Is diabetes a disability?

[devon2018]

Hi All,
Just curious to know if Type 2 diabetes will be considered as a disability? If yes then should one claim it? If yes then why? And if not then why? I am truly confused but my GP has insisted I tell my workplace.

They are concerned I am sitting too long at my desk and that I should be allowed to move every 40 min or so. My eye sight is also getting weaker and I wonder if is because of my screen time. My blood sugar is slightly elevated but nothing to be concerned about at this stage.

Any one in HR who can advice,
XX

Hi not in HR but manage people. I don't believe Type 2 diabetes would be classed as a disability as such but, it depends on how well you are with it and how well controlled it is. I have employees with Type 2 and I am aware of this, so, if they need a break as blood glucose is low or have a medical appointment I can factor this in the shift for them. I guess like any long term illness it is up to you if you want your employer to know and have mitigations in place to allow you to work and remain healthy and well.

It is useful to declare for appointments. Eyesight is a tricky one, vdu users may have access to a company scheme for checks and glasses but diabetic complications are different.

You should tell your workplace because you'll need time off for appointments.

For the purposes of the equality act ie work purposes - yes diabetes is a disability and you are entitled to reasonable adjustments.

OP when you say ‘claim it’ do you mean tell your employer?

If so the ‘why’ is because you are entitled to reasonable adjustments.

Yes it is. (falls under Long-term condition)

I went through Occupational Health earlier this year and yes very much was their view.

Diabetics can have things like silent heart attacks which I didn't know until recently and having previously had difficulties getting time off to attend related appointments to diabetes, it is such a risk not to declare.

I've never attended diabetic eye screening in the evening sadly and when/if you are ill/injured diabetic reviews can become much more frequent.

Many a time I would like to select Prefer not to say or no to the disability question on job applications but I know then it's a disservice if you need to attend appointments potentially during work time.

Of course it’s not a disability.

But you should stand up for a leg stretch at least every hour, and look away from the monitor for a few minutes ideally to something in the distance out of a window every half hour. That is just good Display Screen Ergonomics such as having a chair the right height, using a monitor riser so you are not looking down at a laptop on a desk etc.

Wrong. Diabetes is a recognised disability under the Equality Act 2010.

Sorry but this is wrong

I manage 4 people in my team with Diabetes
2 are insulin dependent and 2 are not

This is absolutely classed as a disability requiring OH support , risk assessments and adjustments made , time protected for all medical appointments and regular 1-2-1 's to ensure all is well with no new issues .

Yes, it is - I was reading an employment tribunal on the subject at the weekend.

Yes diabetes is a disability. Informing work is keeping yourself safe remember, even if you require zero adjustments, HR knowing can keep you safer at work, it also means any time off ill due to diabetes will be treated different to ill ess that isn’t related to your diabetes.

I’m not in HR but health & safety. Screen time doesn’t cause eyesight to get permanently worse. It can cause visual fatigue, which can cause blurred vision, but that isn’t permanent, and your eyes go back to normal after rest.
Diabetes can affect eyesight, and ageing definitely does. When people say their eyesight isn’t as good as it was 5 years ago, it’s because they are 5 years older!
Yes you should be moving around more if you are sitting too long at the desk. Your employer should do a workstation risk assessment, which all computer users should have.

@FictionalCharacter that's not correct, there is an intrinsic link between intensive close work and myopia development in those individuals who have a genetic predisposition to developing myopia.
You can also get a decompensation of previously controlled binocular vision problems, which may not resolve after cessation of screen work.

Everyone need to make sure that they are looking at something in the distance on a regular basis and having breaks.

It doesn't however, cause the close vision problems you get with age to worsen permanently. If you do feel that your vision has worsened you need to have an eye examination.

Hello everyone,
Thank you for getting back to me. I have now had a confirmation from HR that diabetes is a disability under equality act.

Thank you for confirming!

Most of this is wrong! With few exceptions (such as cancer or heart disease) nothing is a disability based on diagnosis. A disability is a condition which is long lasting ( in most cases, you must have had it or expect to have it for 12 months minimum) and has a significant impact on your day to day activities. Diabetes, like many conditions, may or may not be classed as a disability. In your case it appears that it is a disability - but in the event of a dispute only an employment tribunal can make the determination.

Since your HR has agreed, then they will consider what adjustments are possible. I also agree that you need a proper eye examination. If you are working on screens a lot your employer should pay for this, and should pay for any glasses that are required for correction provided that the adjustment is for screen / work reasons. If just required generally you'd still get the test paid for, but any glasses would be for you to purchase.

This is the field in which I work.

The Equality Act 2010 says you have a disability if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long term adverse affect on your ability to do normal day to day tasks.

Long term is something that has lasted 12 months, likely to last 12 months, or for the rest of your life if under 12 months (eg something that fluctuates but will always be there). Diabetes falls into this category. As does other conditions ranging from IBS, dyslexia, ADHD, cancer, HIV, depression, endometrosis etc.

Its a very broad definition. Its also a LEGAL definition not a medical one, that's where a lot of people slip up - OH and GPs will only tell you if you are likely to meet the legal definition, they won't say you definitely do. Think about Covid 19 and mask exemption rules - so many places got taken to court for imposing these rules. Why? Cause only a court can confirm someone meets the definition!

Normal can be anything from writing this post on mumsnet - some people might find typing hard due to eg athritis. Travelling to work - someone who is anaemic might feel dizzy and be at risk of crashes or fainting. Someone with diabetes might have to take more breaks than is "normal" etc

Disability can affect everyone differently, even with the same condition, and its not our impairments that disable us, its society - inaccessible environments (stairs no ramps), blanket work policies (we always do it this way), negative attitudes (you're only disabled if you use a wheelchair or if I can SEE your disability). Remove the barriers and the impairment is still there, but we aren't BEING disabled.