Could you do this in your workplace?

[AbsentmindedWoman]

• Check a medical device (essentially like pulling out a phone and glancing at screen) every half an hour without fail
• Tap instructions into the device (similar to sending a text) if it needs adjusting
• About twice a day, ramp this up to checking device and adjusting every 10 mins, when things are start to go wrong/ to get back on even keel

Needs to be done whatever else is happening, no matter how important the meetings/ phone calls/ deadlines etc. I am concerned it will look like I'm not 100% concentrating on the work task I am meant to be doing, because, well...I suppose I'm not? Will need to multitask because I have to do it. But it will look like I'm constantly fiddling with personal tech, which is bad.

This level of involvement in managing medication is non-negotiable. I have a sight threatening eye condition because of type 1 diabetes, and maintaining as close to undiabetic blood sugar numbers as possible is the only way to try to preserve my vision.

I'm applying for jobs and worried this will be seen as not being committed and focused on the job. Could you do this in your job or would it be frowned upon? AIBU to think I can?

Thanks for any opinions!

My employer would go out of the way to welcome you to do whatever is needed in order to keep yourself well.

One of my staff has this device, or at least something very similar. It's not problem at all. He has a Fitbit your band that vibrates on his wrist as a reminder and he just does what he needs to do and carries on with the job. Most people don't even notice. Desk based job, but he comes (pre-covid) to meetings with me and does presentations etc.

It would count as a reasonable adjustment for disability, and my workplace would be falling over themselves to prove their diversity and inclusion credentials by being cool about it.

Not a problem, I’m a type one diabetic as well, I have even have had to do it while leading a conference talk, in meetings etc during particularly brittle patches.

Wouldn’t be a problem at mine. I’m assuming it’s an insulin pump? We have a T1 diabetic on our team, but doesn’t use a pump. Anything that needs to be done is just done with out any fuss.

Yes. Reasonable adjustments.

I’m at the bar and yes you would be able to do this in court. You’d need to speak to the clerk/usher who would tell the judge. Partic if there was a jury judge might ask you how you wanted her/him to explain if at all. It would be unlawful if required for your health not to allow this.
Unless of course the job simply could not allow your eyes/attention being diverted at all from something visual for that amount time in which case it would be a job where that adjustment would not be reasonable.

That would be fine where I work.

Wouldn't be a problem at my work. I have lots of meetings and would probably give people a heads up at the start just so they didn't think I was checking facebook or something, but it wouldn't be an issue.

Fine in mine. You can text/have phone out etc and no restrictions except obviously not using it if you're on a call so they wouldn't even blink at that

@AbsentmindedWoman

Thank you, folks. This is quite encouraging!

My field is PR, so office based but certain roles do require quite a lot of client meetings, site visits, etc. Hmm. Managing client relationships is one of my strengths (and I enjoy it lots) so reluctant to step away from it.

My role it might not be 100% possible as it is not desk based, but as your job is office based it shouldn't be a problem. I would disclose at the start of a meeting that you need to do this and that it isn't a sign that you aren't focused on them. But then I've had meetings with my boss while he was wearing a blood pressure cuff.

I think hiding it is what will raise eyebrows.

@LockdownLoser

Wouldn't be a problem in my office, can you get a dexcom with an alarm to alert you if you go out of range if you are worried though?

I already am using Dexcom G6. With Control IQ tech that starts to subtly automatically increase my basal rate if my sugar goes above 6.1. Which is bloody brilliant.

Something as boring and routine as my daily commute, a bad night's sleep, or my pain levels being elevated (I have a chronic pain condition) cause me massive cortisol spikes however, so I have my alarms set to alert once I go above 7.2 and take aggressive action straightaway otherwise it spikes into the teens and is very hard to bring down.

Similarly, I set my low alarm at 5 because when I hypo I drop FAST so catching it at 5 allows me to prevent lows far better.

Totally but I think it would be more difficult for client meetings to be honest.

Just to say would also to be totally fine at my workplace

Thank you all so much! Honestly this thread has cheered me up so much!

@SimonJT

Not a problem, I’m a type one diabetic as well, I have even have had to do it while leading a conference talk, in meetings etc during particularly brittle patches.

High five to my fellow T1D!

I change my pump at my desk, check my blood sugar etc. My last workplace gave me a week paid leave to attend a diabetes education course (similar to DAFNE). Every place I’ve worked has honestly been excellent about it and understood that it’s to their benefit for me to be healthy.

Yes, no problem in my workplace. If you were presenting formally you’d be best to mention at the start of the meeting that you need to check your phone/device at X time so they don’t think it’s rude.

If you did it on the 29 and 59 minutes past the hour it would be unlikely to disrupt you in any half hour meetings, which most are.

Vast majority of meetings are phone calls rather than in person anyway (even before wfh) in which case no one would need to know.

We have work-related interruptions more frequently than every half hour anyway so not having uninterrupted focus /having to multi-task would not be a relevant factor.

I would suggest maybe getting a vibrating alarm on a watch rather than using an audible one. As long as it was reliable obviously.

I wouldn’t personally mention it in interviews as it would be such a minor thing.

If you’re in an office setting you could mention it to line manager and those sitting next to you, just so they don’t think you’re texting or browsing newsfeeds more than most.

I’m a teacher, we have a couple of pupils who need to do this, all teachers have been told not to challenge them on this so they can check their phone mid lesson, I would definitely tell management and I’m sure they’d be fine.

It would be fine in my workplace - I’d explain to relevant colleagues or at the start of a meeting if needed.

Even in a client meeting, usually your clients are human beings too so I'd expect them to understand surely? In our company this would be fine. Nobody would bat an eyelid never mind suggesting it wouldn't be OK in client meetings.

@Batqueen

I change my pump at my desk, check my blood sugar etc. My last workplace gave me a week paid leave to attend a diabetes education course (similar to DAFNE). Every place I’ve worked has honestly been excellent about it and understood that it’s to their benefit for me to be healthy.

Great to hear they are so supportive!

It would be no bother at my work and management would be very understanding. I think that also works for clients but I'd be upfront when meeting with them so they know what it is you are doing. Doesn't have to be specific, just something like "I have a health condition that needs me to closely monitor a tracker so if you see me checking something regularly, please don't panic or think i'm rude"

I manage it. I’ve been running a DIY closed Loop for the last couple of years and prior to that using CGM since 2006, so practically my entire career. It’s never once caused me issues. Since Dex moved to the phone rather than receiver, and then I moved to the closed loop (I use Loop, so all iOS based) it does mean it looks more like I’m a looking at a phone than a medical device, but everyone I work with is aware and it honestly isn’t a problem. Get them to recognise your phone as a medical device and list constant access to it as a reasonable accommodation.

I’m assuming you’ve literally just started with Control IQ (yesterday was the UK release?). In which case you may find that you need to make far fewer interventions with the algorithm doing more for you. I’ve certainly found that to be the case since moving to closed loop.

Your health and eye sight are the most important things. If the people you work with can not understand and accommodate that then not only is that potentially discriminatory, but they don’t deserve to have you working with them. Good luck.

In my office (including meetings) people look at their actual, non-medical devices AKA mobiles as much as you're describing, if not more. People blatantly text throughout meetings - the more money they make, the more they're on their phone (with a couple of notable exceptions among VERY senior people who make a point to pay attention and focus in meetings to keep them as short as possible).

In any case, as a fellow type 1, I would know exactly what you were up to and if anyone had anything to say about it I'd be happy to deal with them on your behalf!