why is it that i am embarrassed i am a type 1 diabetes.
i refuse to check my levels or inject in public.
i get so embarrassed when people talk about it infront of me
and i over reacting or am i just a typical teenager??
I use to be like that Kelly,would hide in the toilets to check and do my levels maybe it was because I was a teenager or another reason that I dont know about but these days I dont bother they can all see me because its not something I chose but something I have to do to stay alive so no matter where if I am on the bus,walking etc I will check and take my insulin whoever has a problem with it its their problem not mine.
Its also unhygenic to be running to the toilet to do my injection I read somewhere so dont want to pick up any other problems from injecting in the toilet.lol
Stay strong it will get easier with time.
I think you are just a typical teenager who like the rest of us doesn’t like not being totally in charge! Even when you think you’ve cracked it the D can throw a wobbly all of its own. My only advice would be try to talk to just one person about it and when you are comfortable with that talk to another, same with injections/testing. Don’t stress about it but above all take care of yourself and remember that testing/injections are just a part of your life, (you don’t say how long you’ve been diabetic). Testing/injecting in private is nothing to be ashamed of, just try to do it whenever you should.
Yep, just a typical teenager. I have the same problems, but my pump makes it a TON easier.
Checking my BG in public was never really a problem, but if there was even one person around, i would find a place to hide to take an injection.
Now it’s kinda fun when i have to give myself a bolus in class cause everyone thinks that i’m texting or on my phone or something lol
good to hear things are better… i was on the pump. but i am now off it because i hated everyone asking what it is, and i hated having something attached to me every sec of the day. i might go back on it one day, my endo just told me to have a break.
Try looking into the Omnipod. I didn’t like the idea of having something attached to me all day every day, but with the Omnipod, you can put it wherever you want just about, and you don’t even feel it. And since the PDM is separate, a lot of people just think it’s a cell phone or a PDA, so they ignore it. 
do you know if this is available in Australia?
I don’t know for sure if it is just now, but it will be at some point. I’ve heard that second half of this year is when it should make it over there. I’ll keep an eye out for you.
thankyou
Not a problem
Sounds like a typical teenager to me who doesn’t like standing out and being different. Just think of it like you are special-you are dealing with issues and solving problems that most people your age don’t have to. It will make you stronger one day when your confidence grows and you realize that!
I agree to to just start by telling somebody you care about and making it “just information” not something to hide.
As for the “hiding t take your shots” that comes up on here a lot and I don’t necessarily agree that taking shots in private means you are ashamed of your diabetes. I’m not at all ashamed I just prefer to do it in private.
Wearing a pump and taking injections and using a lancing device are badges of courage. Some people aren’t shy about flashing those badges; others prefer to keep it private. The thing is, the choice is yours.
People with diabetes are smarter, more resilient, more courageous, kinder, and generally better-looking than the pancreatically unchallenged And sometimes it’s good to share that with the world. Diabetes pride rocks.
But, I have to admit it took me some years to truly believe that. Best wishes.
What Kelly R said…I ditto that!!!
It’s typical. I’ve always been like that. Especially when I was a teenager and it hasn’t gotten much better since I am an “adult”. It’s like you feel like your different from everyone else. You just want to be like everyone. I always said “Mom, I just want to be one of the boys”. But you know what, I’m convinced that everyone has something. Maybe asthma, allergies, or some other condition. You are not alone.
One good thing though is use it to your advantage. Like when you want to get seated at a restaurant quicker, or cut a line, or get free food. Yeah, I’ve done all of that. People sometimes fall over themselves just to help you. It’s finding that happy middle between not being embarrassed and being able to get what you need. It’s tough, but just know you’re not alone.
I don’t think you’re atypical.
Some of us have built up a thick enough skin we can take a shot while walking down the street or check our bg while riding the bus and not care.
But it’s also about, I think, how casually you view the operation. Literally I can pull my bg meter out of my pocket and check my bg in like 5 seconds with one hand. Others view it as a much more intensive operation and they have to have a case with all the components and lay it out in front of them etc.
When I was a kid at home, I never let the rest of my family (mom, dad, brothers, sisters) and friends see me checking my bg or shooting up. When I went off to college a lot of that loosened up to a degree. But now that I’m a dad, I have no inhibitions at all with my wife or kids.
I think part of that comes from getting older and more self-accepting. It’s one of the good parts about getting older. Recommended reading: Dick Feynman’s “What Do You Care What Other People Think?”.
Totally typical.
I blamed hiding it on the people at church, who I didn’t know that well, coming up and saying stupid things to me like “My cousin cured their diabetes by drinking herbal tea.” I wanted to avoid those comments, because it infuriated me that someone was simplifying my newly complicated life. I hated diabetes, and I didn’t want to advertise to the world that it was a part of me.
Now that I am older, I have realized that the better I control it, the better I feel, and the more people around me who are educated, the more people I have looking out for myself. I don’t hide anything from anyone. I answer questions if I can. If someone tries to judge me, I either tell them it is a different type of diabetes they are talking about, or I tell them that we are all unique and my doctor and I decide what is best for me.
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Your position will change as your life changes, though. When you are old like me, you might not care what people think.
Now I just care that the better control I have, the better life is, because you feel so much better.
Some of it is wanting not to display signs that you have a chronic illness and want to feel “like everyone else”
You will have days where your confronted with inquisitive people and some of them may try to push their ideals/concepts on you or embarass you in public…If you let them…I had a woman scold me for testing my blood sugar at a restraunt table and shaming me and saying. You can do that in the bathroom. and I KNOW how awful that feels but I ended up turning it around… and going. Uhm. No. Would YOU do it in the bathroom… and she walked away
There was a pamphlet (PDF) that describes what NOT to say/do to a diabetic…
Im hoping it will give you some confidence and ammo for dealing with these situation…
http://behavioraldiabetesinstitute.org/resources-diabetes-informati…
You want the Diabetes Etiquette card… it will download from the link on the page…
It really takes a lot to get the courage to say NO to being shamed into the loo/bathroom for your disease but once you do, youll be glad you did… Not saying a little discretion is a bad thing but you shouldn’t be forced into any unhealthy situation.
I also had the reverse situation of someone in the restroom complaining I was shooting up drugs to the management… When I walked out of the bathroom I was followed and said. Is there a problem… and they were like someone saw you doing something in the restroom… and I was like. Uhm im a diabetic… and it was amazing how fast they backed off…
Feel free to ask people on here how they deal with situations… its a little different for everyone
-jolt
Kelly, In my opinion you are not necessarily overreacting or being a typical teen. You are being you, each of us is unique with our own likes, dislikes and comfort zones. Some people do not like speaking of anything personal and let’s face it diabetes is about as personal as it gets. Don’t give a second thought, just be the best you that you can be.
I don’t know… I am 29 and I still prefer not to test in front of people. Injecting or wearing my pump or having my CGM visible doesn’t bother me at all though… it’s more the judging that comes based on “oh, what’s your reading” and I hate dealing with that.
I feel like it’s even worse when I’m around family… it’s a constant catch-22. My mom associates checking often with being “out of control” and to her, not needing to test means I’m doing fine (which is just plain stupid since she’s a NURSE, and we all know as PWD’s that it’s more like the opposite - out of control often means not testing enough). I tend to rely on my CGM more when I’m around her (which is yet another thing she doesn’t understand), or I sneak in tests when she’s not paying attention.
Another PDF I found useful (thanks to Dave on the Accu-Chek group for this one)…
is http://www.isletsofhope.com/pdf/faq-public-testing.pdf
explaing testing in public… a detailed version of the D-etiquette brochure.
-john