Work discrimination

[John P Waddington]

Right now I feel like I'm having a hypo but my blood is 8. Just searched the forum and found that lowering blood glucose too quickly can give false hypos that aren't dangerous but just as unpleasant, I feel sluggish and like I'm in free fall. eyes twitching. better not eat too many biscuits I suppose. Although they do look good.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Right now I feel like I'm having a hypo but my blood is 8. Just searched the forum and found that lowering blood glucose too quickly can give false hypos that aren't dangerous but just as unpleasant, I feel sluggish and like I'm in free fall. eyes twitching. better not eat too many biscuits I suppose. Although they do look good.

Hehe! Yes. Sometimes if average BG has been elevated for some time the body's glucose 'thermostat' sort of resets at a higher level, and warning symptoms of impending low blood glucose can be triggered at perfectly fine BG levels.

The reverse can also happen where levels have run too low or too the person has experienced frequent hypos resulting in impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia. Eventually the body stops alarming until BG is lower what the level at which the brain can function.

 

[John P Waddington]

Wow! so if the body can function at higher or lower levels, is it safe to have blood glucose at a range between 15 - 8 (for example) or is it dangerous? I'm not really aware of the information as I was diagnosed in May in Leicester (because I am registered with a G.P in Wales I couldn't get free prescriptions in England) I moved to Cardiff and 'fell through the cracks' of NHS support. I have an appointment for a freestyle libre pump in February so hopefully things will improve. I suffer with depression and have neglected my medication previously. Might be why I suffered a bit at work.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Wow! so if the body can function at higher or lower levels, is it safe to have blood glucose at a range between 15 - 8 (for example) or is it dangerous?

Sadly not! The body usually runs between 3.8 and 8ish, but tome spend at the upper levels is short lived.

When you are playing at being your own pancreas the current thinking is to aim for as much time as possible between 4 and 10, ideally 70% or more of the time, with no more than 4% below 4.0 and as little as you can manage above 10.

Excess glucose in the bloodstream puts strain on both the large and small blood vessels, and also the nervous system. So prolonged exposure to elevated BG increases the risk of developing long term diabetes complications including eye problems, nerve problems, kidney problems and heart/circulation problems

 

[Pumper_Sue]

I have an appointment for a freestyle libre pump in February so hopefully things will improve.

Hello John,
just to clarify things for you the freestyle Libre is a glucose monitoring system not a pump.

 

[John P Waddington]

what's a pump then? Does that not come with the monitor?

 

[Pumper_Sue]

what's a pump then? Does that not come with the monitor?

A pump delivers insulin at the rate you set it to deliver. You need to be able to carb count know how to adjust your insulin etc., before you can have one oh and be very fit for the hoop jumping involved in getting one.

The libre is a patch that sticks on your arm with a very small needle/sensor under the skin. This monitors your blood sugar 24/7 for 14 days you can see the reading by swiping the reader/meter over the sensor any time you want.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

what's a pump then? Does that not come with the monitor?

An insulin pump is a different way of delivering insulin rather than injections. Your insulin is delivered thorugh a cannula placed under the skin and controlled by a smallish electronic device worn or attached on the body. https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-t...diabetes/treating-your-diabetes/insulin-pumps

A Libre is a form of contiunuous glucose monitor, which measures glucose in interstitiual fluid and can give a reading at any time simpley by waving the reader over the sensor. The sensor also stores 8 hours of data, so a scan first thing in the morning will show a glucose profile of the complete period overnight. https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-t...our-diabetes/testing/flash-glucose-monitoring

 

[MrDaibetes]

I work in a college for young adults with autism. Learning Support Assistant.

They should not discriminate against your hypos. I would seek furth advice from DUK & the union.

 

[Bexlee]

Hi all and @John P Waddington. I work in a school. We have a system in place for the odd time I have a hypo or a hyper when in charge of classes of children (ie all day!!). I’ve used it 3 times in 18 months.

I see no reason personally whether it be special needs students or students in general that you need to pulled out of what you do.

It seems as if those making decisions have a lack of understanding / ill educated on diabetes.

They do need to make reasonable adjustments (just like they do for children) - that could be, as in my case, something simple like a walkie talkie that I use to notify the set person I need 5 minutes out - admittedly we did play like lit kids when we first got wallow talkies! It works well

best of luck

 

[Bruce Stephens]

A Libre is a form of contiunuous glucose monitor, which measures glucose in interstitiual fluid and can give a reading at any time simpley by waving the reader over the sensor. The sensor also stores 8 hours of data, so a scan first thing in the morning will show a glucose profile of the complete period overnight.

Which would potentially provide a way to provide direct evidence of lack of significant hypos, if that's what the employer is looking for.