injecting in a public place

fatbabbyharry

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Having recently found myself unemployed I have paid my first visit to a job centre in nearly 30 years .... what a shock when I needed to administer insulin! I can't .... it's not allowed! Has anybody else encountered this??
 

Tracey69

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310
HI
I inject where ever i am. I don't hide away as it is part of our life's. Never been asked to stop or not allowed, i would of said "well you either want to take responsibility if i don't " that might make them change their minds or just explain your situations.
Take care
Tracey
 

bowell

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Having recently found myself unemployed I have paid my first visit to a job centre in nearly 30 years .... what a shock when I needed to administer insulin! I can't .... it's not allowed! Has anybody else encountered this??

Yep I was told i would have to leave the second floor because I am a fire risk (wheelchair user)
I questions this and security was called to escort me and my wife downstairs

The 2nd floor is for back to work interviews for the long term sick ???

Then told there was no other waiting area I would have to wait outside

I phoned HSE i was told this was rubbish also the office i phoned carried out there H&S inspection

Talk to your nearest CAB ,, I went for court action
JCP backed right off ,And built a new room for wheelchair users after I kicked off
all my other interviews were done at home
I would not back down until the JCP manger made a full apology to me and my wife
in writing and in person

You may also be told you can not use the toilet becuse of drug users

Bob
 

copepod

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735
Type of diabetes
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Why do you need to inject in the Job Centre, unless you're eating a meal, which seems unlikely?!?
 

Poodlelady

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Insulin is a vital part of a diabetics life. We always try to go to a hotel where the owner is sympathetic and allows me to use their private lounge to administer my insulin. However on holiday in Anglesey I did have an incident where we were meeting some friends for lunch and I decided to inject in the car before going into the hotel. I was accosted by a passerby who started shouting at me about being a drug addict. My husband got out and explained to the person I was injecting into my stomach because I was diabetic and would he now apologise to me. I told him I didn't want his apology and to go and push ducks and shut his big mouth in future. Nobody asks to be diabetic, and the public should be made more aware about the condition.
 

anna29

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Hi.
Just like to mention that whenever I attend clinic's , they always ask me two questions.
1. Have i eaten ?
2. Would I need/like a room to inject in privately.
Have injected in my car too and YES it does get some funny looks off passers by .
It IS a problem for us just WHERE we can safetly inject , as to use the toilets is out of the question.
Anna. :D
 

dturney

Member
Messages
5
Probably different in the US...I just ate my lunch out...used a Pen: injected setting at my table, through my jeans, into my leg. Got a few looks, but on comments ...always inject at my table . I am kinda crusty though. I have an answer for them KMA.
 

notafanofsugar

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241
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Type 1
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Insulin
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everything good for me! getting better though x
I was told once not to inject in a restaurant and I said 'would you rather I collapse on the table in front of everyone to show your neglect, or look after my health as I am supposed to - and is MY RIGHT'.

You can imagine I was allowed to inject :)
 

Otenba

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Wow, I've yet to experience this awkwardness to this degree. I make sure that most either know what and why I'm going to do it, or I make sure to be as discreet as possible (in stomach or leg usually). I've injected in the street and in places like restaurants - in the UK and abroad! Same for blood tests.

I don't go out of my way to use a loo unless I'm, say, injecting my background dose into my bum - that would be awkward in public to be discreet about lol! XD
 

Tracey69

Well-Known Member
Messages
310
To fatbabbyharry
I have never been told i can't inject in a public place and i am out and about quite regular, in cafe.
I think people are ignorant regarding our situation, they could ask whether we are a diabetic or not.
Take care
Tracey
 

josie38

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Messages
281
I have never been told not to inject in public - i have always managed to do it discreetly!

To notafanofsugar - your profile says T1 but diet only?????????

Josie
 

anna29

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Hi all.
I have posted my own experience of this, in the diabetes discussions thread, when I recently visted the eye clinic at my local hospital .
Its a horrifying example of the real risks of injecting in a public toilet. do bear in mind other persons bodily fluids and air bourne wide spread germs [toilet spray sending it further] in confined areas. :shock:
Its the reality of the unseen risks, some completely invisible to the human eye's too.
I was firmly told by the clinics head nurse, never ever inject in a public toilet ...
Anna. x :)
 

fordyford

Newbie
Messages
2
Hello people and fatbabbyharry many many years ago when I was a teenager I was boxing for England in Spain I spent 4 years out there. The 1 night my girl friend and I decided to go for a curry we ordered the food and then just before the food arrived I started to do my injection to myself so people couldn’t see. The manager of the restaurant came running over to me shouting NO NO YOU DRUG ADDICT I tried to tell him I was a diabetic NO NO YOU A DRUGGY everyone was now looking at me and saying things about me I said again I’m diabetic he started pushing me my pen hit the floor the cartridge smashed while he still shouted at me calling me a drug addict I told him five times while he pushed me around his restaurant. My girl friend then tried to tell him in Spanish that I was diabetic and needed it he pushed her to the floor game over I smashed him his staff and his restaurant up for about 20 minuets then the police arrived and started attacking me with their batons this went on for about 5 minutes to be fair I was doing well then it all stopped a high ranking police officer started shouting everything in the room stopped he walked over to me like he was going to explode :evil: he had my pen in his hand is this yours he screamed at me. O well its all over now I thought. Yes it is (not one to quit me) He then replied to my surprise sit down are you ok. Yes I think I may have burnt a bit of sugar off. He grinned and turned round and went mental at his officers the restaurant manager and staff for 10 minutes then came back over to me and my girl friend and said in the car which I didn’t like the sound of. He took me and my girl friend with all the police officers which couldn’t do enough to help us now to the hospital to have my injuries sorted out. It was their that he told my girl friend that his wife was diabetic and it was disgrace that I had been treated like this in his country and by his officers. He then drove us home where my trainer was waiting for us he was about to have a go to when the officer told him it wasn’t me. I know I probably shouldn’t have smashed the restaurant up and the staff in it but I had told him more than enough times and he did push my girl friend to the ground. Bet he doesn’t have a problem with diabetics any more :thumbup:
 

Sanober

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What awful situations some folk have had to suffer.

This is the one thing I'm most nervous of. I have a healthy social life and December is the biggest social month of the year, but I'll be going on insulin for the first time soon. :roll:

My work colleagues and manager are all great and I just told them not make a big deal if they see me 'shooting up' at my desk as that's where I tend to eat my lunch mostly. But what about the department canteen?

I was out with my friend the other night and I mentioned my worry and I was rather surprised she suggested I could do in the loo. I replied 'Why? I'm just going to self administer a drug but just by a needle instead of a pill, why should I remove myself and inject in the loo?' I think she was honestly just responding to my worry of injecting in public, but seriously, I'm going to have this condition for life, I'm not going to lock myself away.

Maybe I should have a newborn on my breast AND inject, really mess with people's heads! :lol:
 

Emzie-Bub-xo

Member
Messages
22
Hi all, i have had a similar incident in a restaurant recently, where a waiter saw me injecting and actually asked me to leave for using "drugs" at the table! I calmly explained i was t1, they quickly apologised but i left anyway, disgusted by their ignorance! Diabetes awarrness has definitely got better in the 13 years since i was diagnosed, but its still not acceptable! Just because im 23 and am injecting myself, people automatically think im doing drugs!!! Ridiculous! :/ i hate having to lock myself in the bathroom but I hate prying eyes glaring at me like im a druggie even more!! Lol sorry guys just on a rant tonight!! :D
 

alliebee

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Messages
2,486
I have a dilemma, Its my first week on insulin, and I have to inject at 6pm ( DN told me to do strictly to the time),

Ive been very unwell with high bg readings, and only in the past few days have I felt up to going out
My freinds are thrilled that Im improving and have organised a special afternoon tea at Rushton Hall, beautiful spa and hotel as a treat for me. ( Will be very careful how much I eat) but I couldnt tell them that Im on a Strict diet and spoil the surprise......

Then a five min walk to Church for a carol service,... My problem is that at 6 the service will have started... I Cant inject in church LOL can you imagine the looks !!!!

Is it ok to inject through trousers, as the post above said??? or should I cry off from the service to go home to do.... if I could do it through my trousers discreetly, my friends would shield me, Im on the pens.. it may work... Just never heard of such a thing... :roll: :roll: :eh:
 

copepod

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Messages
735
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
What sort of insulin is your 6pm injection? If it's long acting insulin, then having it before or after the service would be fine. If it's short acting insulin or bimodal and thus must be before / after food, then perhaps not so good, if you have to eat within say 15 mins of injecting. (communion won't be enough carbs!) Otherwise, through trouser fabric (or through open flies zip) works fine, especially if you have friends to shield you. Pens are very discrete, and you'll be getting skilled! :)
 

alliebee

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2,486
Thank you, all was fine, Its a long lasting so Levemir, I tried my new skills and asked the waitress if there was somewhere I could take my Insulin, and she was kindness itself and showed me to one of the hotel bedrooms. Bless her We had such a nice time we staayed there till seven and missed church... Lol

Im sure that it wont always be that easy, but gave me confidence for the future
Thankyou
 

copepod

Well-Known Member
Messages
735
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Glad you had a good time. Personally, I've never had a problem with being noticed giving myslef injections - often prefer to do it without telling anyone around me, so have sometimes used store rooms, gone behind trees / rocks when outdoors etc, and only used toilets if absolutely no more suitable alternative.
 

borderter

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Messages
638
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Type 2
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Insulin
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Diabetes! Celebrities and curry
I always inject at the table before eating out and have not yet had a problem and in fact I doubt that anyone has even noticed :?