Diabetes: Discrimination, Professional Life, Plan Ahead... What do patients say?

Overall my family understands my diabetes and try to eat what I eat so that we aren't cooking more than one meal so that's a plus for us. However outside the home if we go out to eat it's a different matter entirely I have no idea what has been added to things in restraints, there are no better choices given to diabetics if they wànt a sandwich it's with brown or white bread I would like to see more shops offer brown nutty bread which is better for a diabetic as it is much slower releasing carbs. Another thing that up sets me is there is no real care for diabetics I would like to see proper diabetic clinics that diabetics can go to especially when they feel unwell, there should be dedicated clinics where you can go to get results, have a chat when things go wrong, put prescriptions in without having to wait more than a week as between ordering from docs to going to pharmacy has proved time and time again it takes too long, they promise a two day turnaround but on several occasions I have had to have emergency prescriptions as the ones I've ordered haven't been sent through by the Saturday and the doctors are closed. We always seem to have to chase reviews as well I used to be able to walk in and book it but now I have to wait till I am invited which in the end I was 3 months overdue, not good when you are doing your level best to keep your numbers down. I would like to see the service for diabetics thoroughly overhauled with more dignity and respect given for this condition, it is life changing, life threatening and for me personally I can better manage my condition with the full support of my diabetic nurse. Why can't we have proper care after all if your pregnant you get the care from conception right through to the birth and beyond, if you have heart problems there are clinics for that and so on, we need a clinic to give us full and proper support that is dignified and not left to cope alone as that is exactly how I feel Alone. 

@CatherineD58 Hi Catherine, 

Thank you for sharing your opinion, I am sure there are a lot of members who would echo your sentiments.

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Hello, I just thought I would tag you all to see what your opinions are on this article we wrote :) 

Hi, re Catherine D58,    I am fortunate to have T2 that can be kept under control without too much effort.   As far as I can see the health service in the part of Glasgow where  I live responds quickly to emergency prescriptions and essential health requirements.   Diabetes UK (Scotland) is also active and there are other community initiatives that I know about.    Other articles I have seen appear to indicate that there is a growing awareness of the importance of the condition across the whole UK.

My initial diagnosis was a few years ago and the medical practice took the time necessary to make sure I achieved the correct balance of medication and lifestyle changes to get control.  Now it's up to me.

Something has to be done about diabetics needing help and support. They all need to have a special group in hospital or class to discuss what problems they have when they cannot do any more work due to tiredness and hypo problems. Every work place need to understand what to do and suggest plans to make the person feel better and looked after, so they all need a break when problems arises. Then when they feel better they come back to work as normal.

I agree there is very patchy support for diabetics, both from doctors and the world at large.  The issue of workplace colleagues and bosses,,they need to know for safety reasons and be able to help you if needed, also the first aiders as they have had a little bit of knowledge when they qualified, as part of the first aid at work. It has been noted that when a diabetic is having a hypo, they could be considered as drunk, and somebody knowing how to help you, and what the levels of reactionings you have so that they get the help and you have someone there..It goes as read that you have your monitoring kit, spare meds and hypo kit or something if needed, especially at this time of year when the festive season makes people go ott with food and drink.  You should get support in the workplace and you cannot be discriminated against, and if you are in a trade union, get them to support you if the going gets on top of you,, Scotland sounds as though they are helping diabetics a lot more than here in England,,I only see the dsn or the consultant when they get to me on the list, so I just plod on. I too am also fed up trying to keep a balance, and it is depressing,,they were trying to get me to go onto insulin, I said no,,I would have to stop driving as the dvla requires you to have 6 months to maintain balance, and if not no driving licence.  There seems to be help coming for the type 1 with a new system of monitoring, but nothing new for us t2's. ttfn

Karen56

Firstly I am a Type II diabetic, I must tell you that you DON'T necessarily lose you driving licence for 6 months when you go on to insulin. I was put onto insulin and I had to tell the DVLA and now I have a RESTRICTED 3 YEAR licence, which means that every Three years you have to renew your licence. No fears about being stuck and can't get out, it's ONLY a RESTRICTION. Nothing to worry about. 
The ONLY time you LOSE your licence is if you CANNOT CONTROL your diabetes.

I live in the West Country, Wiltshire, and I can honestly say that if I need anything be it advise or repeat medication or need to go in to see the Diabetic Nurse I just pick up the phone and make the necessary arrangements or send her an e-mail. I have no problems at all not even getting to see my Consultant. I usually try and give a couple of weeks notice and it's all arranged. 

If you can build a relationship with your Healthcare team at the surgery and the Diabetic Specialist Nurses at your local hospital, you'll find that things happen much quicker. Get to know them and them to know you and I think that you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Take Care of yourself my friend.                                                                                        Warmest Regards                                                                                                                   Richard 

 Sorry but I've treated the worst of the worst, I feel more a whipping boy.

We have a nasty, spiteful, vindictive Government in the UK, and it shows in all Government departments, Hostile, nasty and spiteful in kind. Not much better than gangsters. I can only go on how I was treated, I tried to help myself out with lifestyle changes, diet even lost lots of kilos, and yet It came across that I had made my situation much worse. In my case, I lost weight, took up regular exercise, changed my diet, yet as I've said made my position worse, to a point where whatever I did I was wasting my time and making their jobs difficult, how can you work with a system that punishes you for trying improve your lot!

@richard0804 I was diabetic II and while having cancer treatment I had to switch to insulin. Therefore I was forced to inform the DVLA who duly altered my licence to the 3 year period. But I lost 6 stone due to the cancer treatment and returned to diet control for my diabetes. I therefore informed the DVLA that I no longer use insulin and only diet controlled diabetes so had my licence fully restored. So a period of a few months I had my licence transferred to medical and back to ordinary. The period I was receiving cancer treatment I was on morphine so could not drive anyway. So other drugs affect your entitlement to drive and you will only be banned from driving for diabetes due to not following procedures to prevent low sugar events. My brother a diabetic on insulin for twenty years and never informed the DVLA, had plenty of accidents unrelated to diabetes, never had any investigation. He has never had his GP or medical professional report him, despite losing toes and many serious diabetic issues.