Disability living allowance for over 16's with diabetes

foxhaven

There are always going to be exceptions and in your friend's case I'm sure it's a worthy one. High and low BG swings need constant medical supervision and having a dog which recognises the symptoms must be a Godsend.

GlasweJen

Gazfaz, get to your GP, someone diagnosed with coeliacs can get items of food on prescription and if your daughter isn't entitled to free prescriptions you can buy a pre-pay card to cover the cost, it will work out much cheaper. Items i've seen go out on rx include bread, rolls, pizza bases, pasta, biscuits and ready meals like lasagne.

alba37

GlasweJen wrote: »

Gazfaz, get to your GP, someone diagnosed with coeliacs can get items of food on prescription and if your daughter isn't entitled to free prescriptions you can buy a pre-pay card to cover the cost, it will work out much cheaper. Items i've seen go out on rx include bread, rolls, pizza bases, pasta, biscuits and ready meals like lasagne.

I think everyone taking medication for diabetes is entitled to free prescriptions? GF items on prescription aren't the best, but better than nothing.

Everyone with diabetes is obviously different, but in my experience it's a disability. It is covered by the disability discrimination act. It would be crazy to leave my 16 year old son alone or even with people who don't know him well and know enough about diabetes. He has had some very frightening hypos and he has been unable to treat them without 3rd party assistance. Many people also have diabetic seizures, how could they manage alone? Young children need 24 hr care, with or without hypo awareness.

Life expectancy is reduced by an average of 23 years at diagnosis. Keeping blood glucose as near normal as possible is the best way to delay or reduce the likelihood of complications, but even people with excellent control can develop complications. You can try your very best, but it's impossible to always get it right and you can die with a seizure or severe hypo. Taking a hypo during an exam or trying to perform at your best with blood glucose at 18+ is debilitating and puts you at a disadvantage. If your brain is not always getting the right amount of fuel it needs to function, how can this not be classed as a disability?

System

You could equally argue that depression isn't a disability (which i've had a few people tell me) but if an illness is debilitating and if it means you have care/mobility needs as it is affecting your life that much then why shouldn't it be classed as a disability> if its disabling to the person then they should get help needed.

GlasweJen

oh duh lol forgot the person with coeliac also had diabetes - oh well doesn't take away from the point that coeliac food is available on prescription (though i should point out that you should order in advance as most pharmacies order it as specials to reduce wastage).

On the subject of diabetes and DLA, DLA care for an adult is based on personal care needs not just care needs. The distinction being that the person with the medical condition needs to require help with toileting, cooking, bathing etc, not just need general supervision or medical intervention. DLA lower mobility covers general supervision needs but i don't know of any benefit that covers needing medical intervention.

ETA our pharmacy gives out glutafin products on prescription which is the same stuff as we sell on the shelves, you can even choose what type of loaf we order in.

alba37

Forgot to say, I actually know many over 16's now with diabetes getting DLA. Some have other long term conditions but most don't. One side effect of high blood glucose is bedwetting, so that could certainly come under personal care.

GlasweJen, I thought I maybe had the free prescription thing wrong.

alba37

xXMessedUpXx wrote: »

You could equally argue that depression isn't a disability (which i've had a few people tell me) but if an illness is debilitating and if it means you have care/mobility needs as it is affecting your life that much then why shouldn't it be classed as a disability> if its disabling to the person then they should get help needed.

I guess as people have different degrees of depression, and it's generally a hidden disability, (to the general public) like diabetes, people don't understand how debilitating it can be. The best way is not to dwell on what others think, those who suffer badly with depression know exactly how it affects them.

GlasweJen

No alba you were right, people who have either type of diabetes and take medication from it are category D exempt from the prescription charge.

Harveycat_2

GlasweJen wrote: »

Gazfaz, get to your GP, someone diagnosed with coeliacs can get items of food on prescription and if your daughter isn't entitled to free prescriptions you can buy a pre-pay card to cover the cost, it will work out much cheaper. Items i've seen go out on rx include bread, rolls, pizza bases, pasta, biscuits and ready meals like lasagne.

Thanks Glaswejen.

We do get bread + pizza bases on Rx however it is far too time consuming (we parents both work full time) and convoluted to vary the Rx order from week to week. Therefore stuff like gluten free snacks/pasta/flour/biscuits/sauces/dressings etc etc etc we tend to pick up from the supermarkets where available.

When she was first diagnosed around twelve months ago she was fairly symptom free apart from feeling 'bloated.' However now when she has gluten she feels quite unwell for a couple of days with tummy upset and dyspepsia.

In some ways (obviously apart from being potentially fatal!) the Coeliacs is more of a pain to manage than her Diabetes!

I've had to get stronger lenses to read labels on jars/packets!

It's also a little restricting for her when she goes out with friends (fast food chains are not Coeliac friendly!) and when we travel we have to plan ahead if she needs meals en route.

It's a constant chore.

Jomo

Sorry, I haven't read all the comments (too many to catch up!) but I know of two people who have T2 and a know someone with T1 and all of them live very normal lives. T1 by a change of diet and T1 with daily injections.

No way would I have thought they could make a claim for it...I'll have to go and tell them ;-)