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Giving Insulin in a toilet!

W

WILLIAMSE

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Parent of person with diabetes
Hi sorry for this , its probably been asked hundreds of times so my apologies.
My daughter is now in supported living and her insulin management is now being undertaken (very capably ) by support workers we have no issue with this. BUT,there is always a but, they have started to take her into the toilets when at a restaurant to give her, her insulin, we have never done this we have always given it discretly at the table in any restaurant where we are at. I dont agree but they feel that its more discrete Really! , a public toilet. Am i being unreasonable .Your thoughts please!
 
You are definitely not being unreasonable @WILLIAMSE ! It’s completely unhygienic to give injections in a public toilet - and completely unnecessary. Does your daughter have a care plan or a health plan? Can you get something added to this?
 
Whilst an insulin needle is tiny, it still a puncture wound, making it a potential (if rare) portal for infection. It's totally inappropriate to increase that risk by injecting somewhere unsanitary.
 
Sorry to hear this @WILLIAMSE

I certainly would never go to a restaurant or public toilet to do injections or fingerstick checks. I’ve even crouched by the side of a busy pavement when I needed to.

If any restaurant staff suggested I should go to a toilet to inject, I would make a complaint to whoever was in charge, and further up to owner / head office if necessary, recommending additional training.

Since this seems to be coming from the support workers, I wonder if perhaps her DSN could have a chat with them?
 
Totally unhygienic. You’re not being unreasonable. As your daughter is on insulin, I’m wondering if there’s an opportunity to request an insulin pump for her, plus a CGM if she doesn’t already have one.
 
Besides the hygiene issue i also think the carers are instilling stigma into your daughter......that she should hide her diabetes from others, that its not 'normal' to have to inject and i think thats not a good thing for the future
 
paultrose said:
Besides the hygiene issue i also think the carers are instilling stigma into your daughter......that she should hide her diabetes from others, that its not 'normal' to have to inject and i think thats not a good thing for the future
Click to expand...
Excellent point.
 
Inka said:
You are definitely not being unreasonable @WILLIAMSE ! It’s completely unhygienic to give injections in a public toilet - and completely unnecessary. Does your daughter have a care plan or a health plan? Can you get something added to this?
Click to expand...
thank You i have now written quite a strong email to support workers general manager
 
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