Type 2 Taking your medication in public

[Anna2007]

I was wondering if anyone had any advice on how to deal with inquisitive members of the public when taking medication during meals in public places such as restaurants. I am a member of a few wining and dining groups on Meet Up and I take metformin and Novorapid which I have to bring with me to the restaurant. Sometimes I get the odd nosey Parker in my group who likes to grill me on my treatment plan.

 

[Rachox]

I’m not on insulin but will tag in a few members who are who may be able to help you @EllieM @Nicola M @Antje77 @Jaylee

 

[EllieM]

Hi @Anna2007 I just tell them I'm an insulin dependent diabetic and need to inject for my food. I am/was (now on pump but on insulin pens for decades previously) pretty matter of fact about it. The pens are pretty discreet and I can usually do it under the table, so to speak.

 

[Nicola M]

When I was on Insulin pens like EllieM I could discreetly administer my insulin under the table and it was usually out of view. If anyone did happen to spot it and ask me about it I'd always give an answer usually along the lines of "Don't mind me just taking my medicine that keeps me alive and well", which generally stopped people from pressing any further.

 

[Ushthetaff]

I don’t have a problem doing it in public it’s not like I’m standing on the table dropping my trousers for a
all to see and in this day and age a lot of people realise why it’s being done . i find people are more inquisitive than anything else , normally ends up in a conversation somewhere along the lines I oh my mates dad,daughter aunt, uncle has diabetes etc etc .ive had diabetes that long now I can probably inject quicker than a humming bird can flap it’s wing

 

[Hopeful34]

When I was using insulin pens and doing a blood test prior to eating (now on a pump and sensor), I just answered any questions and didn't have a problem with it. It people wanted to know, it was a good opportunity to educate others on type 1 diabetes.

 

[Antje77]

I was wondering if anyone had any advice on how to deal with inquisitive members of the public when taking medication during meals in public places such as restaurants. I am a member of a few wining and dining groups on Meet Up and I take metformin and Novorapid which I have to bring with me to the restaurant. Sometimes I get the odd nosey Parker in my group who likes to grill me on my treatment plan.

With interested questions I'm happy to reply, with people grilling me on my treatment plan or thinking they know better than I do it depends on my mood.
If they're lucky they get away with a quick "I'm quite good at treating my diabetes and I know what I'm doing, thank you".
If they're not so lucky they can expect an hour long treatise on all the ins and outs of insulin dosing, diabetes of different types, overlap between the types and treament, individual differences in approach, treatment, and reactions to medications including insulin.

That said, in eight years of dosing anywhere and everywhere, I've had some genuinely interested questions which I'm fine with, and only a handful of the inappropriate type requiring an obnoxious reply.

 

[Jaylee]

Hi,

Just say, “it’s only insulin,I have to inject insulin when I eat..”
Then add, “oh I’ll be eating soon.” In the hope they take the hint & back off…

 

[SimonP78]

I'm more than happy to tell people all about it, and if someone looks questioningly at me (as if it's something dodgy I'm doing) I'll say I'm diabetic and leave it at that.

Only very rarely have I had someone who objects - I do recall an entertaining occasion when I was a student out for food & drinks with my housemates - a woman sat at a different table saw me injecting into my shoulder and told me she had a phobia of needles to which I responded that I had a phobia of dying and that she could always concentrate on her own table for the 20s it would take rather than having to look at me.