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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Could you do this in your workplace?

106 replies

AbsentmindedWoman · 31/07/2020 17:42

  • 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!

OP posts:
Oblomov20 · 31/07/2020 18:31

Type 1 diabetic do check blood sugars. and check my phone all the time at work aswell. And Facebook. And book summer holidays. And restaurants fit weekends away with the girls.

My boss has never complained because my work is spot on and I work like a dog!

Why are you asking OP?
Has anyone said anything?

Original poster
AbsentmindedWoman · 31/07/2020 18:32

@OnTheFencePaint yes I am wondering about mentioning it in interviews - past experience makes me loath to do this.

I'd prefer to secure a job, then explain to manager or colleagues.

I freelanced for a few years, and used to just explain to my clients about what I was doing, and it wasn't a big deal at all. But it was less intense then, as I was reliant on finger poke tests so doing them far less.

OP posts:
KingOfDogShite · 31/07/2020 18:32

I have have colleague who do this, it has never raised so much as a hair in an eyebrow.

EmbarrassedUser · 31/07/2020 18:33

Is this RP that you’ve got? If so, as you’re aware, any employer should take reasonable steps to make the workplace accessible to you. You don’t have to mention anything at interview (unless a test is involved that might need adjustments). Once you get the job, straight onto OH who will sort things out and make sure you’re give extra time and may be able to sort things like paid time for eye hospital appointments. Ask to be referred to access to work as well, they may be able to get you things like talking technology and a Large screen.

Upcycling · 31/07/2020 18:33

Not an issue

Oblomov20 · 31/07/2020 18:34

"I'm a diabetic and I need to check my pump."

What more needs to be said?

Ylvamoon · 31/07/2020 18:34

Wouldn't be a problem here either! As pp said, it would come under reasonable adjustment.
Any workplace that won't allow it isn't worth having, I'd wonder what else they do to make life miserable!

PurBal · 31/07/2020 18:36

I am often on the phone or in meetings that last more than 30 minutes. However, if I needed to do it my employer would be accommodating.

Jellyhater · 31/07/2020 18:37

I think that if you are talking about a cgm and a pump, then 100% people should understand and employers should make reasonable adjustments.

Talk to your line manager and explain and if you struggle, speak to you DN and ask them to support you to explain.

Good luck and fingers crossed for tight control and numbers in range!

Oblomov20 · 31/07/2020 18:37

I don't mention it at interview. I mention it once I get the job.

Waveysnail · 31/07/2020 18:38

I nip to the loo every 30mins due to bladder issue so cant see this being much different!

Heatherjayne1972 · 31/07/2020 18:39

Um it depends on which part of my workplace
Reception- yes as long as the manager was aware
Clinical staff areas would be more tricky but doable as manager could get cover
My own personal job ?- nope I’m expected to concentrate 100% on that - unless I scheduled time in my diary before hand but wouldn’t go down well.

Pippapotomus · 31/07/2020 18:41

My son has Dexcom and Omnipod, the only trouble we have is that he uses an iPhone as the receiver, so we got a case that says ‘this is a medical device’ for the twats that think he’s playing games.

gutentag1 · 31/07/2020 18:44

This would absolutely not be a problem at my workplace.

Also, if I were in an external meeting and someone said at the start "just so that you're aware, I have this device that measures my insulin and I need to check it regularly, but I'm still listening so please just carry on" then I would have no issue with that at all.

LakieLady · 31/07/2020 18:47

It would be absolutely fine at my workplace and if you needed any adjustments made to facilitate that, they'd be put in place.

Original poster
AbsentmindedWoman · 31/07/2020 18:50

Get them to recognise your phone as a medical device and list constant access to it as a reasonable accommodation.

@Caroian thank you, that's really useful, it crystallises it in my own head. That's actually what I said to my yoga studio, because they have a policy of no phones on the mat - I keep it with me but just switch off all alerts but can look at it.

Isn't looping amazing?! I started on Control IQ a few months ago, I moved from London to New York so it's been here for a little while longer. It's a complete game changer. If I could change one thing it would be making the set range a bit tighter - you can't change the target blood sugar of 6.1 with CIQ.

At the minute I run it in sleep mode because it will keep trying with the basal to bring me back there, whereas if you run it in daytime it allows you to drift up near 10 before correcting.

I'm planning to do some basal testing with CIQ switched off to see if I can get a tighter range with daytime. I have a feeling though my problem will be that my carb ratios fluctuate so much with no consistency it will be tricky.

Sleep mode is amazing by itself though, honestly - it keeps me steady all night as long as I've fixed whatever dinner has done to me beforehand Grin No more broken sleep!

OP posts:
slashlover · 31/07/2020 18:51

Not in my retail job as there are often only two or three staff in store.

VerbenaGirl · 31/07/2020 18:53

Not a problem at all in my workplace.

KatherineJaneway · 31/07/2020 18:53

Would not be an issue in my workplace however I would expect that person to say something at external meetings so clients knew that this was not inattentiveness.

Original poster
AbsentmindedWoman · 31/07/2020 18:54

@Pippapotomus

My son has Dexcom and Omnipod, the only trouble we have is that he uses an iPhone as the receiver, so we got a case that says ‘this is a medical device’ for the twats that think he’s playing games.
I see that Omnipod will be looping with Dexcom from next year? Very exciting to have a tubeless pump that closes the loop!
OP posts:
hammeringinmyhead · 31/07/2020 18:59

I think as long as you are prepared to be open about it, rather than trying to do it surreptitiously in a client meeting, you'd be fine.

Caroian · 31/07/2020 19:03

@AbsentmindedWoman

Get them to recognise your phone as a medical device and list constant access to it as a reasonable accommodation.

@Caroian thank you, that's really useful, it crystallises it in my own head. That's actually what I said to my yoga studio, because they have a policy of no phones on the mat - I keep it with me but just switch off all alerts but can look at it.

Isn't looping amazing?! I started on Control IQ a few months ago, I moved from London to New York so it's been here for a little while longer. It's a complete game changer. If I could change one thing it would be making the set range a bit tighter - you can't change the target blood sugar of 6.1 with CIQ.

At the minute I run it in sleep mode because it will keep trying with the basal to bring me back there, whereas if you run it in daytime it allows you to drift up near 10 before correcting.

I'm planning to do some basal testing with CIQ switched off to see if I can get a tighter range with daytime. I have a feeling though my problem will be that my carb ratios fluctuate so much with no consistency it will be tricky.

Sleep mode is amazing by itself though, honestly - it keeps me steady all night as long as I've fixed whatever dinner has done to me beforehand Grin No more broken sleep!

@AbsentmindedWoman ah, that makes sense that you’ve had it a while. I was just too impatient to close the loop to wait for the X2 and then CIQ, which is why I pursued Loop in the end. It’s been a game changer for me, in terms of how much less I have to think about diabetes in order to achieve super tight control. I’m not super familiar with CIQ but have heard about people using sleep mode. I hadn’t realised that daytime corrections only kick in at 10. I’m planning to stick with Loop for now as I like that it’s more customisable in terms of target range and how it corrects, but keeping my eye on developments with CIQ!
Pippapotomus · 31/07/2020 19:03

@AbsentmindedWoman yes exciting times!

CheetasOnFajitas · 31/07/2020 19:03

I moved from London to New York so it's been here for a little while longer.

Hold on, you work in New York? All the answers you have been given here are from a U.K. employment law and cultural perspective. You’d be better off asking on a US forum.

dotdashdashdash · 31/07/2020 19:09

I'm an ICU doctor so no, I couldn't do that, but all of my office/ clerical based colleagues could (and some do).

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