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Testing decorum...

jacksop87

jacksop87

Active Member
Messages
28
Location
Warrington
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi everyone,

I'm interested to see what people's thoughts are on the situation I just encountered.

I have a pretty big walk from my office to the train station and then from the train station to my house. My sugars tend to drop quite a lot and I sometimes feel hypo when I get to the train station. Being newly diagnosed T1, I don't want to devour jelly babies or neck Lucozade just to pick myself up so I tend to test my BG. Today, I tested on the train and the bloke opposite me protested to me testing in front of him and I ended up moving to another seat. Whilst I understand people have a phobia of needles/blood etc. I did feel somewhat offended by his reaction as I don't think he handled it particularly rationally.

Is there a particular decorum I have missed/not thought about? How do people typically test in public? Do you feel you need to be discreet about it? I didn't feel the need to be discreet until today.

What's everyone's thoughts?
 
I'm not really out and about much these days..not working..and when I did, i never used public transport. But that doesn't mean I don't have a view. I don[t think I would generally test on a train but hen doesn't sound like you would either..sometimes needs must..wherever you are. I think what you have perhaps not taken into account is people who have fears about blood...and those with fear of HIV etc...and the fact that many people are basically total d@c&heads. Next time, complain about having to sit next to sweaty, loud, smelly, irritating, yapping, mobile phone addicted, app using, badly dressed, idiots with no social skill or basic consideration of others' needs. So..that's my thoughts on it...Decorum..shmorum. I think you're entitled to tell him you could care less what he thinks, but I admire your tact and manners at moving away. Pft!
 
His problem and not yours - you weren't doing him any harm. Next time point out that he's free to move away if he's offended.

I was a bit wary in the beginning but I do it anywhere now.
 
I don't make it too obvious and do try and keep it as discreet as possible but certainly wouldn't hide away to test my bg just the same, as for the chap who objected, I'd have asked him to turn away if he wasn't comfortable with what he see's.
 
You forgot to tell him where to go, in the nicest possible way lol. I'm neither discrete or indiscreet about testing. If I need to test,I test, of anyone does have a problem with it , its their problem. Yes, employers can insist on putting you in a private room, away from other staff,(not a toilet), and restaurants can have problems, though I've not encountered that personally.
 
Wow - what an ignorant person! I use trains a lot and I usually test on them. I've never had such a rude reaction. What on earth was he doing staring at you? The only time anyone's ever commented was when my seat companion had diabetes themselves! Then we had a good chat.

Unless you were pushing your finger in his face or resting your arm on his lap, it's none of his business. I'd have ignored him.
 
I test when I feel I need to, be it in open space infront of strangers or at the end of the bar of the pub I work in (not when I'm in my chefs gear though)

I personally would have told him where to get off and I do not mean the next station !!!
 
Lucky for him it wasnt me, I would have probably have followed up with a bolus of novorapid too :-)
 
The man had the problem, I would have told him I had a pocketful of f**cks and not one would be given to him.
Seriously you have very right to make sure you are not going hypo, he should have moved
 
Wonder if he commutes on train everyday, maybe we should have a diabetes day just for him, get as many diabetics in his carriage all testing
 
I agree completely with everyone who thinks that he was in the wrong. I would have made sure I shamed him very publicly about wanting me to go into a coma in front of him so he could practice his first aid skills, and then asked him if he knew what to do with a diabetic in a coma....
 
I would have told him to f@@k off tbh. I have before now! B@@@@cks to their feelings. I'm keeping myself safe.
That is all.
 
I love the idea of a "diabetes day" on the train @Shar67.

My usual reaction to something like this would probably be quite coarse. I think feeling a bit squiffy coupled with the shock of his reaction threw me off. He asked me not to do it in front of him and I said, "sorry, do you not like needles" and he replied saying, "no it's just disgusting". My guess is he didn't even know what I was doing or why.

I hope I bump into him again, would make for a very interesting encounter!

Thanks for the comments people!
 
Really none of his busy - I'd tell him to mind his own. I have done (and will do again I'm sure) tests on buses, BR trains , tubes and so forth. It get easier as you get more used to it.
 
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