Injecting when out and about

[chrismbee]

I used to inject in toilets but got fed up with having to leave the table, usually just as the food was arriving.
If anybody notices me injecting, despite being as discrete as possible, I just smile at them. If they mutter something, then I quitely state that I have diabetes and have to inject insulin.
Whilst it is easy to get on your high horse about your rights and others minding their own business, we are a naturally inquisitive race and the urge to look at something out of the ordinary is very strong. However, that does not mean that we need to jump down the throat of the unwitting audience.

Like Rob, I have never worn a dress in a restaurant and can imagine that it can be tricky😱

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

o Tez, you make it sound so easy!

Picture this if you will... 11 year old girl, newly diagnosed, vision impaired due to her diabetes (so cant see numbers on pen herself) at her grandfathers 'wake' in restaurant with friends relatives and strangers. Wearing a dress with long sleeves and tights. Friend (adult) so needle phobic nearly drops wine glass at the thought of having needle anywhere near.

So we went and injected in the toilets😱

And I think you were probably right to do so (because you were adapting your behaviour to be sensitive to those around you. I would though, get pretty beligerent if a restaurant insisted I injected in the toilets. As Tez suggests it's a pretty unsavoury place to attempt an injection. I've also heard of folks trying to be 'sensitive' and going to inject in toilets only to be dragged out by off-duty police officers /security guards assuming it was a more 'recreational' drug use 😱

More often than not I'll inject at the table, as unobtrusively as possible. I've also injected kneeling down at the edge of a pavement in a pretty busy high street when eating on the run. No one seemed to notice or care.

As for timing... before the meal is by far the best to keep my post-meal levels in check. Shiv's idea of a small insulin 'downpayment' upfront followed by the balance once you know what's what is a really good one.

 

[AlisonM]

I was out and about at the weekend and had dinner with a friend in a local restaurant. This is the first time I've been out for a meal since I've been injecting. I hitched up my t-shirt a bit on the side nearest the wall and stabbed myself and no-one noticed except my friend who watched with horrified fascination, he couldn't imagine being able to do that to himself. I told him it's a straight choice between injecting and a pine box - no contest. I was quite relieved not to be challenged as I really don't fancy having to inject in a loo, they're not clean.

I've been doing this at work (I usually have breakfast at work because I just can't eat first thing in the morning) for a few weeks now and no-one has a problem with it. I go and hide in the kitchen if there's folk about, otherwise I do it at my desk. I haven't been caught yet but I'm sure it's only a matter of time.

 

[Northerner]

...he couldn't imagine being able to do that to himself. I told him it's a straight choice between injecting and a pine box - no contest. ...

I like that phrase! 🙂

 

[MeanMom]

o Tez, you make it sound so easy!

Picture this if you will... 11 year old girl, newly diagnosed, vision impaired due to her diabetes (so cant see numbers on pen herself) at her grandfathers 'wake' in restaurant with friends relatives and strangers. Wearing a dress with long sleeves and tights. Friend (adult) so needle phobic nearly drops wine glass at the thought of having needle anywhere near.

So we went and injected in the toilets

Have to add that K now nearly always injects at table (except when needle phobic friend around or if very noisy place - in case sudden noise makes her jump) She wears short sleeves all the time now (with cardi over if cold)

She does still have to use the toilets sometimes and it reminds me of when I sometimes had to breast feed her in the ladies as there was no where else - trust me if I had done so in a cafe she would have never finished - she's always been jumpy in noisy places😱

K injects after the meal when out because we tried doing it before and this caused her too much stress worrying how long the meal would take and also difficult to carb count not knowing how much going to eat. Ideal world would be some before and some after but that means 2 injections and she's not ready to do that yet - the time will come soon tho' I think🙂

 

[Tezzz]

I didn't mean to upset anyone.

I realise it isn't easy to inject with poor eyesight when newly diagnosed.

I've been to several diabetes meets now and 'the old hands' make it look easy to quickly and discretely do the business.

Does the pen click or have a resistance for each unit dialed up? If it does could I suggest these could be counted? It might take a bit of practice.

My friend who is almost blind told me about the clicks on his pen. If it's noisy he pulls the end bit out asks someone to dial the units. He can do the rest himself.

My lady friend said if she's all poshed up in a best frock, she will inject through the fabric of her dress. Most people wouldn't and I think they are right not to.

Regarding the needle phobia person, and I am one too, may I suggest you ask them to close their eyes or look away?

One last thing, does K know any other children who inject? Perhaps if she met some who do they could help reduce her fear.

 

[MeanMom]

I didn't mean to upset anyone.

Tez - you didnt upset me - just trying to make a point that sometimes you are stuck between a rock and a hard place

Also - you may not be aware of this but quite often (but not always) the 'ladies' in a cafe or pub is quite a nice place - they even have chairs in a seperate area near the sink and - flowers!

On a good day K is much better able to see now (she has to be - they do not help her at all at high school) - yes the pen clicks but that would be a bit hit and miss - my dad (who lost most of his sight to Type 2) had to rely on my Mum to inject for him - dont think he ever injected himself - but he was only on one injection a day

Its like everything else - takes a bit of getting used to - even our phobic friend has gotten a lot better and doesnt shake if he knows K is injecting in the next room. K injected in a very noisy cafe the other day - i suggested she go to the ladies but there were stairs (she didnt like the look of them) - 'Dont fuss Mum' - I love it when she back chats me (dont tell her!)