on 28/2/07 7:43 am, N. Rostami at [log in to unmask] wrote:
> Ann,
> So, did the outcome of the above ET go against the employer? It is just that
> I read from your first note on this that...' the employee had little
> understanding of her condition'. (Sorry for being a little slow in grasping
> this!!!!)
> Is it possible to see details of this ET online?
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
> Of Anne Harriss
> Sent: 28 February 2007 07:30
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [OCC-HEALTH] diabetes and infection
>
> on 28/2/07 7:03 am, Jacqui Livock at [log in to unmask] wrote:
>
>> Hi
>> we have had a number of questions recently in relation to staff with
>> diabetes and i am searching for references i can use.
>>
>> the main question we have at present is "does diabetes increase the risk
>> of infection (and subsequent absence)?"
>>
>> i have spoken to a specialsit nurse at a diabetes unit who says providing
>> blood sugar is managed risk is no greater however because sugar levels are
>> affected by infection it takes longer to shift.
>> she wouldn't let me quote her to managers (how useful was that!) i have
>> trawled the net to no avail, I've written to a diabetes specialist for
>> guidance...to no avail.
>> i have read that the risk of skin and urinary tract infection is slightly
>> higher (dont know why- one of these web pages with no references) but
>> nothing of chest infections, coughs, colds etc.
>>
>> The reason behind this is that we have several employees with type 2
>> diabetes who have had a high level of absence due to coughs/colds/flu etc
>> and the company has a stringent absence management policy but if your
>> absence is linked to a disability then absnce is managed on the 2/3
>> occasion of absence not each. I am informed that the union has hit on this
>> and is telling staff with diabetes to say that they have reduced immunity
>> because of diabetes.
>>
>> never a dull moment!
>> jacqui
>>
>
> Hello Jacui
>
> It would be worth doing a search in an academic library such as the RCN
> library to see if there is any research on this.
>
> Attendance patterns and attitude to non-attendance is much more complex than
> whether the person has, or does not have, a health issue. It is my
> experience that some people who are dealing with quite significant health
> problems take minimal time from work. On the other hand there are people
> with similar, or even minor health issues who milk the system. Much is down
> to personal attitude.
>
> A word of caution: I recently observed an ET where the complainant had
> diabetes. She was stating that her shift pattern was adversely affecting her
> health. She had been made redundant, she claimed, due to her diabetes and
> its affect on her attendance due to repeated infections. From her evidence
> It was obvious that she had little understanding of her diabetes nor of its
> management. The chair of the ET reinforced that she was covered by the DDA
> and her absence patterns should be considered by Management in the light of
> this.
>
> The management of poor absence is down to Management. Let them get on with
> it - that is what they get paid for.
>
> Hope this is helpful
>
> Anne
>
Unfortunately I was only able to stay for day one of the three days for
which it was scheduled and was there merely as an observer. It is possible
to get further information re the outcome for a fee. I did not need to know
the outcome so did not get that info. The important point to note was that
the chair clearly stated that as the woman's diabetes was affecting her
activities of daily living then her case had to be considered as being
covered by the DDA.
With regard to the non-understanding by Mrs X (complainant) of her
condition: her diabetes was being controlled by insulin. People with
diabetes often develop an excellent understanding of fluctuations in food
intake activity etc and how that impacts on their blood sugar level, these
people become expert at the control of their own blood sugar levels - often
as good, if not better than, their clinician. Unfortunately Mrs X was
self-adjusting her insulin without this understanding - consequently her
control was going haywire. She thought that she could raise her blood sugar
at night by injecting extra insulin as she thought insulin was prescribed to
release sugar into the blood stream. Not a good move unless eating habits
are adjusted too, they did not appear to have been. Her poor knowledge was
not appreciated by the panel as they were not health professionals. Her
inappropriate self care was irrelevant to the case which is why I did not go
into the details in my initial posting. The important point was that the
Chair clearly stated that her diabetes must be considered as being a
disability under the DDA as it was affecting her day to day living
activities.
Hope this is useful
Anne
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