I used to be so embarrassed to shoot up in public that I just didn't do it. I preferred to bring down the resultant high BGs down later. With the pump, the problem is solved.
Metering is MUCH more of a problem -- it's hard to hide all the stuff on your lap. I once pulled out my meter and set it up on the table, and tested, and the close friend I was out to lunch with (well, yeah, I'm almost always out to lunch!) was just horrified. Then she said I should have at least given her some warning, which I think is reasonable. But you can't give warning to people at other tables, or waitpersons who happen to come up just as you are expressing that drop of blood. Some people have real phobias about needles and blood -- I wonder what would happen to them if THEY became diabetic!
I don’t think they deserve any warning. That is obnoxious on their part. Maybe the needles, particularly if you are doing IV shots, checking for blood in the works and all that could be a bit gnarly but I would probably tell anyone off who told me not to do something?
Really… i dont care what others think when i have to give myself a shot… depending on my mood i just ignore them but i do remember one time when I stopped at some truck stop in the middle of Texas and had my stuff setting out on a counter and just finished giving myself the shot. I got a weird/shocked look from some guy but i responded before he had a chance to say anything with “would you like some, and feel free to use my needle” LOL…( i know inappropriate) but his look was classic!! needless to say he went the other way…
That was my biggest problem! I am a needle phobic! My first reaction when I was finally diagnosed after 10 years of being very ill) was S…! I flinched and the doctor flinched! I had already been in the hospital for 6 weeks and had never been heard to swear. He asked me why I had said that and I said that I was needle phobic. He did calm me down enough saying that in all likelihood I would be on tablets. Sadly that was not the case! 5 months down the line I was on insulin. My mother’s reaction was rather interesting. She is, I believe a frustrated nurse. She always has to know all the details of anyone, how their illnesses affect them etc etc, and she will even write down notes! Yet when I injected in front of her the first few times she went pale and sweaty!
So during a party at my house, someone directed a guest to the bathroom. Well instead of the first door on the right he chose the first door on the left which happened to be my room…SO this guy walks in to find me giving myself insulin in my stomach and we exchange awkward glances and a moment of silence until he shoots me the finger guns, winks and says “alriiiiight havin a goood time here I see” and closes the door…I stood there, needle in my stomach. I would have had a huge wtf thought bubble above my head if it were a comic.
Been a few good ones. the best was at a party and hearing about 6 people yell at somebody at once “He’s a diabetic. B****, not a junkie”. I have heard some good nice ones as well parents in restaurants explain to kids that I was taking a shot because I was a diabetic.
I have done similar. Caught a guy staring at me with a look of disgust as I shot up on the back porch of a bar. Looked over smiled and told him I needed a fix. Then proceeded to make a comment about needing some candy while sniffling and rubbing my nose.
Happened to me outside Dominos. Someone called the police about a junkie. After the cops got there they were pissed. Not at me. They started complaining about idiots calling the cops for no reason and walked off.
As for public injection and poking, I tend to be discreet by sitting on the inside of booths and doing the deed discreetly without fanfare when possible. I vary rarely look around the room checking for reactions, however there was one time I caught someone who had observed and they gave me a knowing nod after having tested and injected.
There is one person in my office who can't watch and winced the first time she saw me doing the deed. She will leave my office or not come in if she's knows I'm either testing or injecting. We had a converstion about it and she's pretty darn sure she couldn't do it.
Well, we don’t wear tattoos on our foreheads saying “Insulin-dependent diabetic”. So how are the naturally unknowing public going to tell the difference? (Answer: junkies DON’T do it in public!)
LOL. That’s awesome. I can even see myself doing the same thing. I could care less what people think… it is my disease. I mean, does anyone give dispariaging remarks about a COPD patient having to lug their oxygen mask around?
When I was first diagnosed I used to ask the people around me if they minded before I injected so they could choose to turn away if they have a needle thing - more than often they were fascinated though and just wanted to look closer LOL. Then I stopped caring - I would just inject in the middle of conversation without even thinking about it. I would only realise if someone said something - and usually they just have a question. I think being on a pump is funnier. It is averaging about -25C up where I live at the moment so there is real danger of my insulin freezing if my pump or tubing got exposed - so I keep it in my bra. Is funny when someone is watching you pull a pump out of your bra, program it and shove it back in - or even better pulling it out at the supermarket when an alarm goes off LOL I so do not care what people think - if they are curious they are welcome to ask questions!
I had a funny one at school. The school's police officer has an extreme phobia of needles. I was just about to give myself a shot (had my sleeve pulled up) and the deputy walks in. He tells me that he will wait outside until I'm done.
10 seconds later...
Me: "Ok, I'm done"
Deputy: *walks in*
Me: "Not!" *Stab*
Deputy: "Ahhhh!!!!" *covers eyes and runs out of the room*
Deputy: (from the other room) "I know where you live... I'll smoke you out of your house!"
Everyone in the main office (except the officer) had a good laugh at that one.
When I have a meal in a restaurant I always take my shot right at the table. At first I felt awkward about it and would take the shot in the restroom, but in most places hat is not a very clean area, hence I decided to do it in the open. I just roll up my sleeve and inject in my upper arm. I do get some weird stares, but I don’t give a hoot.
