OK. So I’m a bit new to all of this.
Soooo, how do other people handle testing and giving shots while out and about in public? I’ve been giving my shots to myself at my desk at work, but so that no one can see. For testing, I’ve been running to the ladies room, but sometimes that’s really inconvenient. How about in restaurants or church? Do you experience prejudice or judgement? Thanks for the discussion!!
Melanie, welcome to our community and to this crazy condition we call Diabetes. I scrounged up some older discussions people have started on this same topic. I’m sure people will comment here as well, but you may want to pop over to these links and give your two cents there, too.
You need to do that in the bathroom…
Diabettiquette: is there a right or wrong answer?
Do you test/inject in public?
Another kind of coming out…help
Getting weird looks when testing
Personally, I test when I need to test wherever I happen to be. As for injecting, as a pump wearer, it’s rare that I need to take an injection. But if I need to change my infusion setting, I certainly go to the bathroom. There’s just too much skin/tape/action involved for me to feel comfortable in front of people.
Hey, hopefully the links Melissa gave you will help you out.
Personally, I test whenever and wherever I’m at. I’m on the pump now, but I used to give myself shots in public, more of an “under-the-table/let-me-turn-&-face-the-wall-for-a-second” type of thing though. However, I don’t/didn’t have any inhibitions about doing those things in public. My thought was “It’s not my fault. It’s a medical thing. If someone has a problem with it, they can deal with it themselves”.
Hi Melanie,
I have been doing this for 37 years and started MDI based on BG at meal time in the mid 80s I always tested and gave myself shots where ever I happened to be. Never hade any prejusice or judgement I was aware of but had people setting at the table with me how can you do that type of questions mostly from niddle fobs. I am now on the pump and still test where I am but get insulin with a push of a button.
Good luck,
Andy
I think a person new to diabetes is more conscious of testing in public than the public is conscious of your testing - if that makes any sense.
You can be as public or as private (or modest) as you would like when giving shots. People either aren’t paying attention, or don’t give a darn anyway.
Diabetes is not the new leprosy.There is nothing to be ashamed of…or hide.If , some one doesn,t like it ;thats their problem . How many people take a pill before dinner or in a public place.We take our medicine with a needle. By being seen we are educating the public . The diabetic has been invisable too long .With that said we still can be discrete.
When my wife and I go out ,my wife worries about dance because she worries what someone might think . I tell her you’ll never see these people again . And the people who count won’t care so forget the rest.
Melanie
I have been a diabetic for 18 years… I’m on the pump now but shots were a part of my day for a really long time. I too always took a slight turn or private moment in public. Embrace your diabetes and if anyone notices or ask questions… make this a great opportunity to educate. I have not ever felt prejudice, but maybe a bit of judgement… only due to the lack of knowledge on their part.
Melanie:
It seems that I have written this answer today already. Well, either that or I am going insane!!
I test in public and, now that I’m on the pump, shots are not a problem. People do think it’s some little electronic gadget and hardly give it a thought. When I was on MDI (mostly pens), I would turn slightly away. Not because I was hiding that but I was ashamed of my body and didn’t want to give people a free view. That’s it!!
Lois La Rose
Milwaukee, WI
I don’t really hide it… I just try to be discreet…under the table at restaurants etc… I find sitting at a booth is better than sitting at a table front and center so I will request a booth… At work I do the same…right at my desk but I’ll turn my back in order to be a little more discreet. I am so fortunate that my office mate at my NEW job is also a diabetic!! My advice, don’t worry about what other people think…most are probably just curious but won’t ask questions or make comments… and for those that do, just take the opportunity to educate them…Testing and injecting are what we do to survive.
I agree with Kristy. Just try to be discreet.
You have nothing to hide, plus I find that people respond well when you let them into your life with something personal. It’s never been something I’m ashamed of and I’m happy to talk about it with people.
if i know somebody has a fear of needles i might turn do my shot, but where i work there are people everywhere. I make my shots quick because i want to but i don’t hide it. People pop pills in front of other people it’s no different for me. Now when i worked in a restaurant i would do it in the bathroom or the back room when there where no people. I had girl freak out on me once and say “she would rather die then use a needle” and i said to her “well i will die if i don’t” (rolled my eyes to). I check my sugar and shot up when i have to, who cares who’s watching. I agree it’s a good change to educate somebody. People tend to be more curious then anything, and if there not just ignore them and do what you gotta do. DOMO
I’m also new to this (was diagnosed this past fall) so I haven’t entirely worked out public discretion yet … when I was diagnosed, my (now ex)-partner would not believe that Type 1 wasn’t a lifestyle disease and was very critical of anything related to it… and mortified that someone might see me testing or injecting or otherwise unhealthy in any way (she was going through a narcissistic body-beautiful phase).
So, although I certainly don’t feel ashamed of being diabetic, I am perhaps overly sensitive to how others may perceive it and, having experienced first hand the sorts of judgements that ignorant people make, I am particularly cautious about being “out” at work. When people judge you for whatever reason, they rarely actually confront you with it or give you an opportunity to educate them.
So … my solution … I usually just greatly minimize carbs when in public. It sounds like maybe I’m not testing as often as everyone else here seems to be … but I pretty much eat the same thing every day and so far it’s working for me. My A1C dropped from 14.5 to 7 anyway and I feel pretty good.
I am now a whenever wherever person to test. I am a Pumper so just a touch of a button. I have been diabetic for almost 23 yrs. In the beginning I was not that way. Once very soon after diagnosis I was in the Ladies room at a nice restaurant doing a shot and someone complained and the manager came in and said that they would call the police for my doing drugs. I did not handle her stupidity to well back then. I do believe now that it is a good time to educate people when they ask questions. I also think that people don’t notice or care as much today, but that could also be because of my whenever wherever atitude to testing. Also could be the almost 23 yrs. too.
I test, and when I was on injections, I would do it wherever I was, whatever the time of day. If anybody had a problem with that then it was their problem, not mine. I am using a pump now and have changed infusion sets at my desk and in the mall. As I said, it’s not my proble,. it’s theirs.
I wish that I could say the same thing about lows in public. I get extremely embarrassed when I lose that control I want and I sit there looking like a fool having to get somebody else to take care of me because I can’t. That makes me the center of attention which I hate.
George, I know what your saying about lows. Once when I was low in public I went into the Mens room instead of the Womens. Oh gosh…to this day I always double check the sign on the door!