end of term is in sight. I know that that means weeks of preparation and work rather than a ‘long holiday’, but do give yourself time to focus on your needs. The term will still start even if you have not done all that you would normally do. Have a holiday.