injecting insulin in public

[diabeticmum]

Hi there, I am just interested in peoples opinions on injecting insulin in public especially eating out?
I recently read a letter in a diabetic magazine from someone complaining that it was disgusting, and that it should be done in the toilet instead. I was quite shocked by this negative attitude of this letter, having diabetes is not disgusting, and I have used my insulin pen in public many times, and noone has ever complained, or said anything to me. I do not see why I should hide away in what might be a dirty toilet, I am not a drug addict, I have a condition that requires that I inject before I eat. The pen I use is very discreet anyway, and most people do not notice. Would like to know what other members think?

 

[suzi]

Hi Diabetic mum,
Peoples perception on watching a diabetic inject vary. My son often injects in public and there reactions vary, most stare and say poor kid and are full of pity rather than sympathy,others smile at his bravery, but then he's only 10yrs old. In general i feel most people accept a diabetic injecting, its only those who are ignorant of the condition that make the remarks and pull faces, and come up with stupid ideas of diabetics hiding away to inject, and its them that need pity :lol:
Its like breastfeeding it can be done so discreetly, that unless the nosey git is sitting at your table pratically on your lap :lol: , you'd never know someone was injecting.
Thats my thought anyway,
Suzi x

 

[Orchid]

Mmm! interesting one! I inject in public - I am very discreet, and do it in my tummy, no-one has every complained, but I have always made sure I was very discreet. I also breastfed my babies in restaurants, but again very discreet so as no-one would know.

Totally agree with you, why should you be made to go to dirty toilets, to either breastfeed or inject.

But then again you probably get some people who make a big issue of it and others who are discreet, be it injecting or breastfeeding!

 

[Stuboy]

I inject in public all the time... trains, buses, resturants, etc.

If they dont like it they dont have to watch... Why should we/you have to hide in a dirty discusting public toilet like a drug addict to insulin your life saving drugs!?

I'd be telling them to mind their own business!

 

[totsy]

i totally agree with injecting in public, recently though my mum had guests and said "dont inject in front of them" lol , i guess its personal choice but yrs ago i once injected in the toilets and felt like a junkie so now i do it anywhere (much to my youngests disgrace)

 

[Dennis]

My personal choice is not to inject in front of other diners. My diabetes is my problem, not theirs, and I can sympathise with someone who might be put off by someone injecting. Before I had to inject I had a needle phobia and had been known to pass out on seeing an injection. Why should I inflict that on someone else.

I also think that the state of the toilets in a restaurant is a pretty good indicator of the establishment's hygiene standards. If the toilet is filthy then probably the kitchen is as well, so why would you want to eat there?

 

[Stuboy]

I disagree with that last statement.

Any public toilet is an unhygenic place to inject in my opinion. And just because the toilets might not be cleaned throughout the day, that doesn't mean that the kitchen isn't "cleaned as they go", i've worked in a couple of resturants and in both the kitchen and food prep areas are always cleaned throughout the day... as they go. Where-as the toilets may be CHECKED every hour... they certainly aren't mopped and bleached throughout the day...

 

[RPNKW]

I do it publicly when I have to but discretely. Why should I hide away in a train toilet to carry out an invasive procedure however minor.

On a train you can assemble the kit easily and a shot into belly fat only takes about 15 seconds tops.If anyone sees and you have tried to be discrete it really is their problem but I wouldn't do it overtly.

A bigger issue for me is testing if you need to monitor BM or check for a hypo on a long train journey or in a town centre. Again I have done it discretely without any funny looks. Most you often get will be curiosity.In this case you really shoudn't prick fingers in public , train or restaurant toilets as testing draws blood.

I did have a n attitude from a B and B recently who e-mailed saying they found "Paraphanalia " under the bed. Phoned them and it turned out to be a needle cap, not a needle but the word "Paraphanalia" conjours up images of heroin use it's a phrase commonly used by police and community safety teams.This left a bad taste.Mind you this place was like something from the league of gentlemen "Don't touch the pretty things!" Give me a down to earth boarding house or cheap hotel anytime.

I think if I tested on a train and anyone got precious about it id probably say something like "What would you rather, me do this and take action or me faint and wreck your journey" but I have honestly not come across this again I think most people would either be understanding and curious . Those who have got an attitude, lets not forget that given the growing numbers of us, it could be them next

RPNKW

 

[chocoholic]

I inject at the table in restaurants but do it discreetly. If I was in public at a time when I had inject my Lantus.....now that is a different matter........I inject that into my backside....and one has to be a bit sensitive to others. A wide expanse of middle-age rear flesh is not something I'd flash around.
My mother aways makes me laugh if she's around when I inject into my stomach.....she turns her head away with a loud "Oh God, I can't watch"! :lol:

 

[davidevans604]

I often eat out, and always inject at the table. I don't make a great fuss about it and so far no one has made any comment - for or against!
If someone did say something, I'd take the opportunity to do some education.

 

[Katharine]

Steven injects in public.

Throwing up, faecally soiling yourself, coughing green gunge from your lungs over other people, picking your nose are all things that I would agree are rather disgusting things to do in a restaurant, but not injecting.

 

[HLW]

I wouldn't be offended if I saw someone injecting insulin in public.

 

[catherinecherub]

I think if you are with friends and family no one is going to care. With strangers you may have to be a bit more discreet or warn them in advance. I also don't think that the majority of people would object.

 

[martinbuchan]

I hate injecting in toilets- so I inject at the table. It is very similar to breast feeding in public. It causes no harm to anybody but there are a small minority who find it offensice. Causing offense does not cause harm (see John S Mill). Personally, if someone finds it offensive then this person really needs to grow up and wise up. I find children enjoy watching me inject- I think showing them it isn't sore will help them.

I inject my tummy at the moment.

 

[mikeyuk]

I don't really, but I'm quite a private person. If I really *have* to then I just inject into my stomach, most of the time no-one even notices.

I think there is a difference between doing it descretely in public and making more of a fuss of it. I can understand people's point of view like "why should I have to hide anything!", but at the same time I don't think a little discretion hurt anyone.

 

[cmears]

Both of my daughters inject in public. They discreetly inject in their tummy, and to be honest, people often don't even notice them doing it. They inject at the lunch table at college, and have injected on station platforms, on the beach and all sorts of weird and wonderful places.
I agree that flourishing the pen and shouting 'If you don't like needles, look away now' is naughty, but when all's said and done, injecting is normal for them, and if it means carrying on as normal and enjoying life, then I back them 100%, even if they do get the very occasional tut, aversion of the eyes or a 'the poor things' look.

 

[KimSuzanne]

I inject in public all the time the same as others on the forum have said under the table in my stomach - most of the time people don't even notice. Even my friends and family don't notice I've done it, I would not want to go into a toilet that I don't know has been cleaned in the last few days.

 

[Trinkwasser]

Steven injects in public.

Throwing up, faecally soiling yourself, coughing green gunge from your lungs over other people, picking your nose are all things that I would agree are rather disgusting things to do in a restaurant, but not injecting.

I went to that restaurant too <G>

 

[annettemc]

Admittedly it is inconvenient no matter if you are in a restaurant,pub or other social environment where you cannot escape to for 5 mins hygienic privacy! I cannot inject in my stomach as it makes me feel like physically vomiting! If I am wearing a skirt (even with thick wooly tights) I am able to inject the tops of my legs under the table but if wearing trousers or jeans it is usually the do it before I go scenario and risk a hypo... or wait till I get back with a thirst to drink a reservoir dry??? Yes it is still a problem when socialising with adults but the kids don;t seem to mind at all (no matter how young they are and just accept it no problem, in fact the younger ones usually go.... oh! was it sore,are u ok!) I have no wish to visit a toilet for anything other than going to the toilet! :!:

 

[Aadrgon]

I can't see anything wrong with it.
If someone collapsed in a public place and the paramedics needed to inject them with something do you think they are going to drag them into the toilet first ? more to the point can you see anyone complaining about it.
So why should a diabetic be made to feel uncomfortable for injecting