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Injecting in front of new people?

J

Jelaca

Well-Known Member
Messages
225
Location
UK
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I was just wondering how you guys do it? I don't want to just do it incase they have a fear of needles, but I find it hard to tell new people I'm going to inject before I do so. So how can I inject without having to run to the toilet?

I've tried doing it discretely but it's not always easy so I was wondering what I should do

Thanks :)
 
I'll either go off to the toilet to do it or tell them I'm diabetic and ask if they'd mind me injecting in front if them. Depends on the social situation and how well I know everyone.
 
Hi Jelaca,

Whether I'm out with people who know I'm diabetic or not, I personally don't worry whether or not people can see me inject. At first I went to the toilet to test and inject, but I don't see why we should have to do that. I jab in the stomach if in a public area and can do it discretely beneath the table but I don't go out of my way to hide what I'm doing. I think it's just personal preference really, I'm sure some people prefer to do it in privacy without others noticing. I think it's best doing whatever your most comfortable with. JP
 
Personal choice Jelaca but I wouldn't run off to the toilet to inject, if someone has a phobia about needles then you could politely ask them to turn away for a few moments whilst you administer your insulin, once people see you do it they'll hardly notice next time you eat together.

I did use to have hang-ups about injecting in front of people but don't anymore, we need insulin to survive and that's all there is to it.
 
I agree, I wouldn't expect anyone to take medication in the loo! Just explain what you need to do obviously be as discreet as you are able, but give them the option to turn away. In my experience people are far more likely to be genuinely interested, and want to know about your condition and how you manage it, it's a great way to improve awareness. Good luck :)
 
There are plenty of reasons NOT to do it in the toilet - hygiene being one of the biggest, especially if you're out in public..... the bathrooms in a public place are the last location I want to be doing my insulin!


I would suggest that you try to overcome your awkwardness in telling people by simply biting the bullet and doing your insulin in front of them. If someone has a problem with needles then they can deal with it in their own way. This is your life we're talking about here. It's not like they're the ones getting jabbed. I'm sure they'll let you know pretty quickly if it's that much of a huge issue for them and then you'll know for next time. You need to take your insulin in a clean and hygenic environment and getting stressed about taking it isn't going to do you any good... so try and be as discreet as possible and do it where you are.


I almost always manage to do it in my tummy or leg whilst I'm sitting at the table and 9 times out of 10 not a single person notices.
 
I inject whereever I am, apart from when I worked in MH where I was told it was sometimes likely to upset some of the people who were not so well - they would misinterpret. Around friends, workmates etc, I inject there and then. If they ask I explain. If they don't ask, I don't explain. Simples. Noone doesn't know that I have diabetes, I think - it happened pretty quickly for me this spring and it was a bit of a tricky time, so I talked about it a lot, heh - me, I'm an open book, lol.
 
JP83 said:
Hi Jelaca,

Whether I'm out with people who know I'm diabetic or not, I personally don't worry whether or not people can see me inject. At first I went to the toilet to test and inject, but I don't see why we should have to do that. I jab in the stomach if in a public area and can do it discretely beneath the table but I don't go out of my way to hide what I'm doing. I think it's just personal preference really, I'm sure some people prefer to do it in privacy without others noticing. I think it's best doing whatever your most comfortable with. JP
Click to expand...

I'm so glad others feel the way I do about this - I had a massive argumenbt with my MOTHER about this in a restaurant when she said "You can't inject here, go to the toilet to do it" and I lost my head with her!

It's not like we slap the veins to make them pop up and use a 2" needle - the needles are, at most, 12mm long I would say (mine are 4mm) and so fine that you can't even see them. I never hide it and never run off to the loo to inject - I just do it wherever I'm sat
 
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=24530
This is a a post I put up a while back reflecting a very good reason "NOT" to inject
in a public toilet.
Many other members debate this isssue in the thread.
If the OP concern is other persons needle phobia then just ask anyone sitting nearby
if they would mind if you injected your insulin...
They can let you know themselves how they feel in person regarding this.
Me - I just do it where ever I am , most persons are actually curious and will
ask questions.
I see this as positive then I can use this opportunity to educate others with
diabetes awareness. :thumbup:
Hope this helps ?
Anna.
 
I also have a big problem about injecting in front of people, even my friends and colleagues who know I am diabetic, I just can't bring myself to do it. I like to think one day I will be more confident about doing it but for now, I have to run off to the loo's. :(
 
Ive got to be honest - Ive never even thoguht about it! I just do it - I do notice some friends stare in awe, and some may just turn their head, but all understand. Sometimes it prompts a few questions and brings it into the topic of coverersation.

Injecting 5 or 6 times a day as I do - I cant imagine trying to sneak off or be discreet about it - I think im a little proud about it infact.
 
I inject where ever I eat, it's not that I am an individual who doesn't think about others, it's just I don't see it as such a big issue that I would potentially risk my health and run off to the toilets to inject.

Got a needle phobia? Cool story bro, look away :P
 
GlazedDoughnuts said:
I inject where ever I eat, it's not that I am an individual who doesn't think about others, it's just I don't see it as such a big issue that I would potentially risk my health and run off to the toilets to inject.

Got a needle phobia? Cool story bro, look away :P
Click to expand...


I like your style :thumbup:
 
I just tell whoever i am with i have t1 diabetes, therfore i have to inject or i will become very ill. xx
 
picklebean said:
There are plenty of reasons NOT to do it in the toilet - hygiene being one of the biggest, especially if you're out in public..... the bathrooms in a public place are the last location I want to be doing my insulin!


I would suggest that you try to overcome your awkwardness in telling people by simply biting the bullet and doing your insulin in front of them. If someone has a problem with needles then they can deal with it in their own way. This is your life we're talking about here. It's not like they're the ones getting jabbed. I'm sure they'll let you know pretty quickly if it's that much of a huge issue for them and then you'll know for next time. You need to take your insulin in a clean and hygenic environment and getting stressed about taking it isn't going to do you any good... so try and be as discreet as possible and do it where you are.


I almost always manage to do it in my tummy or leg whilst I'm sitting at the table and 9 times out of 10 not a single person notices.
Click to expand...

Thank you, I found the way you put this so helpful, and yeah I guess it is stupid hiding, cause it's not something we should be ashamed of :)
 
Only once in my life did I come across a T1 diabetic injecting, the first time was when I was at college and I was 16 and a classmate who was a T1 regularly had to pop out of class to inject herself in the ladies toilets until we all told her we didn't mind her doing it in class. I've never come across anyone injecting ever since, until last week when I was attending St Helen's Hospital for a gynae appointment. I was a little early so I went for a coffee in the little cafe area in the main hall of the hospital.

A very smart, very trim, healthy looking man in his 40s was sitting across from me with coffee and a newspaper. He was getting something out of his bag and then he just undid a button on his shirt, injected himself in the stomach area, it took all of two seconds, fastened his button again and packed away his syringe and continued drinking his coffee and reading his paper. I assume he was a T1 diabetic because the hospital has a Diabetic Centre.

He performed the whole exercise from getting his syringe out of his bag to putting it back, in less than 1 min and was so matter of fact about it that I doubt anyone would have noticed him and if they did they wouldn't find it upsetting in any way. I only noticed because he was sitting right opposite me and I couldn't avoid seeing him.

My viewpoint is - it's medication for a serious medical condition, it has to be done when it has to be done. End of story. :)
 
I just tell the people I'm with I'm a junky having my fix.they usualy all laugh and don't mind me having my insulin then. A friend of mine use to get embarressed if he had to have his injection in front of strangers. So he would have his injection before going out. Trouble with this way is 90% of the time he would end up having a hypo which I feel is a lot more embarressing
 
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