Managing Diabetes in the Workplace: My Journey as an Educational Assistant

Managing Diabetes in the Workplace: My Journey as an Educational Assistant

Hi, I’m Kristin Rivard! I work for the York Region District School Board as an Educational Assistant. My role involves working with students with all sorts of special needs. My students include those with multiple exceptionalities, including students with Autism or students in wheelchairs. My job can be very physical, which means my needs related to diabetes are secondary to the needs of my students and I need to make every effort to keep my glucose levels within range to be able to provide the best support possible.

Recognizing the Need for an Emergency Plan

In 2022, my blood sugar was low one day after work and my family had to be called for support. After that event, I initiated an emergency plan so that when similar situations arise in the future, I can have the time I need to take care of myself and my sugar so I can work safely and prioritize my students’ safety. As a person living with diabetes, it is important to remember that it is your legal right to have accommodations put in place.

Creating My Emergency Plan

• I started by creating a Word document highlighting what my low symptoms look like and how I request help. My plan is posted around the school in places that staff frequent and in my classroom so all school staff are able to assist during emergencies.
• In my job, all educational assistants wear walkies that are used to support the needs of all students throughout the school; because of this plan, mine is also a way for me to communicate when my sugar goes low.
• When my Dexcom G6 CGM alarm goes off, I am to use my walkie-talkie to call the office and let them know that I’m low, sharing my sugar level and my location before I take a break. I then need to keep everyone informed of my progress and when I’m able to return to work safely.
• I am then required to use my supplies that I have within my emergency bag that I always carry such as: DexTabs, a juice box, or a low-carb snack to bring up my sugar. I also carry my glucometer in the event I need to double-check my sugar.
• My classroom also has an emergency kit with similar or duplicate items in case there are days where I don’t have enough supplies, or I forget my bag.
• There is also a parameter in place where if I’m too low and I don’t respond, the school is allowed to call my husband or my parents for support.

Since I have had this plan in place, I have only had to make a walkie call 2-3 times. My advice is if you’re someone who worries about lows at work speak to your supervisors about how they can accommodate, and if needed, you can access Human Resources.

Understanding Employment Rights Related to Disabilities

Collaborating with Human Resources for Workplace Accommodations

For those interested in creating an emergency plan at work it is very simple to make official work accommodations, and it is best to reach out to your Human Resources department.

Steps to Secure Workplace Accommodations

1. Contact HR: Check if your employers have a group within their HR department that supports work accommodations for employees. To get work accommodations put in place, you need to reach out to your HR and then. if needed, they will help you or transfer your request to the appropriate division. The York Region District School Board, for example, has a division in HR called Disability Management.
2. Submit Medical Documentation: You will then need to complete a document signed off by a medical professional that you’ll need and submit it to your HR or similar department.
3. Await Approval: Most employers usually take up to 4 weeks to receive, review, and approve accommodations. Check with your employer about their process and timelines.
4. Participate in Meetings: Before accommodations are implemented there will likely be a meeting that you’ll need to attend with your HR rep, your supervisors, and your union (if you are unionized) so everyone is aware of your needs and how to support you.

For me, involving Human Resources was simple as I had previous accommodations in place for my mental health needs and my learning disability, but the process should always be straightforward without any barriers.

Having accommodations at work has been beneficial for me because:

1. It helps me to prioritize my health needs, especially on days when managing my sugar is harder;
2. It helps my mental health and my learning disability by alleviating job stressors; and
3. I feel valued knowing that everyone around me and my employer all want me to have the best experiences at work so I can ensure my students have the best experiences.

Final Thoughts

A piece of advice I will give you is to make sure you go to the doctor you feel can give all the information necessary for your paperwork, unless there are specific needs. For my accommodations, I’ve either gone through my mental health professional or through my family doctor and most recently, had both complete joint paperwork. Accommodation forms also have a section where referrals can be made to other professionals you see such as your diabetes teams, physiotherapists, chiropractors, etc. in case your employer needs information from others to support your accommodations.