DLA and diabetes

ohreally

TheWaltons wrote: »

It may be classed as a Disabilty in some Disabled Dictionary, but it is hardly on par with MS or similar, is it?

DDA is an act of parliament...not a dictionary.

As for the potential impact of diabetes, i think you may be underestimating the condition.
Margaretclare has indicated some of the problems facing diabetics....especially non compliant diabetics.Also bear in mind any diabetes which is controlled by medication means the sufferer will be entitled to many areas of free health care, including but not limited to, eye tests, prescriptions, foot care and possibly dentistry - via a medical exemption certificate....Form FP92A or EC92A in Scotland.

missylou_2

Thank You The Waltons!

The point I was trying to make is that the child's life will largely remain the same once she has learned the basics of managing her condition. She has the ability and choice to control it so that it does not interfere with her life.

Diabetes was included in DDA to cover rights like meal breaks being honoured (a right which all employees actually share anyway!), and also the time off to attend hospital appointments without being penalised for it (however, any diabetic who has taken control of their condition will explain that these are generally scheduled at six month intervals). Pregnant women have these rights too. Does that then mean that they are disabled.

I do not see disability as a negative or embarassing thing but as a health professional who often works with individuals who are genuinely disabled either physically or mentally, I would consider it insulting to them to rank myself as disabled also!

ohreally

missylou wrote: »

Pregnant women have these rights too. Does that then mean that they are disabled.
.....as a health professional

Pregnancy is a condition which is temporary...unlike diabetes which is for life.Temporary conditions are not covered by the DDA.
In which field are you a health professional if you don't mind me asking?

missylou_2

Am a registered nurse

ohreally

missylou wrote: »

Am a registered nurse

Thanks.

I've deleted the rest of this post,i'll send a pm later.

Morglin

DLA is not awarded on the illness/disability, but how it affects your life, and this can vary hugely.

To do an at-home informal assessment of your daughter, to see if she would be likely to recieve it, try this:

http://www.benefitsnow.co.uk/questions/dlagatewayquestions.asp

Lin

dooby

Hiya.

Although Diabetes isn't a disability as such, more of a condition, there is a strong chance you can claim DLA for her.

This is because ..... as a child and a newly diagnosed diabetic if she needs to test her blood and injections she will need help with this several times a day, possibly 4 altogether ish.

The rules state that if a child needs help with their personal care subtantially in excess of another child of the same age frequently throughout the day then they get an award of middle rate care component. Blood testing and injections are classed as substantially in excess.

She will need help with her medicating and her blood tests for a while, this is a given, she can't be expected to just instantly be able to cope with all that at her age.

My advice is to get a claim in, ignore the questions about toiletting and bathing etc, just write either 'N/'A or 'age appropriate' and concentrate on the bit where they ask you about help with medication etc... tell them how many times she needs help with blood testing and how many times she needs help with the insulin. Even if she is able to pr1ck her own finger it will not be expected that you could or would just leave her to her own devices.

boabitis

Hi And Iam Sorry To Hear That About Your Daughter I Was Diagnosed At 16 Years Old Iam Now 29 I Work Full Time As A Gardener But When I Moved Into My New Flat Last Year I Suffered From Depression And Was Off Work And My Neighbour Who Worked For Department For Works And Pensions Informed Me That I Was Entitled To Disability Working Allowance As Being Diabetic You Are Entitled I Honestly Think You Are Entitled People Say Its Ok You Can Live A Normal Life Their Are People Worse Off And Thats So True But You Have To Jag Yourself Everyday Dont Eat Cakes Biscuits This That So Honestly Bud Just Go For It I Would Phone Diabetes Uk They Are The Best Hope Everything Go"s Well Routine Thats My Famous Word You Got Ta Have Routine

boabitis

I ACTUALLY THINK THAT THEIR IS ENTITLEMENT BUT BECAUSE DIABETICS ARE CLASSED AS HAVING A HIGHER STANDARD OF LIVING BECAUSE THEY NEED A HEALTHY BALANCED DIET WHICH COSTS EXTRA DIABETIC CHOCOLATE EXPENSIVE THEN THEIR IS THE FACT OF YES YOU MAY LOSE A LIMB IF YOU DONT CONTROL IT BUT THEN WHAT ABOUT THE DIABETICS THAT DONT KNOW IT PEOPLE WHO DIDNT KNOW THEY WERE DIABETICS UNTIL THEY WENT TO THEIR GP BECAUSE THEIR LEG OR EYES HURT? AND WITH SHOES YOU NEED TO HAVE SHOES THAT FIT PROPERLY, MADE FOR YOU EVEN THAT IS EXTRA CASH IT IS AN ILNESS AND IT WILL OBVIOUSLY BE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THING NOW IN THAT FAMILY I DO THINK THEY ARE OR SHOULD BE ENTITLED TO SOME HELP THE WAY THE GOVERNMENT THROWS MONEY AWAY THESE DAYS MARGARET

margaretclare wrote: »

Hi

The point about diabetes is that it's a condition you can live with. It needs good/excellent control to avoid the side-effects. I don't think Sir Steve Redgrave thought of claiming DLA while he was winning Olympic gold medals for rowing and coping with diabetes as well!

My DH has had diabetes (Type II) since 1981. He has made it his business to learn as much as possible about this disease and its effects while living a busy normal life.

There should be a specialist nurse practitioner in diabetes at your local hospital or at your GP's surgery and these are very knowledgeable people - what you need is information, and that information needs to be up-to-date. You could also start with Diabetes UK's website: http://www.diabetes.org.uk/

As an example, I think that there are conditions which would give entitlement to DLA but not diabetes itself. Conditions such as blindness from diabetic retinopathy or limb amputations, but these take a long time to develop and are not inevitable given good control on a day-to-day basis. It is best for the sufferer to take control of this disease for himself/herself.

The worst problem in teenage diabetics is 'denial' - not taking care of self at the time when it most matters because 'it's not happening to me'.

HTH

Margaret

boabitis

HI SEE THATS EXACTLY WHAT I MEAN AW HE"S FINE HE CONTROLS IT AND THEN YOU MATCH IT TO A MUCH GREATER DISEASE THE FACT IS WHAT IF YOUR BODYS DIFERENT FROM EVERYONE ELSE? AND YOU CANT GET IT UNDER CONTROL ITS THE FACT THAT EVERYONE IS DIFERENT AM NOT SAYING THAT IN A BAD WAY TO SAY DIABETICS CANT LEAD A NORMAL LIFE OFCOURSE THEY CAN BUT ITS CALLED DISABILITY ALLOWANCE AND THATS WHAT DIABETES IS DOESNT MATTER THAT IT AINT ON A PAR WITH WHATEVER WE COULD THINK.

TheWaltons wrote: »

I don't believe it is a Disability either.

My friend is a RMN - Mental Health Nurse. He has Type 1 Diabetes - 4 injections of some stuff he keeps in the Fridge (forget the name). Aside from having a few lumps and bumps where he injects... he's fine. He manages it well and leads a normal life. He is never off work, never poorly....

Diabetes can be controlled. It will only take over your life if you let it.

It may be classed as a Disabilty in some Disabled Dictionary, but it is hardly on par with MS or similar, is it?