• Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
  • We seem to be having technical difficulties with new user accounts. If you are trying to register please check your Spam or Junk folder for your confirmation email. If you still haven't received a confirmation email, please reach out to our support inbox: support.forum@diabetes.org.uk

How do you manage giving insulin to children in public places

Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
A

Amanda74

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Parent of person with diabetes
Hi
I have a 7 year old daughter who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes last week.
We're managing her insulin injections etc fine at home and at school but next week we are off to London for a few days at half term and I was wondering how people find a clean, private place to administer insulin.
Are you allowed to take a child into a disabled toilet as normal toilet cubicles are not really big enough?
Any tips gratefully received!
 
Amanda74 said:
Hi
I have a 7 year old daughter who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes last week.
We're managing her insulin injections etc fine at home and at school but next week we are off to London for a few days at half term and I was wondering how people find a clean, private place to administer insulin.
Are you allowed to take a child into a disabled toilet as normal toilet cubicles are not really big enough?
Any tips gratefully received!
Click to expand...

Yes of course you should take her into a disabled toilet if you’d both prefer the space and privacy (can’t guarantee they’ll be any cleaner though).
Alternatively get a RADAR key to access the separate disabled toilets. They can be ordered online or I understand Boots sell them.

http://www.boots.com/blue-badge-co-radar-disabled-toilet-key-10233348
 
Eek. Don’t use toilets to inject, no matter how clean they look, they are seething with bacteria. Most of us professional T1s inject in public, in cafes and restaurants. It’s not defiance, it’s hygeine. You wouldn’t eat in a toilet, so don’t inject there.

Anyway, you don’t want your girl thinking it’s something to be ashamed of.
 
I may have a different perspective as I was diagnosed as an adult, but I would never, ever recommend going to a toilet to inject insulin, or do anything else diabetes-related. I think it is important that no shame is attached to doing the simple things that keep you alive as a T1. Of course you don’t want to make a big show of it, or draw attention, and be mindful that people can have a profound aversion to needles - but an insulin pen and 4mm needle are all but invisible and unnoticeable in my experience. .

When eating out the abdomen is almost always easily accessible and doses can be delivered without fuss below the table, especially if positioned with your back to the main part of the room.

Over the last 25+ years the only time anyone has noticed me do anything was someone who gave a cheery nod as they spotted my BG meter.

Edit - others were faster at typing!
 
You should never have to feel the need to hide away in a toilet to give injections. These days of insulin pens make it easy to inject and you shouldn't see it as offensive to anyone. Hiding away will give your daughter the feeling of being ashamed of her condition. Of course take her to wash and clean her hands (finger prick) but don't inject in a bacteria ridden environment.
 
Speaking from experience, disabled toilets have, if anything, more hygeine problems than usual in any event. I occasionally have to resort to standard facilities for that reason.
 
Absolutely agree she doesn't need to 'hide away'. We are slowly persuading her to try having her injections in different rooms of the house but as it's still very early days we are going along with what she wants at the moment as having her cooperation with the finger pricks and injections is so much better for all of us than the screaming/hyperventilating we endured for the first few days.
We are trying to give her as much control as possible (choosing which finger to test and where she wants the injection) over things she can control but at the same time she understands now that she has no choice about actually having the insulin.
 
My son was only three when he was diagnosed (thirty years ago) and obviously we had to administer the insulin,with syringes. For the first few years we injected him in the most fleshy part of his body, the bum cheeks. Nowadays it seems to be the abdomen. Fortunately the needle sizes are now much more finer.
It will eventually become a process your daughter will become accustomed to. Unfortunately with diabetes there will be many times blood will be taken, fingers pricked and insulin injected and as you say, there is no choice.
 
Sounds like you are doing brilliantly @Amanda74 - your lit’lun is getting just the right support and encouragement.
 
Aww bless her. Makes me so sad to hear of a 7 year old being diagnosed. And it’s so hard at that age.

I completely understand her being nervous. I was diagnosed much older but I remember being nervous about injecting in public. That will come.

If she’s nervous about having her injection in public, and you have to resort to using a toilet, then that’s fine. It’s better for her to have her jab than not. Toilets aren’t the most hygienic places, but if she’s nervous and wants some privacy for the first time she’s gone away since diagnosis, then I don’t see a problem with that.

And yes you can use the disabled toilets. But just be aware of some people giving you looks. I get looks even though I’m going into the disabled toilets with a crutch (I have other things wrong too). But I’ve found London to be quite understanding.

Best of luck to your daughter.
 
Like others I would never have wanted to do anything to do with my Diabetes in a toilet. My insuiln is just part of my meal. Others add pepper and salt, I add insulin.

When I was injecting I just used my pen below the table. I had only one reaction when someone on a neighbouring table spotted my test kit and just asked what I thought the carbs were as we both had the same meal. However I understand the importance of your daughter being involved in choices. Could you offer her two options, but neither of which is going to the loo.

When you go to London it would be good to try to take clothes where the abdomen is accessible (skirts or trousers rather than a dress) as it then gives her the option of diong her injection at the table.
 
Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Back
Top