CS09
Member
Good Morning all,
I have come for a little bit of advice, but first please allow me to introduce myself. I am a 29 year old male, a type 1 diabetic who is shortly going to be starting a career with Southern.
At age 12 I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (I medicate with insulin injections) and was told I will never be a pilot, captain, train driver, taxi driver, bus driver or be allowed to operated any sort of heavy machinery (cranes etc). I was also told to forget about the fire service, military and the police force as well. At 12 years old my career was at the back of my mind but the more I thought about it these sorts of jobs were all things I wanted to do so decided to set out to prove my GP (who told me I would never perform these roles) at the time wrong.
At 21 I joined the police as a civilian and a few years later was offered the role of a constable with the met police. At the point of the job offer I was told I would never be able to join the firearms squad or be insured to drive the fleet vehicles due to my condition. Dejected, I turned the job offer down. I also made it through the recruitment process for the fire service, only to find out the same GP now worked as medical officer for my local station and I was suddenly turned down after interview. I also got through the first stages for a role with the RAF but was told they have a 'no diabetics' rule. I looked at air traffic control but at the time they also excluded diabetics. However I see now they will consider applications from diabetics but my current situation means I cannot afford the pay cut when training.
Fast forward to today and after working in airport security for a while I have been offered a job with Southern as a train conductor. Once my GP (a new one thankfully) sends of my medical history I should hopefully be starting with the company in June. Next month I also have assessment day for the role of a trainee train driver with Southern. Whilst I am very excited at the prospect of being a conductor, I would prefer to be a train driver. I have liased with the occ health team who have told me they have recently started considering diabetics for the role but it is still a grey area. I will have conditions imposed upon me to keep myself fit for the role as a conductor and imagine if I was successful in becoming a trainee train driver similiar conditions would be required.
Which leads me to this, has anyone with diabtes or a similiar condition (or non-similiar condition with similiar methods of control) have experience or insight into being a train diver and what you have done/been advised to do to keep yourself fit for the role?
Does anyone in recruitment or medical fields have any advice or information that may be relevant to a type 1 diabetic looking to become a train driver?
I appreciate the time anyone has taken to read this and look forward to reading any replies. If the train driver application does not amount to a job offer I am still of course very eager to start working as a conductor, so any other diabetics (or non diabetics with medical conditions) who can offer advice in doing this role successfully then please do share.
For what it's worth my HBA1C is currently 6.3% and my general control of my diabetes is good with no hypoglaecemic episodes in over 18 months and only 2 disabling hypos in 15 years.
Regards,
Carl,
I have come for a little bit of advice, but first please allow me to introduce myself. I am a 29 year old male, a type 1 diabetic who is shortly going to be starting a career with Southern.
At age 12 I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (I medicate with insulin injections) and was told I will never be a pilot, captain, train driver, taxi driver, bus driver or be allowed to operated any sort of heavy machinery (cranes etc). I was also told to forget about the fire service, military and the police force as well. At 12 years old my career was at the back of my mind but the more I thought about it these sorts of jobs were all things I wanted to do so decided to set out to prove my GP (who told me I would never perform these roles) at the time wrong.
At 21 I joined the police as a civilian and a few years later was offered the role of a constable with the met police. At the point of the job offer I was told I would never be able to join the firearms squad or be insured to drive the fleet vehicles due to my condition. Dejected, I turned the job offer down. I also made it through the recruitment process for the fire service, only to find out the same GP now worked as medical officer for my local station and I was suddenly turned down after interview. I also got through the first stages for a role with the RAF but was told they have a 'no diabetics' rule. I looked at air traffic control but at the time they also excluded diabetics. However I see now they will consider applications from diabetics but my current situation means I cannot afford the pay cut when training.
Fast forward to today and after working in airport security for a while I have been offered a job with Southern as a train conductor. Once my GP (a new one thankfully) sends of my medical history I should hopefully be starting with the company in June. Next month I also have assessment day for the role of a trainee train driver with Southern. Whilst I am very excited at the prospect of being a conductor, I would prefer to be a train driver. I have liased with the occ health team who have told me they have recently started considering diabetics for the role but it is still a grey area. I will have conditions imposed upon me to keep myself fit for the role as a conductor and imagine if I was successful in becoming a trainee train driver similiar conditions would be required.
Which leads me to this, has anyone with diabtes or a similiar condition (or non-similiar condition with similiar methods of control) have experience or insight into being a train diver and what you have done/been advised to do to keep yourself fit for the role?
Does anyone in recruitment or medical fields have any advice or information that may be relevant to a type 1 diabetic looking to become a train driver?
I appreciate the time anyone has taken to read this and look forward to reading any replies. If the train driver application does not amount to a job offer I am still of course very eager to start working as a conductor, so any other diabetics (or non diabetics with medical conditions) who can offer advice in doing this role successfully then please do share.
For what it's worth my HBA1C is currently 6.3% and my general control of my diabetes is good with no hypoglaecemic episodes in over 18 months and only 2 disabling hypos in 15 years.
Regards,
Carl,