Testing in public

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fairyhedgehog

fairyhedgehog

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Relationship to Diabetes
At risk of diabetes
Hi all,

Thanks for all your help with finding a meter and how to check my blood sugar levels. I'm now not needing to test quite so often because I've found a lot of foods that work and keep my BG at a reasonable level.

I mostly test when I'm not sure what effect a meal will have; I know that a handful of nuts for a snack is OK for example, and that I can eat porridge with banana at breakfast time although not so much later in the day.

This morning I added a small square of dark chocolate to my porridge and that seems to be OK too. I'm doing well with Burgen bread, although I prefer the Vogel bread when I can get it, and I'm having some meals with no "obvious" carbs, only from the fruit and veg. It all feels very manageable in the short term, and I'm not looking too far ahead.

But this evening I'm going to be eating out at a posh French restaurant (not my first choice, to be honest) and I'm wondering about testing before and/or after the meal. Would it be worth it? And do I go and hide in the ladies to do it? If I do, will people think I'm on drugs? 😉

I'm planning on avoiding chips and bread and puds, which is a bit of a pain but manageable, so I'm wondering if it's even worth testing.
 
If its the first time you've had it since starting testing then I'd say if you want to know the effects then yes go ahead and test and the answer to the 2nd part of do you go to the ladies to do it then I'd say certainly not unless you feel uncomfortable testing in a busy restaurant otherwise just sit where you are and test! LOL, hope you enjoy yourself and have a lovely evening! 🙂 x
 
I'd go ahead and test at the table. I decided right from the start that I didn't want to hide away - to me it's no different to a person with asthma using an inhaler 🙂

I wrote this poem on the topic of testing/injecting at the table after reading a story about a customer in a pub restaurant complaining when a woman with Type 1 diabetes injected at her table just prior to eating her meal. He claimed that she had upset his children and likened the act to the same social unpleasantness as breaking wind in public. Rather than taking the opportunity to educate his children about the unfortunate need for some people to inject in order to stay alive, instead he no doubt instilled in them the same prejudices he himself displayed.

So, are farts in restaurants more acceptable than injections? Let’s see what transpired…

:D


Excuse me, I’m sorry, I must ask you to leave,
For our customers are shocked and distressed,
And there’s been a complaint that you made someone faint,
And the management are far from impressed!

But what did I do? I’m innocent, I say!
I was just sat here eating my meal!
I’m embarrassed and hurt by the things you assert,
Have you no care for how I might feel?

If anyone should leave, then that woman over there
Just frightened my kids by injecting!
So disgusting and crude, alarming and rude,
It is her that you should be ejecting!

So, you claim that a lady who must do that to live,
In a restaurant is far less befitting
Than to lift up one cheek and let out a slow leak
Of the gases that you were emitting?

I admit that I trumped, but it wasn’t so loud,
I don’t see what there is to discuss!
What did I do wrong? It didn’t take long,
I don’t see why you’re making a fuss!

Sir, injections are fine just before you can dine,
But a fart is a toilet-based act!
It is far from discreet and puts folk off their meat,
So in future, remember that fact!
😱 :D
 
Maybe I need to get over my embarrassment.

Part of it is probably the "still in denial" bit. After all, I don't actually have diabetes, I'm only "in the grey area".

I need to face up to the fact that just because I can manage my BG with diet and exercise doesn't mean the problems aren't real.
 
We always test at the table (usually holding the kit just below the table so that nobody can see anyway) and have never had any comments. If anyone does say anything, you are just doing what you need to for your health, it's none of their business and if they don't like it they don't have to look.

As a slight aside, my daughter had just had her class and school leavers group photos done. She said she didn't like the photographer, because she had pointed at my daughter's pump and asked her "would you like to cover that up please, it's not part of school uniform." My daughter replied "no I wouldn't actually!" and is there in the photo with her pump outside her clothes in its bright pink case! I'm dead proud of her, a year ago she wouldn't have said that, she'd have done as she was told and probably got upset about it. My colleagues and I think she ought to have added that "it's not school uniform, but it's keeping me alive" :D
 
I used to try and be discreet but frankly after 20 years it's gone out the window, if I need to test then I test and if I need to inject then I do. If people don't like it that's their problem not mine, I don't see why we should have to hide away in often disgustingly unclean restrooms to make sure we literally don't die. Although in all fairness, I find that most of the time nobody bats an eye, and it's very rare anyone approaches to ask what it is I'm doing 🙂
 
Life is much easier with a Libre reader. As far as injections go, I just do it in public. People might look, but they don't see. It doesn't register, mostly. On trains, on buses, at cricket and football matches, in restaurants and pubs. What's the worst that can happen?
 
Before my Libre I tested in public as discretely as I could at the table.
I do the same with my injections, tbh I don't really care if anyone sees . So far No one has made any comments
 
Discrete testing at table seems to be the way to go.

Just spoke to my DH about something else and checked he's OK with that and his reaction was, "Well yes, of course". I'm feeling better about it now!
 
fairyhedgehog said:
Maybe I need to get over my embarrassment.

Part of it is probably the "still in denial" bit. After all, I don't actually have diabetes, I'm only "in the grey area".

I need to face up to the fact that just because I can manage my BG with diet and exercise doesn't mean the problems aren't real.
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Hi FH...I would want to know what effect a French meal would have on my diabetes...in fact I would love to be at the table to sample that menu?...TBH testing is such a simple process (once you've got the hang of it)...so quick...probably no one will notice...I say test at the table...and be dammed:D:D:D.
 
I've recently been on holiday with a tour group of around 30 people, none of whom I'd met before. Nobody commented at all, either about my libre sensor, or my insulin pen, unless I brought the subject up as a topic of conversation at the dinner table, and then they asked polite and fairly intelligent questions. I had meant to start a thread on what sort of comments I got, but hadn't got round to it. Maybe I should.
 
What about washing your hands though? A couple of times when I've been out for a meal I've washed my hands in the Ladies and tested there.

We're going to a French bistro for a friend's birthday on Sunday and I wasn't going to bother testing as I was not going to go for anything very carby on the menu anyway.
 
Sally71 said:
"would you like to cover that up please, it's not part of school uniform."
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😡 Unbelievable.

What about washing your hands though?
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That's a point. I'm going to start taking wipes with me...I don't usually bother testing, my family are very laid back about the whole diabetes thing, they'd think I was fussing if I measured when out and about. I think in future I will make a point of measuring. Lead by example. 🙂
 
I always test at the table, no matter who I'm in front of. I do get nervous at some events though. I was running a film producers event a few weeks ago and was scared of testing in front of them. I did have to alter my pump settings in front of one and he was interested. Turned out his niece is diabetic too.

Then last week I was at a vice chancellors end of term dinner (I'm doing my masters in screenwriting and I have the prestigious vice chancellor's scholarship so get invited to these events) and I had to do a pump set change. I managed to do it no problem.
 
Well, the ladies loo at the restaurant was dead posh and every cubicle had its own washbasin with marble counter! So I tested there when I washed my hands and it was fine.

I had grated carrot starter, hake à la Nicoise, and a decaf coffee. The hake came with olives, tomatoes, green beans, and a few small new potatoes. I avoided bread and dessert and my levels were fine.

I slept badly though, as I often do after a very active day, and my level this morning was up a bit, although still within acceptable levels.

I'm feeling more confident that I can eat within my limits, so I might only test next time if it's going to be hard to avoid things I'm unsure about or that I know aren't great!
 
fairyhedgehog said:
Well, the ladies loo at the restaurant was dead posh and every cubicle had its own washbasin with marble counter! So I tested there when I washed my hands and it was fine.
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You're brave. I never feel comfortable testing or injecting in the toilets, no matter how nice they are. The association I guess.
 
I was on holiday once and a guy at our table had to inject insulin before his meal. No-one was offended by it as they understood he was an insulin dependent diabetic. I know it is easier said than done when you are in the situation but, in my honest opinion, if people are offended that is their problem. They should be grateful that they don't have to go through it.
 
With regard to toilets, don't forget that people come out of the cubicles, turn on the tap with their contaminated hand to wash their hands. Then turn the tap off with their clean hands to restore the level of contamination on their hands. That's how bowls of nuts on the bar get contaminated, not because folk aren't washing their hands.

Is that too depressing?
 
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