injecting insulin in public

I often eat out and test/inject discreetly at the table. Rarely does anyone notice and I've never had comments from strangers. Sometimes mum isn't sure if I've done it or not and she's sitting next to or opposite me. I avoid doing so on the bus but that's due to vibration/lack of elbow room more than embarrassment. Anyone who complains should be grateful we're not still using urine tests, fizzy tablets and huge glass syringes and using them at the table!

I do, but I think some of you may have seen my posts previously how my sister hates it and tells me to go to a toilet. So once due to peer pressure a while ago i did this (before a tasty meal) and dropped my needle on the floor (full of urine, blood stains and germs) and I promptly left the night out stating what had happened and thanks people for ruining my meal. When it happened with my sister last I thought "that's the last time I'll go out for a meal with you" and I haven't been since, everyone else has been fine with it, oh apart from my mum used to fuss but now she realises it's necessary to keep me alive. I think people who can't accept it are ignorant. It's just like anyone who looks or acts different or breastfeeds, these people have a right but others who think they are supposedly perfect and quite arrogant I think and don't have the time of day to acknowledge we have a condition that needs managed (sometimes in public) fail to realise this.

I just pray for a cure, so I can go diving like I've always dreamed without persecution, be a firefighter or work in an ambulance like I've dreamed without persecution and be able to eat a meal in public without persecution .... however the world will always be the way it is and nobody can do anything about it. Also I doubt there's ever a cure. I just work in an office and feel uncomfortable every time I inject and that is my life. Such as people.

When I was much younger - 30 years ago - I shared a flat with a T1. Life was a real trial - if I couldn't predict the precise moment that food woud be 10 mins off, he'd turn into a mini Gordon Ramsey.

That said, if we were out, he could dose himself at the table at the drop of a hat without attracting too much attention...

Later, after we married (different partners) he brought his wife and new born child round for an afternoon. He did his trademark "excuse me" and she asked whether we were OK with her feeding the baby. None of us were strangers to seeing each other in the flesh, particularly when disshevelled the morning after a party, but this seemed a sort of private moment that shouldn't have been intruded upon, and I felt a bit embarrassed.

Quite recently, I've heard myself muttering "oh just go to the toilet" when the breastfeeding debate gets dragged onto the radio. Reading your post brings things home - I wouldn't want to receive medical treatment in a toilet - nor would I want to eat there. And I don't really see why anyone else should, either.

Be strong, discrete and tolerant of the ignorant!

Now, where's the newbie forum?

The other day (Mother's day) I went for a family meal (without sister) and injected and mum said it's fine because (she used to be quite bad). Nobody else said anything which made me feel a bit better - however it didn't stop me breaking out in a nervous sweat due to past issues. Hopefully time will get better and it seems more and more people are understanding :|

Good on you, Rachel. Don't worry too much about the jokes, either.

I work for myself, but I spend a lot of time on one customer's premises and I have a duty to tell him if I'm likely to fall over as a result of T2. It's highly unlikely, but professional guidelines don't distinguish between T2 and tripping over the carpet.

I was wondering how to do it when they asked if I'd want the fish, chips and peas as they were going to the chippy. No, I said. No, really. Not like you, they said. Not every week you're told you're a diabetic, I said.

There was a lot of curiosity about testing and management (not that I know anything), and jokes about jacking up; I'm now known as Diabetic Deadwood. It could be worse :lol:

Be discrete, be confident. And live life to the full, and perhaps be open about it. Most of your real friends and colleagues are likely to be curious, but supportive.

If your sister can't hack it, I'd guess that's more her problem than yours?

Take care!

I too inject in public and as long as I don't have a drum roll, I don't think most people notice. I will NEVER inject in a toilet, public or otherwise.

I dont inject in public. I usually do it in the car before I go where Im going, or to a toilet. I dont go in a cubicle though, just into the actual toilet itself

Not quite there yet.....

We'll get you out of the (water) closet eventually Lilibet!

Rach79 said:

I do, but I think some of you may have seen my posts previously how my sister hates it and tells me to go to a toilet.

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Sorry Rach
but as far as your sister is concerned two words spring to mind and the second word is "off"
(feel free to put in whatever word you choose for the first the next time she suggests you use a toilet)

As a T2 - not on insulin - but probably will end up on it as my mother is, can anyone explain, forgive me for not knowing, why the imperative to inject and then eat so precisely. I can see people mentioning hypos but does insulin work 'that' quick. I know mum is a 'real pain' about knowing when her meal is to be served and I can't talk about it to her for various reasons so if you can 'fill me in' in the nicest possible way perhaps I will be able to understand and be more understanding and prepared for when I get to that stage.

Hi.
i'm a T2 but on Byetta 2x injections daily. When I inject I MUST eat my meal within 60 minutes of the injection. So if in a restaurant I may order and then have to wait for the food. if I injected prior to entering the place I may well be past the time allowed by the time the food arrives.

As a rule I can usually time things and inject in the car. I don't see why anyone should object if I injected at the table discreetly. I don't make a fuss about it.

Any T1's on Insulin for another viewpoint ?

Ken

MaggieAnne said:

As a T2 - not on insulin - but probably will end up on it as my mother is

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Maggie

T2's do not normally need insulin you should be able to control your BG effectively with oral medicine and diet

Aadrgon said:

Rach79 said:

I do, but I think some of you may have seen my posts previously how my sister hates it and tells me to go to a toilet.

Click to expand...

Sorry Rach
but as far as your sister is concerned two words spring to mind and the second word is "off"
(feel free to put in whatever word you choose for the first the next time she suggests you use a toilet)

Click to expand...

Thanks for that I of course thought of a word there but won't say it. I sometimes don't get on too well with her when she acts like that but other times she's great. She came over to see the family and I fell out with her on a night out Saturday so chances are I won't be going out for a meal or a night out now unless I'm forced and even then I'll make sure my family is there to back me up. She told me I was an embarresment to her and her friends, and they didn't know how to act around me, just because I went up and danced. Now if I was drunk and swung my arms around like a big baboon, I could maybe understand :lol: I am just bubbly and eccentric by nature though sometimes so getting told I'm a lowlife who embarresses everyone from someone who is supposed to care knocks me right down. I kept my thoughts and words to myself when she said that but later she had a go at me again and I just lost it. I guess it's just a rub of personalities sometimes I don't know :roll: However I literally can't eat infront of her unless I'm at my parents house and her friends aren't around.

Once you inject insulin you have to hope that your food will arrive before the insulin drops your blood sugar.

What we do with Steven, is that he will check his bs when he arrives at the restaurant. He will often inject after he orders as long as his bs is normal or a bit high. If he is low he will wait till the food arrives. Provided there is bread on the table, you can usually inject. Steven only eats the bread if he needs to. Most meals will pitch up in 20 mins. Some are 40 mins which is not good. We will then inform the waiter that Steven's food is a priority. An ambulance arriving at a restuarant is something that most waiters are keen to avoid! Also, for big restuarant meals we usually start with 7 novorapid and 7 hypurin and I will then deduct the units left till the next course arrives. The units are then given as needed.

On safari in Kenya, I had the pleasure to dine with baboons. The breakfast was open air and the baboons would swoop down and steal the toast racks complete with toast. It was great fun!

I am sure the lodge owners could have avoided the baboons and their thieving antics if they had wanted, but who needs toast, when you have bacon and eggs?