Is there a Stigma attached to your diabetes ? What is your experience.

[Amigo]

Haha no, but she did apologise for the comment after I'd explained what a hypo is like! We are still friends 🙂

Well that’s good. At least she’s had an education now Sprogladite! 😛

 

[Rene Droomer]

I know for myself, the biggest physiological impact of Diabetes stigma is that I don't like to test or inject in public because I don't like it when people look and I wonder what they think. I have delayed testing and injecting, particularly in restaurants, because of this. What are your experiences and feelings on this, or other diabetes stigma related experiences?

I've always injected/tested in public - I honestly think if I have to sit and have multiple needles stuck in me on a daily basis, I have the right to do it where and when I want. If other people are offended by this that's their problem. I once got told I 'shouldn't do it in front of children because it gives them the wrong idea' - to which I told the horrified parent that it was their job to educate their kids that needles don't always equal druggies. It makes me so mad when people assume I should scurry off to the loo to do it - why on earth should I go to a nasty, unclean public loo to give myself medication I literally need to live?!

I love your comeback as to educating the kids, its the way forward. Good for you!!!

 

[Rene Droomer]

We always do finger pricks at the table, and then because we are pumping this is followed just by a few button pushes so anyone looking will just think we are texting or something. Daughter used to prefer to do the finger prick bit under the table, but is slowly getting used to the fact that nobody is looking anyway because they are all too interested in their own food, so she's a bit braver now and doesn't always try to hide it. The only time we've had comments is when we are eating together with people who aren't aware of the procedure, and then they are usually genuinely interested which isn't so bad.

My daughter doesn't like it if people ask her what her pump or Libre sensor are, although again it depends who is asking and how they say it. She usually replies that she doesn't want to talk about it, although having changed schools recently she's had a couple of interested teachers asking about it and I think she's managed to have more of an informative conversation with them (she has real problems talking about her diabetes at all). A while back at one of her dance classes loads of young kids were asking her what her sensor was and the answer " I don't want to talk about it thank you" was just completely ignored and they pestered her relentlessly which wasn't nice. We asked the teacher to talk to all of them and ask them to leave her alone and concentrate on their dancing, because that's what they are there for, but that only worked for a short while. She's left that dance school now and at the other one she goes to everyone is much nicer and most of them don't ask, the ones that do get the message straight away that she doesn't want to talk about it and they don't ask again. She does get a few comments about "it's not fair, she's eating sweets in class" when treating a hypo, which she usually ignores because her brain is in no state to formulate a suitable answer, but the last time that happened in dance class the teacher told everyone that "actually what's not fair is that she's got a medical condition that means she has to eat sweets even when she doesn't want to." Good answer, I love that woman!!

If it was me I don't think I'd give two hoots what other people thought, so whilst not advertising the fact I don't think I'd hide it either. I'm hoping that in time my daughter will eventually learn to have this attitude, she's just starting to take the first small steps in that direction now 🙂

I commend you supporting your daughters choices!!

 

[Rene Droomer]

I think there's also quite a lot of judgment about what food passes your lips when eating in front of anyone - actual conversation I had a couple of weeks ago with a friend:

Me: Tests blood sugar, I'm 2.3. No wonder I feel c**p. Reaches for jelly babies
Friend: I thought you couldn't eat those because you're diabetic?
Me: Normally no, but I'm having a hypo and need to raise glucose levels otherwise I'm going to pass out and possibly die
Friend: So you HAVE to eat sweets sometimes?
Me: nods while chewing
Friend: That must be nice!
Me: chokes, tries not to let angry hypo rage take over. Takes deep breath and concentrates on chewing.

I later explained how NOT nice having a hypo is, and she understands better now. But it really took a lot of willpower not to rip her head off lol

I get bad nocturnal hypos and my husband (lifesaver) has threatened to record me as he says I say the oddest things. Two nights ago he said I told him to put the horses in the stable. I havnt owned a horse for 12 years. lol

 

[Sprogladite]

I get bad nocturnal hypos and my husband (lifesaver) has threatened to record me as he says I say the oddest things. Two nights ago he said I told him to put the horses in the stable. I havnt owned a horse for 12 years. lol

Haha I say weird stuff too, a while back I had a hypo and got really upset and kept telling my dad I had a square head but couldn't explain what I meant by that and just got more and more hysterical about it. Luckily he twigged after a very confusing few minutes for everyone involved what was going on and we got it sorted haha!

 

[MikeTurin]

Haha I say weird stuff too, a while back I had a hypo and got really upset and kept telling my dad I had a square head but couldn't explain what I meant by that and just got more and more hysterical about it. Luckily he twigged after a very confusing few minutes for everyone involved what was going on and we got it sorted haha!

Here "square head" "testa quadra" means you're stubborn without reason.
And about stigma I find that is sometimes a problem when there is some social event or a dinner and I refuse to eat something. Especially if there are relatives involved.
not to mention people that are saying that i took diabetes because I ate to much and I was fat. As all you know the polyphagia is a diabetes symptom,and when I started to gain weight is I think was due the increasing insulin resistance.

 

[Matt Cycle]

I'm not really a 'look at me' character and for years I didn't tell anyone about my T1 diabetes unless it was absolutely necessary. Partly because insulin involved syringes and blood testing was via the Autolet and BM strips - none of it very discreet. I guess I didn't want to stand out for being different and having to explain it all or thought differently of because of my T1 - and syringes, needles and blood, hypos etc. although I'm fine with them, are not the most attractive conversational topic. It was easier to not say anything. 🙄

However in recent years I've thought 'why shouldn't I say anything or test or inject in public? It's Type 1 diabetes - I didn't cause it, it's not my fault I got it and am more willing to speak to people about it and what it involves. I wouldn't say I'm 100% confident of testing or injecting in front of anyone although I will do it discreetly and on the whole no one even notices or has said anything.

 

[Lisa66]

I feel exactly the same as @Matt Cycle ....almost word for word. Saved me typing it all out. 🙂

 

[Chris Hobson]

I don't have to inject anymore but when I did I used to be discrete but not in any way secretive about it. I never saw anyone react in a negative way. Regarding comment No3 by Trophywench, I would guess that the people in question thought that you were abusing drugs.

 

[Sally71]

Regarding comment No3 by Trophywench, I would guess that the people in question thought that you were abusing drugs.

That's what's annoying about it though isn't it, if you get stares and comments from strangers they are almost always negative, nobody ever thinks "oh look that poor person has a medical condition which means they have to inject themselves with essential medication every day", they always assume that you must be doing something illegal! Whereas I think most people who are doing illegal drugs tend not to shoot up in public... 🙄

 

[Chris Hobson]

I was once told by a friend that I was a supremely confident person. I suppose that this might be the reason that I'm not really bothered what other people think about me. This is a useful outlook in other ways, I don't feel the need to get into debt in order to drive a cool car. As long as my ten year old car keeps getting me and my stuff where I need to go I'm happy with it. Both my brothers became smokers because all their mates were doing it, I was never affected by peer pressure and I'm sure that my self confidence must have been the reason.

 

[Ally beetle]

Should be fun on Saturday, there’s at least three Libre users going as far as I know. You, I and @Greyhound Gal. Might clear the pub! 😉

where did you go??

 

[Bloden]

No-one's ever noticed or commented on me pricking or jabbing - I just get on with whatever needs to be done, wherever I happen to be.🙂 And as for the Libre sensor, adults 'give it the big eye' and say nothing, while children ask what it is - and I tell them.🙄

 

[Beck S]

I don't mind testing in public and so far no one's really said anything - it took three weeks before any of my Guides noticed I was doing it, and they asked me some questions and that was that. I've got to do it, and it's probably better to do it on the windowsill by my desk, or at the table in a restaurant rather than hiding in the toilets.

 

[Bloden]

I've got to do it, and it's probably better to do it on the windowsill by my desk, or at the table in a restaurant rather than hiding in the toilets.

Oh no, never in a restaurant toilet!😱 I don't want to start judging places by their bogs (sometimes surprisingly rank) instead of their food.😉

 

[eggyg]

where did you go??

We were at the Glasgow meet, good day was had by all.

 

[Mark Parrott]

I have tested BG in public & have never had a response from anyone. I do try to be fairly discreet.

 

[Pigeon]

I test and inject discreetly in public, never had any fuss off anyone. Bizarrely, the only people I feel awkward in front of is my family (parents and grandparents), is that weird? More because I don't want them to make a fuss or get upset - I got diabetes after I left home (age 26) and I think they all struggled to get our heads round it. My Grandma in particular was very upset, and kept saying things like "I can't get you out of my head with your condition, can you still drive with your medical problems? Have you taken your medication? I have to ask!" which wasn't very helpful, so I try to hide all signs of it from her now. I tried explaining things to her like carb counting etc but and she listened to me explain it all then said "but you couldn't eat fruit cake, could you?" and still asks if it's ok to add a teaspoon of sugar to cooked tomatoes. So it's easier to keep all signs hidden.