Hiya
Sorry you're having to deal with all this at work, it's hard enough without people making it more difficult. I haven't had bad experiences at work, but did have a bit of a know it all who challenged me in a workshop in my first week, about my testing and eating in a workshop. I'm a stroppy mare though and I told him why I was doing it, then caught up with afterwards and treated him to a conversation about how I avoid hypos with judicious use of biscuits, which did the trick. I only tell you that because sometimes these things can be resolved by finding the person who's making things difficult and setting them gently onto the right path. For example people usually think diabetic means no sugar, which of course for us insulin users is not the case (I've eaten more refined sugar since being diagnosed than I did in the 10 years previously but my job now is to keep my sugar stable and if that means I eat it, then I eat it), I've had to explain that to my colleagues at work because they didn't understand. It sounds to me like you have someone in authority who doesn't realise that a swig of lucozade might be a preventative, and thinks you're using it as an excuse to flout their regulations. As for not testing in clinical areas what earthly reason could there be for that, is it so patients don't see? Is it considered dangerous in some way? I would request formally that you have a risk assessment interview including action plan (your Union should suggest this), this should include all actions to be taken to ensure the workplace is safe for you, up to and including where you should test, but under no circumstances should it include how often you should test. If they want you to test elsewhere then they have to provide a room and you should agree what happens when you feel you need to test and there is something urgent that requires your attention in the workplace. They shouldn't be making this so difficult but if you have a plan in place it provides you with protection should you need to apply any pressure later. With luck it might solve the problem and resolve a misunderstanding, but if not you've done everything you can to make practical steps to address your health and safety 😱
Where are you allowed to test?
