Rank: Super forum user 
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Dear All
would any kind soul have an example of how they have carried out a individual risk assessment for an insulin dependant diabetic person.
Many thanks in Advance
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Rank: Forum user 
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Before you start down the route of this, I think that you need to try and understand for whom and why you are undertaking the assessment.
If the person is not using machinery or driving as part of their work routine, there is no reason to undertake an assessment.
The diabetes is controlled via insulin, amount which is (usually) dictated by a doctor or specialist diabetic nurse. This should control any fluctuations in the blood glucose/sugar levels to the point of no problems for everyday activities.
If you are saying that the person in question has problems with controlling their blood glucose/sugar then I would suggest that you point them back in the direction of their doctor/specialist nurse for re-evaluation.
If, on the other hand, the person uses machinery and/or drives as part of their daily work routine, then the risk assessment will be the same as any other, just take into account from the person concerned to whom they will turn in case of a problem. This should also uncover who should keep an eye on the person in case of any problem appearing. Again, it is down to the person to manage their own bloods. If they cannot, then using machinery and/or driving is not an option.
ps if managing bloods is a problem, driving licenses are usually the first things to go which then dictates no plant machinery usage and then no heavy machinery usage and so on.
Hope this helps (my and my wife's families are riddled with diabetes...)
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Nidan has pretty much beat me to what I was going to say. The last one I did was for an insulin dependant bricklayer, and with advise from their GP/diabetic nurse we agreed changes to their work to keep them in employment while minimising the risks to themselves and others.
If the person suffering from diabetes is in low risk work, or a low risk environment (I'm sure I'll get shot down for that) such as 'office work', then I really don't see the need to a specific assessment.
If an assessment is necessary, because of machinery or driving then I suggest that you work together with the person and if necessary their GP/diabetes nurse practitioner, taking account of the risks, control etc. Be aware that the person may be quite anxious about such a process and MIGHT not be entirely candid about their level of control. You may be able to find some help from diabetes uk.
Generally people with diabetes are pretty responsible about control and letting their immediate colleagues know how to recognise symptoms of hypo/hyper and how to deal with this. It doesn't need to be too complex or formal.
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Rank: Forum user 
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I had a similar issues with a person recently who is insulin dependant, Type 1. He drives trucks, Nidan is right with his post. You should get info from DVLA if it is HGV driving, that license is automatically removed but the person usually keeps their car license. Heavy machinery, also as with driving, a standard risk assessment but with the hazards that are pertinant to the persons ability to do the tasks with one of the hazards being that the person is now insulin dependant. http://forum.iosh.co.uk/...spx?g=posts&t=101004
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Rank: Super forum user
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Thanks for the comments - it is pretty much the route i was going to take.
They do drive a light commercial vehicle, but the biggest poser is we sometimes operate in remote rural areas, albeit with a lone worker monitoring system (type of tracker with panic alarm linked to Sat Nav system).
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Rank: Forum user
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Be careful about just using the panic alarm - some diabetics, similar to epileptics (sp.) may not realise they are having a hypo/hyper until it is too late - in which case the alarm is no good.
Talk to the person involved, you may need a slight variation or dictate a 'blood checking regime' with specific trigger points for help being called.
At the end of the day, if the person still has license to drive it pretty much means that the diabetes is under control. Again, talk to person, GP and/or specialist and as Phil Rose mentioned, Diabetes UK is a massive source of information.
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Rank: Forum user
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oops - also forgot to mention that person usually has an 'emergency pack' with them - my wife has mars bars which she cannot stand but they do help.
Ensure this is always topped up and include in the regime a bit about checking every day/shift etc.
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Rank: Super forum user
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MEden380 wrote:albeit with a lone worker monitoring system (type of tracker with panic alarm linked to Sat Nav system). Lucky you! Up here the cellphone / satellite coverage only allows this to work 50% of the time!
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Rank: Forum user
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As an aside to this post I would suggest to anyone who feels the need to carry out risk assessments on people who have a medical condition which is controlled by medication to tread carefully re Equality Act (DDA).
Clearly with diabetes and drving or the use of machinery then an assessment should be carried out. On the other hand a PC wanted me to carry out an individual assessment on a carpenter with angina which was controlled with spray/inhaler. The guy in question clearly wasn't impressed with this and stated that if he had an episode he couldn't control then he should be treated exactly the same as anyone else on site.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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We all owe a duty of care to ourselves and others. It surely follows then that there is a limit as the extent of the employer's duty in these instances, otherwise we're in danger of attempting to dictate to people how to run their lives?
I'm personally very wary about this whole concept of "risk assessing" individuals.
Usually all that's required is a simple dialogue.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Ron makes an important point which is that people who suffer from medical conditiosn, such as diabetes, epilepsy etc are often (not always) the person best informed to understand it and deal with it. Engage with them and I am sure you will reach a sensible consensus on what action is needed if any. There is information about diabetes on the DVLA website.
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Rank: Forum user 
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Nidan wrote:Be careful about just using the panic alarm - some diabetics, similar to epileptics (sp.) may not realise they are having a hypo/hyper until it is too late - in which case the alarm is no good.
I can endorse this - when I'm having a hypo, both my partner and her son spot it ages before I do. The symptom is behavioural changes which to me (at the time) seem perfectly reasonable, it takes someone else to spot them as out of character.
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