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injections at work

I have antibacerial wipes and washes at my desk. The girl next to me is muslim, so we mutually understand what we have to do. I was invited to join in ramadan, but it's an avoidable risk. I eat my food, she hers, we ask each other questions we are unsure of, everything's cool. I was raised catholic but don't believe. It's all good for a better britain.
 
I started work in a large company when I was 18, for a start I did my insulin at my desk, well in my leg underneath the desk.
Until one colleague complained that the 'clicking' noise my pen made, made her feel sick, because she 'knew what I was doing' I tried explaining and educating. This colleague didn't even sit next to me very often. Anyway it was mentioned to my managers who suggested I used the loo, obviously I explained what most of you have echoed.
I was eventually sent to the occupational health nurse who made me feel so ashamed of my condition that through my tears I reluctantly agreed to do my insulin elsewhere. A first aid room was offered but it was a long way from my desk and didn't want to be singled out so the loo it was!
I eventually found out that the occ health nurse was diabetic herself which made me even angrier about what she had said!
Once I had grown up a bit and become a little wiser in the ways of the world and decided that just because a nurse was negative I shouldn't have to be, I agreed to do my injections in the first aid room.
I have never worked with a bunch of people who made such a big deal out of it though. If I said I was low, instead of 'are you ok?' It was 'are you going to collapse? ' or 'you can't eat that' or other random comments.
Sorry if I sound a bit harsh, but I don't think most people really think about what they say when it comes to illnesses, that nurses words haunted me for a long time.
I would never tell someone they should be ashamed of their skin condition or IBS?! I like to think that people would react in the same way to me as I would them. 'Oh you have XYZ. Ok. Anything I need to know?' End of.

As you can tell its a subject that really gets to me sometimes and I hope no one else has an experience like mine!



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To be honest Sarah, I have a two word reply ready made for such people. PM me if you want to know what it is. It has alternate endings though, one is "off" one is "you". Chin up bab, thicker they are the more satisfying the crush!

Mart.
 
sarah88 said:
I started work in a large company when I was 18, for a start I did my insulin at my desk, well in my leg underneath the desk.
Until one colleague complained that the 'clicking' noise my pen made, made her feel sick, because she 'knew what I was doing' I tried explaining and educating. This colleague didn't even sit next to me very often. Anyway it was mentioned to my managers who suggested I used the loo, obviously I explained what most of you have echoed.
I was eventually sent to the occupational health nurse who made me feel so ashamed of my condition that through my tears I reluctantly agreed to do my insulin elsewhere. A first aid room was offered but it was a long way from my desk and didn't want to be singled out so the loo it was!
I eventually found out that the occ health nurse was diabetic herself which made me even angrier about what she had said!
Once I had grown up a bit and become a little wiser in the ways of the world and decided that just because a nurse was negative I shouldn't have to be, I agreed to do my injections in the first aid room.
I have never worked with a bunch of people who made such a big deal out of it though. If I said I was low, instead of 'are you ok?' It was 'are you going to collapse? ' or 'you can't eat that' or other random comments.
Sorry if I sound a bit harsh, but I don't think most people really think about what they say when it comes to illnesses, that nurses words haunted me for a long time.
I would never tell someone they should be ashamed of their skin condition or IBS?! I like to think that people would react in the same way to me as I would them. 'Oh you have XYZ. Ok. Anything I need to know?' End of.

As you can tell its a subject that really gets to me sometimes and I hope no one else has an experience like mine!



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Click to expand...

Well Sarah I say you should never judge someone as you never know and they shouldnt of judged you and I think a lot of it is due to lack of understanding I never realised the struggle it is to be a diabetic until I became one but I would never make someone feel the way you did we have lots of people at work with various health issues and I think we support them all
I am lucky where I work as everyone is great and am sorry you were made to feel ashamed it has obviously made you a stronger person
Good luck in the future :-)


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Sarah, that is so rubbish. I have been very lucky in the fact my work has been very understanding. Having had such a good experience after diagnosis I think that if I ended up in your position now I would tell them all to shove it. Given that diabetes is a registered disability you could of had them over a barrel.
 
Im the inly diabetic where i work there are over 65 people there. I ask any of u lot wimps? And the squeemish ones look away or leave the room to be honest its not my problem if they are afraid they need to man up and deal with their fears. I nearly slapped a boy at work for sayibg i ciuldnt do that i couldnt inject myself i would rather die. Ok allow me to help. My bosses are fine they ask all sorts if random and funny questions and let me go off and check every now and then. I help all the diabetic customers and we have had a little boy recently diagnosed who comes in and asks for me. So whatever im doing i need to stop and help himnwork out his carbs and food ues soo sweet . He gave me a teddy as a thank you x his nan always hugs me when she leaves because i am helping him cope and get over the shock and sadness he went thriugh i love my weekly cuddles x

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I've only ever had one person act negatively towards me injecting, an aunt by marriage, and I never gave a shot what she thought. Anyone else, it's only been questions so they can understand diabetes a little more.

If someone over reacted and told me it was disgusting, made them feel sick or what ever; I'd probably tell them they are very lucky to have the ability to turn away - that I don't cos it's those injections that are keeping me alive. Some people have no cop on.
 
Hi - I had issues in a previous department being told by my boss it was disgusting and I should inject in a toilet. I refused point blank and confirmed if I had to inject away from my desk they should give me a place to go i.e. convert a meeting room to a medical room - that soon shut her up!! I have since left that role and my new office is fab, no-one bats an eyelid - although I am going on the pump in three weeks and very very nervous and scared!!! :shock:
 
Ull be fine christine ! Im finding out in a coupke of months whether i can go on one too exeter are normally good with pumps my nurse is really adament that im going on one lol shes awesome x

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I have always done it somewhat unnoticed at work but my new boss has a fear of needles (and we sit next to eachother). Still, I often just undo a single button on my shirt, half turn away and do it. But it is fun to wind him up, he's 6ft5 and a generally confident bloke, finding his achilles is good news...

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Unfortunately, I have had a bad reaction to injecting at work. Initially I injected done in the nurses room but at school there was a lot of coming and going by pupils. Then asked my colleagues if it was OK to inject in our base they said OK. It turned out it wasn't I was actually told to inject elseware by my boss I got angry and told her I hope she wasn't suggesting that I did it in the toilet. I now inject in a tutorial room having made it known to my colleagues that they were making me feel like a leper. You would think that being the pupil support department in the school they would know better. I feel really sorry for all the diabetics we have at school as the school is definitely not sympathetic towards them. :?
 
It was my boss that told me to inject in the loo, everyone else was fine with me injecting in the office. It was done very discreetly after all. My previous bosses had no problem with it. I think he was young and just trying to throw his weight around. I refused of course. :x
 
I have never had a problem at work except in one school because it was for boys with behaviour problems. All my insulin had to be kept locked up and I had to inject in the medical room with no kids around. But that was for the kids, not me.

I have, however, had people have a go at me in public. People I know. My aunt moaned at me for injected at the dinner table, even though it was under the table.

I had a friend. Her husband is type one. We went to a posh resturant and she had a go at me for injecting descreatly under the table. She said I should use the toilet.

When I was first diagnoses I would try to hide my injections or not inject at all. I would get my friends around me so people couldn't see what I was doing. Now I just inject. I do it on the bus, in the classroom. I tutor at the moment and the girls know I'm diabetic. I tutor for an hour and a half, and haven't had any problems yet. But they know I might have to inject.

Actually, I've found it to be a great way to educate people who are interested. My tutee wanted to know all about my diabetes and what happens etc.

But my health is more important than other people's thoughts. I inject when I need to, and screw those who have a problem. I make it discrete. And I'm sensitive to those who have a fear of needles. But most of the time people don't even notice me doing it.


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I inject at my desk . My students will often remind me to do my injection only to find out I ve already taken it.

All the people at my work are very supportive.
 
hi, I do mine in the toilets, they re clean and my insuline injections do not touch anything. I dont see the point for me at least to expose my anatomy to my work colleagues, it s none of their business (i do my injections in my belly x4 a day)
Actually i didnt know i could do it at my desk, i check my blood at my desk but i go to do my injection before lunch. I m type 2, if i was type 1 i ll probably do it where i am.
 
A colleague of mine had her last day in Birmingham yesterday and starts to live an work in London this weekend. She said she'll miss the banter and sniggers and that, but what I found funny was she said she'll miss my tablets and insulin routine. Ha ha. Also once when I was bg testing she said "blah blah...finger your prick..blah blah" And didn't realise why I was crying! I think of that most times when I test now, such a funny slip of the tongue, I sometimes thumb my prick if I feel so bold :) :D :/
 
sevey said:
Actually i didnt know i could do it at my desk, i check my blood at my desk but i go to do my injection before lunch. I m type 2, if i was type 1 i ll probably do it where i am.
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Why would it make a difference if you were type 1 :think:
 
I have to say how saddened and distgusted I am by the treatment of my fellow diabetics when injecting. Recently, while on a tour of Italy, I would need to inject in the presence of relative strangers. I simply said 'Excuse me, I need to take my medicine.' I would then inject below the table by undoing a single button on my shirt. No one commented although several were interested in the treatment, I had then to switch into education mode. I also used to teach in various organisations in Scotland including prisons and never met the sort of treatment some of you have met from friends, family and colleagues.

May I take this opportunity to jump on a hobby horse of mine - I object strongly to diabetes being referred to as a disease, it's NOT, it is a condition. I didn't catch it and I'm not infectious and I do NOT have a disease.
 
Diddly could have meant the subway train system, a wee smelling underpass frequented by jakeys and junkies or the deli shop. It doesn't matter, they're all public, but people expect to see others injecting an a subway (underpass) anyway, sadly, or sniffing glue or lighter fluid or other such salubrious activities, like weeing, puking, etc.
 
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