Injecting in public?

This is new to me. Started insulin last week and so far do my best to hide away when I inject. Feel quite embarrassed about it. My mate has injected most of his life and is never fussed about injecting publicly. He will quite happily in the pub or out for a meal inject.

Nope - I don't hide. I don't lift my top though, just inject through my shirt.

Stand up, roll my sleeve up, loudly, make a point of firing the air shot so it hits some one then raise my arm up so anyone can see and stick the needle in. Leave it there for ten seconds, then post injection, vigorously rub my arm, before rolling my sleeve back down and taking a deep bow, then return to my seat. Sometimes....

tim2000s said:

Stand up, roll my sleeve up, loudly, make a point of firing the air shot so it hits some one then raise my arm up so anyone can see and stick the needle in. Leave it there for ten seconds, then post injection, vigorously rub my arm, before rolling my sleeve back down and taking a deep bow, then return to my seat. Sometimes....

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Ha! I'l give it a go. Might say something like "that's the good stuff right there!" Might raise an eyebrow or two

Dug88 said:

HI,
Cool, Glad I'm not he only one giving zero screws about injecting in public.

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Think I will set myself the challenge of injecting in public this month. Loose the 'L' plates!

I test and inject in public. Just lift my top and inject in side/belly. I don't think anyone really notices and no one has ever commented other than a waiter in an indian restaurant who quietly advised me which sauces were sweet.

I think its important to use yr discretion when doing a jab in public places. Crowded places will probably be ok and no one will really notice but in places where thrre are young kids or elderly people nesr ny, its best to find somewhere private if possible and inject there

i once attempted to inject in my tummy sitting down in a restaurant that was fairly empty as it was early evening. I dont know how but an elderly lady saw me and got her husband to come over to the table where I was sitting with my OH. He was very offended and accused me of being a drug addict. I was takrn back by his nastiness, told him why I needed to inject but that didnt do any good. When he walked back to his wife, I just said to my OH, come on we are leaving and cancelled the meal. OH had a go at me and said why didnt you go in the ladies like you normally do. When I got home, I went into our bathroom, sat down and sobbed my heart out. I was annoyed with the elderly people but annoyed with myself for not doing the jab in the ladies, whereas if I had done, we would be at the restaurant still and enjoying a meal.

So, even though its important that we inject when we need to, its also important to use discretion or develop a suit of armour and get out your sword.

@iHs That's exactly why I am very open. If someone is offended and comes over to tell me so, I can tell them in the nicest possible way that their presence offends me and that they clearly belong to an order not unlike that of the National Socialist party. Plus a few other choice insults delivered politely but firmly. The usually return to their seat at least knowing what a diabetic injection looks like and feeling small.

I will make a scene if necessary and I carry my sword with me at all times. If someone wants to challenge me, they will get a response.

Love your attitude to injecting Doug

As you say, we are injecting something that keeps us alive, it would be wrong to ask a asthmatic to hide away in a corner or use a public toilet when using their inhaler and it's no different for insulin users, using modern day insulin pens means injecting insulin is quick with little fuss involved, anyway if people don't like what they see then they have the option of looking the other-way.


I was out last Friday evening in a crowded restaurant and injected at the table, couldn't think of anything worse than injecting in a dirty toilet.

Extra large air shot in the offenders direction should do the trick. Has anyone accidentally shot themselves in the eye? Does it sting? (It's an honest question, not related to squirting other people, is it something to avoid?)

noblehead said:

Love your attitude to injecting Doug

As you say, we are injecting something that keeps us alive, it would be wrong to ask a asthmatic to hide away in a corner or use a public toilet when using their inhaler and it's no different for insulin users, using modern day insulin pens means injecting insulin is quick with little fuss involved, anyway if people don't like what they see then they have the option of looking the other-way.


I was out last Friday evening in a crowded restaurant and injected at the table, couldn't think of anything worse than injecting in a dirty toilet.

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Surely you would get even more negative attention if someone saw you 'shooting up' in a toilet anyway. Would look right suspicious if caught

leeemerick said:

Surely you would get even more negative attention if someone saw you 'shooting up' in a toilet anyway. Would look right suspicious if caught

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Yes good point

I always inject at the table when eating out, I try to be discrete and I am sure that most people don't notice. I have never been challenged by anyone in any case. When I was first diagnosed a couple of years ago, I used to go off to the toilet to inject but on thinking about it decided that I couldn't think of a more unhygienic place to inject myself and decided that I wasn't going to risk a nasty infection for the sake of worrying about causing offence to other diners.

Like you @iHs I used to hide it all away and shy away from confrontation ... until I had a few Nazis slam toilet doors against me or barge me ('accidentally') against the sink, etc.

Then I lost patience one evening (probably BG induced anger ) and I've been 'out and proud' about it ever since - except when my hands are freezing and I'm using the hand dryer to warm them up!

I used to go and hide in the toilets to inject maybe because I was a bit embarrassed by it all/didnt want to offend anyone. After 15 of doing this i decided that was ridiculous and i do it at the table if i'm out. I now refuse to into questionable toilets for an injection! Never had any complaints as of yet!

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I inject in public anywhere except work, they don't know, and I'm not that keen to tell them as I don't trust the management team not to discriminate against me. So at work it's the loo, but it's spotlessly clean. Anywhere else just where ever I am. I don't care what people think. I also inject in front of my very young nieces and nephews, they don't bother too much except looking a bit concerned that it might hurt me! A couple of weeks ago I was in a theatre and the girl sitting next to me injected, that's the first time I've ever noticed a real live diabetic inject in the wild. Although she half turned away from me toward her companion so I think only noticed because I knew.

I used to sneak off to the bathroom. But now I just take my shot whenever.

Only my sister freaks out she is the only one I know who admits it.