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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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please remove this footer before replying. For list archives and documents, go to http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/occ-health.html FORTHCOMING CONFERENCES AND EVENTS: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/filearea.cgi?LMGT1=OCC-HEALTH For Occupational Health jobs, go to http://OHJobs.drmaze.net Find out about Occupational Health Nursing Education in UK at http://home.wlv.ac.uk/~in6232/aohne/