DLA and diabetes

filigree_2

missylou wrote: »

I most certainly am not looking for an argument!

I have strong opinions on the matter based on personal, lived experience.

And so does everyone else, but their personal experiences evidently differ from yours. I know one girl with diabetes who travelled round the wilder parts of South America in her gap year, but I know a bloke who is in and out of hospital with seizures brought on by brittle diabetes. He and his wife are intelligent people who work extremely hard to keep his condition on an even keel but it doesn't always work. Sometimes, despite all the rose-tinted upbeat chat you can summon, some poor devils have a very hard time indeed. If you're someone who finds diabetes management straightforward then that's absolutely marvellous, keep up the good work and live a long and happy life - but spare a bit of compassion for those who do struggle to cope! We can't all be perfect

I became eligible for DLA myself last August but I only applied a few weeks ago. For various reasons I chose not to apply straight away although I was aware that I could if I wanted to. That was my choice. If someone else in the same situation wanted to claim straight away then that would be her decision, and if someone chose not to apply at all then that would be their decision. I wouldn't let my personal choices lead me to tell someone that I am in the right and they should do what I did. Every one of us is an individual and should do what feels best for us and our families.

allmymoneygoestotesco

For anyone reading this who has just found out their child has diabetes - DO CLAIM FOR DLA. Don't let people judge your choice. Let me tell you some of the extra expenses I incur.

At least four eight mile trips for prescriptions a month. That is the only way my doctors surgery will allow.
Two eighteen mile trips to hospital a month.
Huge amount of extra washing to cope with all the wet bedding and clothes when childs sugars are high - washing powder, electricity etc.
Extra bedding and clothes.
Many more nappies than you would buy normally.
Specific snacks and drinks that are needed several times a day that I would not buy for my other children.
A decent bag to put all your supplies in.
Several phone calls a month to the hospital to discuss childs highs and lows, diet etc.
Where I live I will have to go into nursery and school every day to administer insulin, an eight mile trip.
Where I live the local health authority does not fund insulin pumps unlike where my mum lives. One of these will cost us £2000.

I would do anything for my toddler not to have diabetes. Anyone begrudging my child and I a little financial help with the costs of this disease which according to the JDRF website has reduced his life expectancy by 15 years well quite frankly they make me sick. We have paid our taxes for 25 years and never, ever wished that it would be us needing some of it back in this way.

If you are reading this and you have a newly diagnosed child you have my heartfelt sympathy. What a truly shocking, heart breaking time this is. You will cope because you have no other choice and there are worse things your child could have (so I tell myself everyday) Good luck to you and your wee one.

bella1992

missylou wrote: »

Actually the Welfare State is for those who are in a position where they are unable to help themselves, not for those who choose not to!

What sort of state would this country be in if all diabetics declined to take ownership of, and work at controlling their condition?

Well if that is the case why do we fund heroin addicts? My boyfiend is an insulin dependent diabetic and he wanted to be in the paratroopers like his grandad was but they wouldnt allow him in because of his diabetes, a disability doesnt just mean if you are mentally or physically challenged a disability means if you are disabled from doing things if diabetes isnt a disability to some extent then why are diabetics stopped from doing certain jobs. I do think that diabetics have to spend more money on their diets aswell as they have to make sure they have healthy food in aswell as having to make sure they have things like lucozde and sweet things in incase their sugar goes low. Lucozade is expensive itself. Also diabetics have to pay more for car insurance, when you take all of these things into consideration its more expensive.

Richard1075

Why add to a Thread started in 2007 and last looked at in December 2010?

[Deleted User]

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?

i bloody hate these post that suggest one disability is worse than another,disability isnt a competition and they all in there own way affect different people in different ways

ged1980

Richard1075 wrote: »

Why add to a Thread started in 2007 and last looked at in December 2010?

Because they were answering posts in the thread :question:

bobajob_1966

ged1980 wrote: »

Because they were answering posts in the thread :question:

They'll have a long wait for a reply, the person they responded to has not been online in four years!

Richard1075

Exactly!

Maybe Bella1992 was bored and went through all of the old threads till she found one that was related to her current situation and decided to have her twopennyworth!

Student925

I'm sorry to all of you people using the words "disability" and "disabled" as definitive terms for each other can you just stop. They are completely different a disability is A disadvantage or handicap. People with diabetes have a disadvantage as due to there condition they can ONLY lead a "normal" life with an aid in this case medication and special dietary requirements they CANNOT live without these things. (apologies for the bluntness) also WE without careful consideration and planning are limited to what WE can do. To be disabled you must have a disability however it is classified as something which prevents you from doing certain activities If you feel this does not include you as a diabetic then you aren't disabled as it is a classification accompanied by a disability.
so IN FULL a disability is the illness AND to be disabled is the catagory most people place themselves into. a brilliant example is my friend who has lost a leg she now has a PHYSICAL disability she admits that everyone will however she does not class herself as disabled.
sorry it's slightly off the DLA topic but it needed to be said

nannytone_2

why are you commenting on a thread that started nearly 6 years ago and has had no one comment on it in the last 14 months?

seems a bit pointless