If you’re out and about, do you look for a private spot or do you just do it wherever you are?
right then and there, if I go hide, and I pass out - who is going to save me? You have diabetes, you have nothing to hide and shouldn’t be ashamed of diabetes.
Sweeter:
I test whenever and wherever I want. To give myself a bolus is even easier and some even question me about it since I am a pump wearer and they don’t know what I am doing. But I used to sort of turn away when I was on the pen. Never a syringe.
Lois La Rose
Milwaukee, WI
Cynthia:
Right! I only turned away because I am ashamed of my body and don’t want people watching me expose my belly!
Lois La Rose
Milwaukee, WI
Good point about the passing out. I never thought about that.
One reason I asked this was that I have never seen anyone test or inject in public. Either I’m never around any other diabetics (seems unlikely) or people test/inject very discreetly or not at all in public. I try to do both very discreetly but am more comfy with testing in public. I inject into my stomach and I don’t want anyone to see that.
My mom knew someone who would inject into his leg right through his clothes. I don’t know if that’s something worth trying? I just would feel weird about not wiping the area with an alcohol swab first.
I feel the same way about my stomach!
I’m on a pump now, but i tried to be discreet when i was doing MDIs. I would inject through my shirt without having to expose myself. it dulles the needle and you have to change more often, but then we’re only supposed to use needles once…right?
I will do both in public but try to be discreet when taking my insulin. I do not have a medical alert bracelet should someone question what Im doing, hence why I tend to be discreet. When out to eat I will take my insulin right there at the table. Otherwise, I do make a point to let someone know where I am should I be too long, or I take them with me. If Im alone, well then thats the chance we all take.
To test through your clothes does not seem to be a good plan as you could transfer fabric into the syringe which would then enter your body when you inject and could cause an infection. Im not sure that theory is correct, but thats my thinking.
Dr. Bernstein talks about injecting through clothing in his book, Diabetes Solutions. I"ve
been doing it for years after reading that and never had a problem. I won’t go though heavy material, but thin shirts or slacks, no problem.
I just do it wherever I am if I need or want to test. Why not?
Yes I do it wherever I am. And if I don’t make a big deal about it, nobody usually notices.
I used to feel like i had to hide when i gave myself a shot, until one time when i thought i was being sneaky about it and a girl from across the room made some sort of, “oh my gosh! next time warn me before you start sticking yourself with needles!” comment. after that i realized that im no less of a human because i have diabetes, so why should i have to hide in the bathroom or in a corner? Im on a pump now, so its not as much fun to watch peoples reactions…but its the other persons problem if they can’t handle being around needles. If anything, i would ask who ever has a problem with me injecting myself if they wouldn’t mind hiding in the corner until IM done. See how they feel!
People who react to you injecting and just chicken and THEY should turn away. What, we should have to have their approval?? NO.
My objection to injecting through clothes is very practical. You never know if you’re going to hit a vein and draw blood when you pull the needle out. Viola!! blood on the clothes!! Or insulin on clothes because a small bubble rose out of the site. Too messy.
Lois La Rose
Milwaukee, WI
Wherever I am is perfectly okay to test or inject, although I always didn’t feel that way in the past. But now I don’t hesitate at all, and for the most part, no one else seems to mind. These days, I use an insulin pump, so I rarely need to inject. Of course, if I did need to, I certainly would. That’s much healthier and a lot safer than delaying a test or an injection.
I don’t mind injecting through my clothes. My son taught me how when I first started using insulin I was going to get up from the table at a restaurant and go into the restroom to shoot my inulin and he told me it was pointless. He talked to me for a bit about it and I could totally see his point of view. So since then I have checked wherever i am and shot wherever I am. If small children are close by I try to do it more in my lap. But i would say there have been less than 5 people who I am sure noticed me. All of my grandkids are interested and my 7 year old wants to participate as much as possible. He wants to be a doctor. I think we should be as open as we are comfortable with and educate as much as possible
I test anywhere I am since being on the pump. I am pretty quick at this and people rarely notice. I used to always got to the restroom but I read something here about it being unsanitary.
We’re only supposed to use needles once?? LOL …I use a pen and put a new needle on a new pen and use that needle until the insulin is gone…I might change if it becomes necessary to get the hammer out just to get the needle to penetrate my skin. To answer the original question though…Sweeter I just inject where I am but try to be discreet…I don’t need to expose my whole stomach to inject and I don’t always swab with alcohol… I think that’s why I like the pens…they make it easier to be discreet…
alllll the time 
I just do it wherever I am. I used to hide and be ashamed, but no longer. I take my symilin in public and test in public as well, I also pump so that takes care of the insulin. One exception to my new rule is when kids are around. I do not want to be the subject of a life lesson so if little ones are present I will be more discrete.
Rick Phillips