• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Has anyone had this happen?

Hi Alex
I have been type1diabetic for over 47 yes so I feel I
I can comment on this!
I also years ago had a glass syringe and huge needle but at that time did not inject outside as I only had 2
Injections a day.
Today is fantastic with the new pens and it is a much better way of life for me even though I Inject over 5
Times a day but have never experienced what you have.
People are so ignorant they should be in your shoes for one day and see how they like it!!!
Keep going there are so many understanding people out there - this one is in the minority!!!
 
I can't believe this happened to you. I lived with my Dad who has Type 1 for 41 years and then was diagnosed myself within type 1. There is no shame in keeping yourself safe and alive and healthy. If anyone did that to me I would give them an earful. Clearly immature and stupid. Let's hope she never has to deal with a chronic disease. Keep going and looking after yourself xx
 
Awful!!! I used to inject in toilets but nope not doing that anymore! I one day thought it's pretty gross in here! I don't go waggling the bloody pen around I try to be discreet and to be honest my Co workers are pretty nice - they may be curious but no one has ever said anything to me. The funniest part is doing the airshot I have a tissue or something but imagine if I sprayed up into the air or across the table - eeek
 
Comes back to education I think! In school's we need to be discussing real life things! Anyone who thinks an insulin pen is remotely like anything you would use to inject heroin which you need to cook on a spoon with a lighter is beyond ignorant!
 
Hmm..

Been diabetic for 20 odd years. Wouldn't openly inject in a restaurant, just as I wouldn't expect anyone to openly deal with a medical issue in a restaurant (obvious emergencies aside)? Purely because it has the potential to make other people feel uncomfortable.

Not a huge ask to go to the toilet and inject there really? So a non issue if you ask me.

Play devil's advocate perhaps?

Not everyone understands what diabetes is, what you are doing or why you are doing it.
 
Last edited:

One of my best mates has Chrons disease and regularly has to change his colostomy bag.

I'd be a bit put off he did it whilst I was eating in a restaurant though!

Having a chronic illness isn't a licence to do as you wish under all circumstances.

Context is always important.

If what you're doing had the potential to raise eyebrows and you're likely to be upset by these reactions then surely don't do it the first place?

Or just do it discreetly? When I was on MDI I could inject in my leg at a table without my family realising I had done so.

Stop playing the victim.
 
Last edited:
Reactions: hh1
 
I understand your perspective and im not really knowledgeable about what changing a colostomy bag entails - is it comparable to using an insulin pen? Should people go to the toilet to take tablets or to use asthma inhalers? I understand that people may not know what is being used but to make a rude comment about something that you don't understand is classed as ignorance to me.
 

Forgive their ignorance! I can't repeat on here what I would have said as it's my first post but think you get the idea
 
It's upsetting when someone looks at you and says urghhhh. I don't think that Alex is 'playing the victim'.
And for all those people who have colleagues objecting to them injecting in the work area, the Equality Act states that a room should be provided for people with diabetes to test and inject. We shouldn't have to do either in the toilet - especially some toilets I've experienced, and the likelihood of encountering bad bacteria and viruses is high in the best of them!
 

If you have a medical condition and have to deal with it in a public space and it has the potential to raise eyebrows or make others uncomfortable. e.g injecting in a McDonald's or a family restaurant... Then yes you should be discreet.

Following your logic. Taking tablets does not have the same impact to others as injecting.

I honestly don't see it as an issue and have never wanted to inject publicly. It's always something I could time or do during a toilet break.

The world is bigger than "you" or "I" which many people need to remember.
 
There are ignorant people who will mouth off for many reasons, not just at diabetics. With most trying to explain what you are doing will simply be ignored. Just ignore them, or if there are other people present you can tell them you are a diabetic and have to take insulin. Try to put it behind you, you are doing nothing wrong, you don't need to hide away.

If eating out I simply undo a shirt button and inject. Prior to that I'll shake, tap the pen, and holding it up eject 2 units as I was originally told to. I have done this many times when out for the day in London and in busy places, nobody paid any attention. In restaurants I've deliberately held the pen high at a table, wanting to see if I got a reaction, sadly none. I would love to have explained the basics of dealing with diabetes, most people aren't that informed. Perhaps another time I'll do it while the waitress is at the table, so if they haven't yet come across a diabetic injecting, they will now be familiar with it.
 
I find it bizarre that people seem to take offence to individuals reacting to someone taking an injection in a restaurant, as if they wouldn't or shouldn't. It is inappropriate.

It's this constant victim mentally, whinging about everything that allows the growth of the right wing and gives these individuals something to rally against.
 

It's none of anyone's business if you inject and I don't see why you should have to justify yourself to them.
 

Why?

Why deliberately hold a pen at table height and seek a reaction?

Why expect that everyone should be familiar with it and want or have to deal with it.

Bizarre!
 
Reactions: hh1
I think you're missing the point a bit, not everything in life can be timed. What if someone had high sugars and there was no where discreet around to take their insulin? Should they not take their insulin for fear of upsetting someone? No of course not! Insulin pens are discreet in themselves, most needle tips are 5mm or less and you can't see it entering the skin unless your are a few inches away from it. The world is full of different disabilities and diseases and the more we show these differences the more normal and accepted they will become. We need to be teaching type 1 diabetic children that there is no shame in taking our medicine, it doesn't have to clandestine, it's just a part of life. If anyone is playing victim it's the snowflakes that claim it upsets them but never stop to think that maybe their comments upset us and we're the ones who have to live with this disease and all the problems it brings. Oh and btw my mother has Crohn's disease so I know there is nothing comparable between changing her bag and me doing my insulin.
 
buckley8219 said:
Why?

Why deliberately hold a pen at table height and seek a reaction?

Why expect that everyone should be familiar with it and want or have to deal with it.

Bizarre!
Click to expand...
I don't even think about other people or their reaction when I do my insulin outside, it's not on my radar. I don't do it to upset someone or get a reaction, all I'm thinking about is trying to estimate my carb intake, work out units and try and remember the last site I used for my injection so I don't do it in the same place twice.
 

In my quarter of a century of having diabetes I've never been in the situation where I could not discreetly inject or put myself in a position to inject out of view.
 
There needs to be a tv program about this to get the message out there and prevent it happening again to anyone. We all need to fight this ignorance.
 
buckley8219 said:
In my quarter of a century of having diabetes I've never been in the situation where I could not discreetly inject or put myself in a position to inject out of view.
Click to expand...
The original poster was called disgusting for using an insulin pen (which I think it's hard to be offensive with really). I don't think being upset by that was an over reaction. Nobody has the right to call someone that in a public place.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn More.…