injecting in a public place

[bethan90]

Wow! I've never experienced such reactions. I was diagnosed at 11yrs old. I always went in another room to inject (if at friends house for example) or loo if I was out. However, I soon realised how to be discreet and now inject wherever I am. I don't understand those who accuse people of taking drugs at the table? Do people honestly think people sit in restaurants injecting class A drugs?!

I once remember being in Tenerife with my boyfriend. I was ok doing injection out and about at home but abroad was another matter (don't know why!!). We were sat in a bar, I had ordered a cocktail so was about to get up and pop to room or toilet to inject. My boyfriend said "just do it at the table!" I was horrified, but as he said it, an elderly man on table next to us got out his injection and took his insulin:) I did the same and he gave me a knowing smile. Lol.

[McMittens]

I've injected in public in my stomach on a number of ocassions mainly in cafes/restaurants and haven't had a word said to me. That said I'm sure at some point (after reading this thread) someone will say something.

[borderter]

On a long train journey needed to inject and did so but the guy sat next to me tried hard to ignore it and soon moved seats LOL felt like he thought I was a junkie

[ReginaldD]

On thing I love about my pump, being able to get it out of my pocket and type in the dose just looks like I'm playing with a phone

[dwibley]

I inject wherever I like, there is no law that forbids it and even if there was one, I would ignore it. If seated with people who are not family I will usually courteously explain the situation and have never had a problem.

[Hannahs Mum]

Hi

I work in a Jobcentre and I can understand why they would not want needles on view in a public area in view of some potentially unsavoury characters. However, we have quite a few members of staff who are type 1 and parents of type 1 children, so I would have thought that they wouldn't have minded a security officer and a member of staff with diabetic experience taking you to a private area. Maybe they just don't have that much knowledge and experience in your particular office.

[SWMHO1]

I inject whenever and wherever I need to, I have never been asked to leave or go to a more discrete location. If that did ever occur I would take the matter further legally, as diabetes is a recognised disability.

Once in a local restaurant I did a quick glucose check and then injected my insulin, and a lady came over to me and said I did it very discretely, and as a fellow diabetic she wished she could do the same.

Diabetes does need to be more in the public eye, and I would encourage anyone who needs to inject to do so openly. Obviously you don't have to go over the top, rolling sleeves up and making a big to do about it.

Good luck to all

[sd29]

I used to refuse to inject in public and hide in the toilets and feel embarrassed. Then I stopped caring and would happily inject when required as discretely as I could. In the thigh under a table cloth, talking to friends/colleagues (amazing how effective this is, simple talking deflects all attention) Now I use a pump, I mostly hide it in my bra, and do get some odd looks if I have to stop the annoying tune of fur Elise when it runs low, or bolus over breadsticks. An illuminated chest is definitely not the kind of thing you want at a work do! And then there was the date who didn't know I was diabetic and looked horrified as I went to retrieve the pump! If I got told I couldn't inject at the jobcentre, I would politely ask to have a private space provided. If that fails, ask to speak to a manager and explain that as a government body, they should be aware that as a diabetic, my needs are covered under the single equality act and I am sure DWP wouldnt like it to be known the are discriminatory against me needing to inject life saving medication! I'm no preacher, but find a little discretion and humour go a long way. Inject with confidence as the more furtive we act, the more sinister we make our injections seem. In my opinion anyway!

[Cobra3164]

Why should diabetics have to put up with people who pre-judge them, lets face it that injection saves ur life. If I am on insulin and having to inject even in a public place I will not bow down to paranoia in the general public, lighting a cig is more of offence these days. No one should feel they have to hide it is to a certain extent discrimitation and above all ignorance, people need to be educated and made aware that this will happen sometimes if I have to inject to save my life I will, not to set out deliberately to do it but if my body requires insulin then that is what I have to do. I understand those who do not wish to but dont feel you have to hide it. It is not us that have caused this but those who inject drugs to get high and above all it is not illegal to inject insulin and I wont let the few drug addicts make me afraid.

I know this sounds harsh and to a small extent I do understand drug users I was one once myself. If we hide ourselves away then people will see it as the normal and the more the paranoia will increase. Diabetics have a hard job keeping themselves in shape and well enough to do everyday things let alone worry about what someone thinks of what they are doing. Hiding brings ignorance and being open breeds understanding. If someone is going to accuse you of being a druggy without knowing the facts then surely that is their problem not ours, our problem is a matter of day to day survival and wellbeing something I used to take for granted before I discovered I had diabetes.

Bless you all

Simon aka Cobra3164

[Kilted Ginger]

I had never considered discrete injection. I test and inject wherever I am, I've never felt the need to (or been asked to) explain. I'm actually in the pub now and just injected 10 mins ago. The only concession I do make is I always take my injection and test needles home to dispose of.
What is there to be embarassed / self consious about?

[robertwt]

I have had it all too:
In a restaurant with colleagues a woman to the left of me suggested that I go elsewhere to inject (I was shooting up levemir and novorapid at the time).

When I asked here where, she suggested the toilets.

I asked her "When you next have an injection, ask the Doctor if he'd like to do it in a public s*** house".

It went quiet and conversation around the table stopped. She had no answer, for there was none. Come to think of it, she ignored me when I asked if she'd mind if I took my Metformin....

LOL

[Mhcrawford0]

I am 33 and was diagnosed with Type 1 4 months ago. I have to say I am very surprised to hear some of the intolerance. I inject everywhere - in the school lunch hall, at the cinema, on the train, and in a lot of restaurants, some rather nice ones. I have never had so much as an inquisitive glance. My advice to everyone would be to go for it. Diabetes is enough of an imposition on your life already. Often I will go out for dinner and sit with my insulin on the table and inject for each course!

[diabeticwithdog]

I have been injecting for many years now and have had some strange looks, but never been told I am not allowed. I am now on a pump and find this much easier, it just looks like you are using a pager or something and no one can be offended. I even do it the classroom when I am teaching if I need to. I have a hypo alert dog with me 24/7 and if he says my blood sugars are rising then I have to react or he will not stop alerting me. I do get told often that the dog is not allowed to go into plavces though, which makes me mad.

As people have said we would rather not be Diabetic.

[Melanie_Anne-Louise]

I always inject in public - I used to go and 'hide' in the bathroom but have since thought 'why on Earth am I doing this? It's nothing to be ashamed of!'.
If I am with others I warn them of what I am doing in case they are needle-phobic but no-one to date has had any issue with it.

Crazy World we live in!


xx

[cheesepig]

Few years ago not long after diagnosis I was injecting (hypodermic not pen) in a railway station. Reasonably discreetly, facing away from crowd, in a corner. An arm suddenly grabbed me around the neck from behind, with an incoherent shout. In agony from a needle ripped across my stomach, I punched wildly behind me at where the head responsible for the arm would be. I turned round to find a transport copper with a busted lip and nose.

Served the **** right for listening to someone mumble 'junkie'.

I just inject where and when I need to, surprised that anyone ever doesn't. My only caveats are 1. Small kids - don't want to be jostled, don't want to prong one with a needle

2. genuine needle phobics. That was a nasty experience for both of us, I check now.