Hi
I was accused of shoplifting in Marks and Spencers and police were called. The reason was that I left with a £20 pair of shoes in my trolley, despite having paid for everything else. However, I am diabetic and was suffering a very severe low blood sugar, which meant I was totally unaware of what I was doing, since I become almost comatose, at these times and quite panicky. I had proof of the low blood sugar, since I tested it once I was stopped by guards and informed them of this, but they took no notice, simply asked me if I wanted them to call an ambulance and that it 'could put its siren on for me'. Due to the low blood sugar, I hardly said a word, yet was told by the police that they had been called because I 'was aggressive', completely untrue. When I asked them how they could say this, they told me 'they didn't need to answer'. This occurred in April 2015, but I still feel so angry and depressed about it and feel I should do something for the sake of anyone else who may suffer the same in the future. I am also now banned for life from M and S.
Is there anything I can do?

While noble to want to keep this going for the sake of other diabetics, that's just not a cause we hear a need for, and you need to work on getting it off your mind. You do this by 'forgiving' the police, who hear every reason for an unpaid item there is. And it was your responsibility to track your sugar. When I became 'almost comatose,' I couldn't even stand up, speak, or open my eyes. It could be said that a diabetic who isn't aware of what she is doing is a liability to the establishment. Also, having said that you were unaware, you lost reliability of reporting the situation when you claimed that you weren't aggressive.
And lastly, saying that you paid for everything else is also a poor excuse, because it is a tactic used by many shoplifters.

I'm not accusing you of keeping the shoes deliberately at all, just saying what is typical of reactions by stores and by police. So just face the fact that you looked guilty, no matter what, that the police have to deal with shoplifters day in and day out and get jaded about it, and your story is lost in the shuffle. You can't do anything about it. It's gone. It's over. We all tend to stew over injustices of our pasts, of course, so I know it's easy for me to say. But I work on it.

Were charges pressed? Did you have to pay legal costs on top of the cost of the shoes? If not, consider yourself fortunate.

You can use a medical condition as an explanation. You cannot use it as an excuse. Because a diabetic is able to track and adjust his or her condition, there is a very clear responsibility on the part of the diabetic.

I agree with joypulv.

Accidents happen, some people do this trying to get more than they paid for, the fact is you left with something you didn't pay for. That's ALL that matters when all is said and done. Everyone pays higher prices due to retail theft.

Medical problems are your own responsibility to keep under control, they don't work as a "get out of jail free" card.

Put yourself in the position of a store owner that has to deal with things being stolen from them. What if someone visits YOU and leaves with something of yours? Perspective is something many people need more of.

Accident or otherwise... the result is the same.

Hi JoypulvI think unfortunately, that you do not understand what it is like to be a type 1 diabetic for 45 years and how a sad side effect of that is that people with this condition lose the ability to recognise low blood sugars. I am sure you are trying to help, but you are speaking about something without knowledge and coming across as very judgmental. Thanks for caring enough to try though!

Neither Joy no myself intend to be rude, we are just pointing things out as they are. The authorities have heard every excuse invented already, including the one you have used.

And you yourself admit that yes you DID have the pair of shoes that you failed to pay for you were accused of...that's not being judgemental...its being factual.

Yes diabetes sucks to have (most people know more than one person with it even if we might not have it ourselves) nobody suggests otherwise. As does every other ailment. But none of them are a valid excuse to use when they involve crimes. The only time it does apply, is mental illness, and THAT has to be proven each time and isn't accepted most of the time.

The old,"..... but I have this" excuse doesn't get people off the hook for anything they did.

There are plenty of other people who did genuinely forget about something under the cart... that didn't get a pass either, even if they were dealing with several unruly young children at the time.

The courts treat people the same (or at least they should) when a specific crime is committed. Excuses don't work outside of your parents home.

Most diabetics check their blood sugar at least several times a day even when they feel all right, or when they normally have things under control because not every day is the same. (Yes I have several IMMEDIATE family members with diabetes).

Diabetics also learn to carry some hard candy with them at all times (transports better than chocolate or softer stuff) in case of low blood sugar situations. Because despite vigilance, it does happen from time to time.

I sympathize with your condition, but disagree with the notion that this shop keeper cannot protect himself against the "sad side effects" of your condition. You never answered the question though, "Were charges pressed? Did you have to pay legal costs on top of the cost of the shoes?" as these are important facts of your situation.

How is the shop keeper supposed to be aware of your condition, and should he hope you never do this again because of it? Maybe he could have acted better, but maybe you could have also, by not dismissing those sad side effects and expecting others to give you a free pass for the your oversight, and acknowledging they did offer you medical attention.

It's a wash but banning you is not a good solution either in my view, but is this a fight worth having? Not unless you have done all you can to manage your own sad side effects that you have been well aware of for quite sometime. Surely you can see the shop keeper can't tell you from a thief, nor does he have too, and you were caught, intentional or not.

You also never said if you offered to pay, ​but all those little questions left unanswered does cast doubts on your intentions, and unless they are addressed, what is a casual observer supposed to think? What you can do is manage those side effects a whole lot better since obviously you may never change the shop keepers mind at all!

Be glad you weren't driving and killed someone (and that has happened) or yourself, because of your condition. Take this as a wake up call.

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Originally Posted by eclark61

Hi JoypulvI think unfortunately, that you do not understand what it is like to be a type 1 diabetic for 45 years and how a sad side effect of that is that people with this condition lose the ability to recognise low blood sugars. I am sure you are trying to help, but you are speaking about something without knowledge and coming across as very judgmental. Thanks for caring enough to try though!

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Sorry but but I don't agree with you that diabetics type one or two lose the ability to recognize low blood sugars. I am a type one and surely always aware of a dip in my blood sugar and always have a piece of hard candy on me to compensate and bring that dip back to a normal condition. It is your responsibility as a diabetic to arm yourself for this eventuality.

i am also in the healthcare field and trained to assist diabetics with the proper knowledge.

Your health issue, would have been used by the jduge to reduce sentence, and/or to plea bargain the issue.

I will assume you did not hire an attorney to work a deal on this ?

But in general medical conditions such as this, do not deter legal actions against crimes.

Your best action at the time, call the ambulance, get the medical condition verfied at hospital, and that would have had a much better showing to the judge.

You still carry this grudge for a year and a half? My son has been a type 1 diabetic for 33 years. When he was very young, 14-15, he had some issues but at his age today, well aware of symptoms. May I ask why you aren't using a pump? If your reactions are that severe, you may well benefit using one, particularly with a CGM monitor.