Night shifts

Hi all

I have been a diabetic for around 30 years but for the last 9 years I have been working a shift system of two 10 hour days followed by two 14 hour nights then four off. I have never been too well controlled and as a result have started to have a number of complications - neuropathy, retinopathy etc. For the last 3 months I have been off work with cellulitis and problems with palpitations/irregular heartbeats. I am hoping to go back to work soon and have now hopefully got my glucose levels back in range but I am concerned about working shifts as although my averages are looking good when I look at my ranges 40% are below, 40% above with 20% in range. I also suffer from not knowing when I am going low and have had a few hypo's without realising. Have only discovered them by accident when I have done pre meal/bed tests or if my wife has noticed that I am acting confused and forced me off to do a test.
Has anyone else had similar experiences or any advice it would be much appreciated.
Richard

When my company tried to enforce a shift system on me 12 years ago I refused, as I had been told by my doctor that it was not recommended for Type 1 diabetics to do shifts as the disruption to establishing blood sugar and eating patterns could lead to troubles later in life due to poor control. Even when the company decided to send me to the company medical unit I got the same response. I know we don't always have an option with employment but it sounds to me as if shift work has caught up with you. Do you have an option to do days only. If you can show that shifts are causing you health problems your company should be trying to help you with this. Medical discrimination is against the law.

Hi
I've being a type1 for 40 years and have worked Day/Double Days/ and 3years of nights,
The Night shift was the worst time in my life, I got myself off nights with the aid of the in house union.
7 years ago the company was taken over and that's when I came under pressure to cover the night shift when their off or on holiday.
I foolishly agreed to this because at the time the economy went bad as we all know.
After a period of covering nights I started to suffer my health was poor my BG was all over the place, I asked both the union and company management to come off the machine since I was covering and working up to 70 hours a week.
Too this day I should have been more forceable and pushed to come off this working pattern,
But I didn't and I allowed it too continue to which I had a hypo the only 1 in 24 years at this company.
The company suspended me on the spot, it was only my work mate he helped me that I got my BG back up to normal
Again I was foolish and didn't take action against the company, I should have,but looking back the union and company must have realised there had between them made a large mistake and as I said with the economy I was glad to get my job back.
Even now they still ask me to cover nights, but I don't I'm wiser unless you work in a non physical job working nights is extremely differ cult to cope with especially if the company dosn't support you.
People have said to me why did you allow this,there's laws against this.I believe like you when you need help it suddenly vanishes into the shadows and your left to defend your self.
It was never in my nature to be "NO" person I would always try to help others, but for me when I needed help it wasn't there.
All I would say for your BG levels on nights test and test any unusual physical work test and correct don't just carry on.
Take a break when "YOU" need to.
Production comes 2nd to your health.
Check your BG before you go to bed, don't over sleep.
Your BI insulin is very important here Dafne will help.
I hope your not like me and get the help you need to persuade your employer to realise the issues Nights can have on a type1
I look back when I started work being young you think your indestructible I praised working in the printing industry, now I know I should have took a different job.
Keep in touch maybe the administrator of this these forums can give you the correct help you need.
Best regards
Brian