Constable Ian Barraclough is am award-winning police officer with the Vancouver Police Department in Canada. He is well known for his superior investigatory skills as well as a strong commitment to the job while also living with and managing type 1 diabetes.
In 2020, Type 1 Diabetes Explained had the pleasure of briefly interviewing Constable Barraclough about his experience as an active duty police officer with type 1. You can find his responses here.
[Q]: How has type 1 diabetes affected your day-to-day job as a police officer? (General changes, things you do differently from others, etc.)
[Barraclough]: Nothing at all. There is nothing that I've needed to do to accomplish my tasks in the British Army (Sherwood Foresters) or for the Canadian Police that have impacted my role as a type 1 diabetic. These jobs and responsibilities are not in any way diabetes-affected, and anyone employer that feels otherwise should be challenged.
[Q]: If you are on a call and have low blood sugar, what are the “procedures” for what to do?
[Barraclough]: You'll have low blood sugar symptoms before you experience low blood sugar effects. Upon being symptomatic, you pop a sugar tablet, which is no different than what a pro football player might do. The bad guy has no idea.
[Q]: What is the scariest or most nerve-racking aspect of being a first responder with type 1?
[Barraclough]: The job is the same. You tell your partner and you can feed yourself sugar tablets while you are driving if need be. With continuous blood glucose monitoring devices, there is no need for ones nerves to be racked.
[Q]: Do you think that having type 1 changes a lot about how you approach the job, or do you forget that you have it while working? Does having a medical condition yourself help you empathize more with others you may be helping?
[Barraclough]: It took a lot to get this job. I’m the first person with type 1 diabetes to be hired as a police officer in Canada. I had a military background from the UK and I knew that this medical condition doesn't need to stop you from being anything you want to be.
[Q]: Do you find that most departments, chiefs, and fellow first responders are accepting of your diagnosis and do they ensure that you can still help others while taking care of your type 1?
[Barraclough]: You have to continually educate those around you to the condition you have, but that’s normal. In order to set prejudice aside one needs to educate.
[Q]: What is the one, main disadvantage of having type 1 while being a first responder, and what are the advantages (if any)?
[Barraclough]: Main disadvantage is that there's a lot of shift work, and unusual and non-typical break times can also be difficult.
[Q]: What would you say to a young child with type 1 who hopes to become a first responder when they grow up?
[Barraclough]: You have the same opportunity as any other child and don't let any adult tell you anything differently.
