This depends on the era diagnosed? I started on glass syringes in 1976. By the time I was at college I was using the generic plastic syringes.
I was spotted injecting. Got a “rep” as a “junky.” It was my leg, not a vein...?
To clarify, here is a little anecdote here:
I had a job at a well-known 5-star hotel in London. One day I was at the top of the building, and suddenly I notice a hypo coming. I thought, got just enough time to get on the lift down to the basement where the canteen staff was located. By the time I got there, I have to seat on the floor and scoff 4 sandwiches as fast as I could to bring glucose levels up. I was shaking, slurring words and with blurred vision.
Management came by, and after staring at me, they walked by.
I have felt humiliated many times, but I was expecting more understanding from people I thought had more education.
Months later I colleague got pregnant..., I will not go into details, but If society is not properly educated about medical conditions, then what else is there?
This event and others have pushed me to educate myself and feel sorry for the ignorant people that walk the streets of our society.
And yes, right there on the floor, I felt like a junkie. Not only because of the needle marks on my fingers and arms or the other symptoms, but because I was ignored by the people who were supposed to care for me, my colleagues and management.
And let's not mention human resources, totally none existent!