Work

[hemase]

Hi guys, first time poster. My question revolvs around work. I am a type 2 sufferer who is doing a very good job with my diet. I have dropped two stone in four months.
My concern is that work have just anounced a change in shift pattern for us managers. From the 1st of April we will be doing twelve hour shift, four on four off, alternating. This will mean four days, off then four nights.
I feel my good work is down to my routine and am worried that this change may affect me. Has anyone else suffered like this or struggled due to some weird work patterns?

 

[Caroline]

I an only be guided by what my shift security friends tell me. Their patterns are similar to the one you describe.

When working nights breakfast is still the first meal of the day, they have it when they get up from a days sleep, they then have the equivilent of morning coffee, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner.

Since none of them are diabetic, I'm not sure how this pattern of working will affect the diabetes, but it offeres some structure and a routine with which to organise pills or insulin if needed.

Good luck with the new working hours and let us know how you get on.

 

[sofaraway]

I am an insulin user who does shift work. I do a mixture of earlies, lates and nights in no particular pattern.
for nights I eat my main evening meal before I start my (12 hour) shift at about 6pm then have a few snacks at work, such as fruit, biscuits, yogurt, which I tend to eat throughout my shift, rather than eating them as a 'meal' on my break- which can be anywhere between midnight and 5am. Only one person can be on break at a time so I can never tell when I'll get mine. not sure when you will get your break if it's a set time then it might be easier.
I then decide if I'm going to eat breakfast depending on my blood sugar, i tend not to be hungry at this time so if blood sugar is 6+ then I won't eat. I then sleep (or attempt to) from around 9am until I get up at 5pm.

I find that my basal insulin is pretty well set so don't have significant hypos anymore doing these shifts. I would prefer not to work shifts but don't have a choice at present.

Do you have an occupational health dpeartment? maybe you could discuss your concerns with them? maybe you could come to some agreeement that you will try the new shift pattern and see how you cope. If it doesn't work out and you expereince problems then you could make some adjustments to your personal shift pattern.
At my work we are meant to work 7 nights a month, after discussion with occupational health it was agreeed that I would work maximum of 3. It is under the DDA a reasonable adjustment.

hope that you can work it out

 

[hemase]

That is quite helpful thanks. I am unhappy with the new shift pattern, there are a couple of options I have to get out of it so hopefully will not need to go down the diabetes route but I am looking at all my options.
I have alrwady spoken to my boss regarding my health concerns, he has asked me to try it and if it becomes a issue then we will evaluate.