Disability living allowance for over 16's with diabetes

N9eav

alba37 wrote: »

I know a few who have it past 16. I also know adults with DLA for diabetes and depression. I know a couple of people renewing now, so won't hear for a while if they are awarded again or not, but I'll post when I hear. How old is your Daughter now?

A x

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vegankris

My OH is type 1 diabetic, and even though it's under control there are still extra expenses such as travelling to the hospital for checkups and glucose tablets(which he has to have around in case he take a hypo) so at the very least I think he should get travel expenses for the former and the latter available free on prescription.

Torby

Chazzy & Lad6....I am diabetic, I have been for 10 years, my father was diabetic, he died from a heart attack at the age of 52, I'm 53 now....can I have DLA and loads of sympathy...or should I just get on with my life and stop whinging....enjoy what time I have on this planet....if either of you get DLA...well I should get it as well....so just give me sight of your completed forms that got you the award so I can see if I have the same problems or similar so I should be entitled as well....oh yes I also have rheumatoid arthritis...and suffer from depression, I am out of work and my wife and I exist on my ill health company pension...( we're not entitled to any benefits at all) must be worth a bob or two....

(sorry I can't find the tongue in cheek icon)

calleyw

vegankris wrote: »

My OH is type 1 diabetic, and even though it's under control there are still extra expenses such as travelling to the hospital for checkups and glucose tablets(which he has to have around in case he take a hypo) so at the very least I think he should get travel expenses for the former and the latter available free on prescription.

But anyone with a long term condition will have extra expenses even if they don't get DLA.

How often does you OH need to go for check ups and buy glucose tablets about once a month or so?

My husband has life long condition and unlike your OH has to pay for all his prescriptions 7 different tablets a day. With out some of them he would have a very long and painful decline before dying. He gets a PPC and he does get DLA but if had not had the stroke he would be working and would have no care and very few mobility needs. So no DLA and would still be on most of the tablets for the condition and would expected to pay for them out of his own wage. And would still need to attend to see consultants every few months to monitor his condition.

It would not be something that we would be looking to get payment for but the cost would be absorbed by our wages.

And DLA and IB still leaves a big gap in income due to my husband loss in wages.

Yours


Calley

foxhaven

Although diabetes is a disease it is NOT a disability. And it's a myth to suggest that anyone with DM needs special foods. I was diagnosed in 1981 with T2 and use medication and insulin and have never let it get in the way of leading a full and active life. You've got it for the rest of your life so get on with it and stop whining.

SuziQ

Regarding different conditions entitling free prescriptions this has never ade sense to me -the arbitrary way some life long conditions are included and not others? They can all involve major expence. I have just had a total colectomy and stoma for suspected bowel cancer. They are hoping it is temporary as I have had an internal pouch created. As the surgeon explained to me,they won' know until they try to close the stoma whether they can or not. I am currently exempt for prescriptions as I am on IS,but other wise the approx 10 prescriptions I need a month would have to be paid for,whereas if I had opted an immediate permanent stoma I would get them free whatever. Whats the difference? Most people in my situtaion are young(ish!) and can have the stoma up to 2 years whilst the whole thing settles. It just baffles me.

alba37

I have Type 2 diabetes and I take tablets. By watching my diet and exercising I can keep my blood glucose within a reasonable range, feel well, and this will help delay diabetic complications. Type 2 diabetes is a progressive condition and even people with great control you can develop complications. Many Type 2's progress to Insulin, some within a short period of time. I live well with the condition.

My son who has Type 1 has to take insulin each time he eats. It's not as easy as taking a tablet, or a set dose of insulin. It is difficult to get the dose correct every time. Although we both have diabetes they are 2 very different conditions with regards management just now for us. There is no comparison between them. Diabetes affects his life in every way. Keeping tight control makes frequent hypos unavoidable. To reduce hypos he needs to run higher, but then suffers headaches and exhaustion. Just when you seem to have got the ratio correct it needs changed again. Growth spurts, the weather, stress, exercise, illness, etc all affect the amount of insulin needed to cover food intake. So he has the choice of running higher and feeling unwell or keeping a tighter control and live in fear of hypos.

I know many people with diabetes and it affects everyone differently. Some have had diabetes many years and despite their best efforts cannot keep tight control. Some feel unwell when their BG reaches 11, others not till they are in the 20's. You can't generalise people with or without diabetes. If diabetes is affecting your life you are entitled to apply for DLA. It's up to them whether you get awarded it or not, not us.

You can get glucose tablets on prescription, but I think it comes under food, and some GP's aren't keen on prescribing them. (from what I've heard)

Without Insulin a Type 1 diabetic wouldn't have a long decline, they wouldn't survive long at all. Insulin is life support. Anyone who feels they are entitled to DLA should apply, they can only say no. Torby some people get DLA for depression alone, but as you can't get DLA, you must cope very well with your conditions, which is something to be proud of, but it's not a reason to be sarcastic to others who aren't as lucky as you.

calleyw

Everyone with the same condition differs and need different treatment to each other.

But as has been said before once a child becomes 16 they become an adult in eyes for the DWP for DLA.

Which means that your expected to deal with things a little bit more.

To get DLA lower care rate as an adult you need to not be able to prepare a main meal e.g chop and peel veggies. To get middle rate you need to have need more than one hours worth of care per day as well the care needs of lower rate care.

It is not automatic that because you have diabetes you will get DLA. If you have problems with things dosages etc going hypo then yes you do have care needs and application for DLA care needs is the way to go.

But just because you take insulin X amount of times a day does not mean you can get DLA.

A lot of people say just apply and see what happens which personally to me just clogs up the system. The better thing to do would be to look at criteria and see if you fit any of it. Then if you do then apply. The forms are pigs to fill in and if you get it wrong you will be rejected.

Yours

Calley

alba37

I didn't mean to insinuate a certain amount of insulin means you can claim DLA, I was pointing out for someone very insulin sensitive small adjustments make a massive difference and can mean many more hypers or hypos.

Regardless of what age the DWP think a child becomes an adult, someone with say 3 hypos a day at 15 years and 11 months is unlikely to be able to manage or treat them differently when the turn 16. Someone recently posted on a diabetes forum that her child's DLA was dropped from high rate care to middle rate care automatically, the reason she was given is the child can now care for himself during the night as they turned 14. I find it hard to believe it is easier or less dangerous to have night time hypos no matter what age you are. No one having a diabetic seizure can treat themself or call for help, they are unlikely to come out it without help. I also know several people who have died from dead in bed syndrome, so I think feel it's important to always test during the night. It can be very hard to get my son to treat a hypo, not long ago he argued that 2.9 was no longer classed as a hypo, it had to be below 2.5. I don't think his reaction would be any different whether he was 12 or 20, he fully believed it was true while hypo, but had no idea why he thought that once back in normal range.

I definitely agree, everyone should check they fit the criteria and apply if they feel they may be entitled to it. I read the DWP said professionals were putting in too many claims which obviously didn't meet criteria and it was clogging up the system.

calleyw

alba37 wrote: »

I didn't mean to insinuate a certain amount of insulin means you can claim DLA,

I know you where not and was not suggesting you where. But other people seemed to be suggesting that being a diabetic = DLA care.

alba37 wrote: »

I was pointing out for someone very insulin sensitive small adjustments make a massive difference and can mean many more hypers or hypos.
Regardless of what age the DWP think a child becomes an adult, someone with say 3 hypos a day at 15 years and 11 months is unlikely to be able to manage or treat them differently when the turn 16. Someone recently posted on a diabetes forum that her child's DLA was dropped from high rate care to middle rate care automatically, the reason she was given is the child can now care for himself during the night as they turned 14. I find it hard to believe it is easier or less dangerous to have night time hypos no matter what age you are. No one having a diabetic seizure can treat themself or call for help, they are unlikely to come out it without help. I also know several people who have died from dead in bed syndrome, so I think feel it's important to always test during the night. It can be very hard to get my son to treat a hypo, not long ago he argued that 2.9 was no longer classed as a hypo, it had to be below 2.5. I don't think his reaction would be any different whether he was 12 or 20, he fully believed it was true while hypo, but had no idea why he thought that once back in normal range.

I agree with you totally. But I don't make the rules the DWP do, and seeing as you can still be education feel it is a little harsh to say a 16 year is an adult it should be pushed up to 18.

I wonder if there should be some sort of change in the way that DWP deals with people who already have pre-existing conditions as a minor especially when there has been no changes to their condition.

But if they need that sort of care you suggest over night then they should get DLA no question.

alba37 wrote: »

I definitely agree, everyone should check they fit the criteria and apply if they feel they may be entitled to it. I read the DWP said professionals were putting in too many claims which obviously didn't meet criteria and it was clogging up the system.

Also everyone says go to the CAB etc to get them to help you fill the forms. Again they don't have resources to help everyone and we have been lucky and managed to fill the forms in all by ourselves but I do read this forum and read around the subject. So that has helped.

I think a lot of uninformed people think that dibetes, ADHD etc means they automatically get DLA etc. But as has been stressed a million times on this and disable board it is not the condition it's self but the needs of the person suffering be it care or mobility.

Yours


Calley