Where do you inject?

I don't know if I've just reached the point where the novelty of injecting insulin has worn off so much that I've forgotten that it may be shocking to others....

The other day I was in the bathroom at our community centre. And I laid out my needle kit on the counter and went into a stall to inject. This little girl -- probably 8 or 9 -- was by herself in the washroom with me and saw the needles and I think she got a little scared. I just said to her, "It's ok, it's just my medicine" but she left the bathroom without going.

Another time, I got a disgusted look from a lady when I injected in the gym locker room. I'm thinking, you're standing there naked and I'm the who's not being discreet?

Are you guys liberal about injecting in public? Do you inject in the food court or lunchroom? Does it bother your family members to inject in front of them?

Tags: MDI, injections, insulin, needle

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by TS on May 25, 2010 at 9:19pm

I whip out a needle and inject any where any time. I do inject through cloths, though. I use my upper thigh in restaurants. I have a pump now, but still inject via needle sometimes and now that I take symlin I just push my shirt up a little and whammo.
20 years ago, I injected in a restaurant restroom before eating and a woman called the cops on me. She didn't look at me, however, so I was eating in the dining room when the cops came and she couldn't point me out. I didn't say anything, just watched the entertainment and finished my meal.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Gerri on May 25, 2010 at 9:35pm

I inject in public & am pretty discrete. My family & friends are used to it. One of my nephews was squeamish until I showed him how tiny the needles are.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jennifer B. on May 25, 2010 at 9:44pm

I was diagnosed 2 years ago T1. At first, I would go to a restroom (if in public) to inject. Then I realized how inconvenient and gross that is. I don't wanna balance my purse and supplies in a dirty restroom, when I could just do it at the restaurant table. Why am I leaving the food area to do something everyone else's body is doing right there? Insulin and food go together, and I decided I am not going to pretend otherwise. I don't think it is something any of us should "hide". We should be VERY public about it. Let people feel uncomfortable, like we did when told we'd have to inject every time we eat. Perhaps they will feel a little bit of our pain and it will bring more awareness.

Since I got over "offending" others (because frankly, I am offended I have to even do this to survive, so I dare someone to confront me in public), I have injected on the train, a plane, the movie theater, in a car, ANYWHERE I need to eat, or it's time for a Lantus dose.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Nyxks on May 25, 2010 at 10:05pm

I will not inject in a restroom ... if someone can't handle me doing it at the table their issues not mine (had one person give me a bad look when I did it at the table months ago, while out with hubby she even complained to the waitress who mostly said if she had an issue with it take it up with Health Canada. ::chuckles:: Wait staff who is diabetic can come in handy at times.

In truth i do not like injecting in public places at all, since I do have to lift my T or the like to get at where I inject less I have hubby jab me in the arm (which I have dun a couple of times while out and putting supplies down just wasn't going to happen).

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Maureen on May 25, 2010 at 10:10pm

I use a pump now, but when I injected, it was anywhere I happened to be - restaurants, theatres, staff room, office, kitchen table.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kathyann on May 25, 2010 at 10:12pm

I inject in my stomach and it can be awkward unzipping and zipping my pants to get to it. I've done it at a restaurant table. Can't do it if my sister is there cuz she gets all crazy.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Rolland on May 25, 2010 at 11:41pm

Wow, i never really thought about this. I've never done it where anyone could see me.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Robyn on May 25, 2010 at 11:52pm

I will inject pretty much anywhere, but I am aware of others around me and try to be discreet. My friends and family members are fine with it and my 2 granddaughters have just learned to give a shot....so it is "fun" to give grandma an injection and they feel so proud of themselves. I will also inject right through my shirt and have never had a problem. Injecting is no big deal to me. It keeps me alive. :) Yea!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by bsc on May 26, 2010 at 5:15am

I pretty much inject (Byetta) wherever is safe and not "intrusive." I don't excuse myself, I'll just inject under the table at a restaurant. I'll turn away so that people don't have it in their face, but this is life. I also decided that it was silly doing all that washing the site and exposing the skin. I just "bam" inject right through my clothes. It does wear through needles faster, but it does make it a lot more convenient. You mean you have to change needles? But given that the majority of my injections are at home, if you are in my house, I will inject in front of you. You probably won't notice, I don't make a big deal out of it, but you have to deal with it. What is strange is that I have on D friend that comes over, I inject in front of her and then she "always" runs off to the bathroom for her injection. But of course she does not reveal her T1 to anyone except her family and closest friends.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jennifer on May 26, 2010 at 6:45am

I am pumping now, but when I do inject I would inject anywhere. I try to be discrete as possible - i.e. injecting under the table, but I am definitely not afraid to whip it out at a sports event or a concert (the pen/syringe I mean by that haha). The bathroom - a definite no no for me -to gross and dirty. I injected in public all around Disney World a month ago - no problems.