Re: Testing in Public

[Guest guest]

If you really cannot get to a private place, then at least keep it discreet for the comfort of others.

Last night we went out for pizza, so while we're waiting I whipped out my meter, tested, the waitress walks by,glances, then walks by, she really didn't care, I think some of us care more about it than other people do. Same reaction from people around us, it was fairly crowded, some glanced, but really don't care. I injected as soon as my order came, I just dial my pen stick in my leg through clothes, I've always done this. I've never in all my years injecting and testing found anyone repulsed by it, but like i always say , do your own thing!!! LOL :-) I've always tested and injected right in front of family and kids at home too. carol

[Guest guest]

Meenie wrote:

I see you feel very strongly about this, but really? Do the two really compare? I have an ostomy bag too, where I wouldn't change it in public, it isn't required before eating, I might have to empty, but thats done in a toilet as there isn't one by the table? :-)

Well, that was more of a comment to a poster who said they post in public because "I am what I am". My sister with her ostomy bag is what she is too, but ... well you get the drift

It's just that altho it may have no comparison to us, to others the sight of blood or of an injection would be just as bad.

If you really cannot get to a private place, then at least keep it discreet for the comfort of others.

Meenie

testing and injecting isn't the same thing as a ostomy bag, since facilities in private aren't needed, IMHO its just a matter of preference.:-)

carol

I am what I am also, but feel no need to force others to watch.

My sister has a colostomy, would you like to watch her change her fecal bag?

Meenie

Good for you, Nan! Me too. I am what I am.

[Guest guest]

Meenie wrote:

I see you feel very strongly about this, but really? Do the two really compare? I have an ostomy bag too, where I wouldn't change it in public, it isn't required before eating, I might have to empty, but thats done in a toilet as there isn't one by the table? :-)

Well, that was more of a comment to a poster who said they post in public because "I am what I am". My sister with her ostomy bag is what she is too, but ... well you get the drift

It's just that altho it may have no comparison to us, to others the sight of blood or of an injection would be just as bad.

If you really cannot get to a private place, then at least keep it discreet for the comfort of others.

Meenie

testing and injecting isn't the same thing as a ostomy bag, since facilities in private aren't needed, IMHO its just a matter of preference.:-)

carol

I am what I am also, but feel no need to force others to watch.

My sister has a colostomy, would you like to watch her change her fecal bag?

Meenie

Good for you, Nan! Me too. I am what I am.

[Guest guest]

Hi Joan,

You're absolutely right about one thing. There is nothing to be ashamed of in having diabetes. This is something that was handed to you whether you wanted it or not. You didn't get a choice.

Your family and friends, people who you will be around , need to know this aspect of you. They may need to know what to do in an emergency one day - hopefully not but you never know Just like it would be good for us all to know CPR because you never know when you may need it. And of course your family, and your real friends would want to be close enough to you to know the "real" you, and understand the problems and the joys of your life. They'd want you to get to the place where you have triumphed over the obstacles in your life and can handle the lifestyle changes that come with it.

Thats a big part of getting over the diagnosis of diabetes, incorporating the things you have to do to deal with it into your life, and going on with a normal life.

Testing and injecting insulin, which at one time probably seemed like a terrible thing to have to do, has now become something that is just part of your life - no big deal.

And that is terrific.

If it were to be a problem for me to find a bathroom or go all the way to my car when I needed to test, I would do it where ever I was. And if I found a need to do that, I would hold the things under the table, and do it with discretion, just as you said about using your pen under the table

I would dare say that most people who might walk by and see me test would be no more than idly curious. The ones who might be bothered are few, but I would think of it as a consideration to them to be discreet. I doubt very much if your open testing has bothered many people. It's simply my feeling, it isn't a rule.

Meenie

I think most of it is in the attitude of the tester. It's nothing to be ashamed of. I do announce "I need to test my blood now, OK?" Sometimes I add that I'm diabetic if they didn't already know. Nobody has ever said no or acted funny or looked the other way. No one has ever refused to go out to dinner with me again. Children are fascinated and the adults are interested in what a test on their blood would show. Everybody has stories and questions about diabetes. There has never been any uncomfortable silences. This is me. This is the reality of being me. Most people like me anyway. smile.However when it comes to the injection, I do keep the syringe below table level to fill and to inject. You can inject through clothes. I've done it for 35 years. It's just that there are a lot of negative feelings connected with syringes (illegal drugs). It takes me less than ten seconds and it's done. I suppose this is a compromise.I didn't always do this. I used to be very worried about what other people would think of me. But after 35 years of t1 I'd rather be accepted for who I am than for who I'm not.joan >^^< t1

[Guest guest]

Hi Joan,

You're absolutely right about one thing. There is nothing to be ashamed of in having diabetes. This is something that was handed to you whether you wanted it or not. You didn't get a choice.

Your family and friends, people who you will be around , need to know this aspect of you. They may need to know what to do in an emergency one day - hopefully not but you never know Just like it would be good for us all to know CPR because you never know when you may need it. And of course your family, and your real friends would want to be close enough to you to know the "real" you, and understand the problems and the joys of your life. They'd want you to get to the place where you have triumphed over the obstacles in your life and can handle the lifestyle changes that come with it.

Thats a big part of getting over the diagnosis of diabetes, incorporating the things you have to do to deal with it into your life, and going on with a normal life.

Testing and injecting insulin, which at one time probably seemed like a terrible thing to have to do, has now become something that is just part of your life - no big deal.

And that is terrific.

If it were to be a problem for me to find a bathroom or go all the way to my car when I needed to test, I would do it where ever I was. And if I found a need to do that, I would hold the things under the table, and do it with discretion, just as you said about using your pen under the table

I would dare say that most people who might walk by and see me test would be no more than idly curious. The ones who might be bothered are few, but I would think of it as a consideration to them to be discreet. I doubt very much if your open testing has bothered many people. It's simply my feeling, it isn't a rule.

Meenie

I think most of it is in the attitude of the tester. It's nothing to be ashamed of. I do announce "I need to test my blood now, OK?" Sometimes I add that I'm diabetic if they didn't already know. Nobody has ever said no or acted funny or looked the other way. No one has ever refused to go out to dinner with me again. Children are fascinated and the adults are interested in what a test on their blood would show. Everybody has stories and questions about diabetes. There has never been any uncomfortable silences. This is me. This is the reality of being me. Most people like me anyway. smile.However when it comes to the injection, I do keep the syringe below table level to fill and to inject. You can inject through clothes. I've done it for 35 years. It's just that there are a lot of negative feelings connected with syringes (illegal drugs). It takes me less than ten seconds and it's done. I suppose this is a compromise.I didn't always do this. I used to be very worried about what other people would think of me. But after 35 years of t1 I'd rather be accepted for who I am than for who I'm not.joan >^^< t1

[Guest guest]

I'm not crazy about going into the bathroom to test, mostly because there isn't room to set the kit and juggle everything in your lap in a stall. If you decide to use the counter in the bathroom you have to be careful it isn't wet and so on. I prefer to test at the table and draw up the insulin and cap the syringe and carry it into the bathroom to inject especially since I prefer to inject in my stomach below the bellybutton. This usually involves unfastening my jeans and lowering my waistband on my underwear, not something I prefer to do in public. But I don't see any harm in testing at the table. I would rather see someone do the test and take their insulin at the table than not do it at all and risk their health.

I test at work all the time. I work with 5 other people sitting at a table opening mail for a insurance company. When I'm having a low I test to record what it is and they are all curious about the things I do and have questions. Several other girls either have diabetes or someone in their family does and we swap info. One woman just found out in Jan. and is still in the honeymoon stage. She is on pills and still has a bg of 140 to 245. We talk about it pretty regularly because its something we have in common and she is going through everything I did 3 years ago. BTW March 3rd was my 3yr anniversary. Anyway I test at work and take my shot if I need it and they know if I have a low and know where to get my emergency kit if its needed. Bottom line is that its nothing to be ashamed of and I'm not going to hide it. I'm doing what I need to do to live longer and I left one job because of their lack of understanding about it. When they give you a hard time about being sick and leaving work early because you had a low and couldn't get back on the phones to take calls in a call center with in 5 min then there is a problem. I don't know about you but my lows usually take atleast 15 min to recover and im tired for the rest of the day. I also had to get off the phones to eat something to bring it back up and they gave me a hard time there too. and the people calling in sometimes wouldn't let me off the phone to go and their was junk in the vending machines, no canteen with juice. What I'm doing now may not be the most glamorous job considering I was a technical support engineer for MSN internet, but I'm alot happier and alot healthier now. And they wanted to know why I left a $9.00 an hour job. My new job I have the freedom to get up and walk around, go down to cafeteria, get something to counter the low. Plus the job is 10 min from my house compared to an hour drive.

Anyway Im rambleing again. Talk to you later, I have to go to bed so I can goto work tomorrow and open all that mail. Never saw so much paper as what goes through that place. geez

Kerry

Re: Testing in Public>Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2001 19:12:27 -0500>> I am what I am also, but feel no need to force others to watch.> My sister has a colostomy, would you like to watch her change her fecal >bag?>> Meenie>>> Good for you, Nan! Me too. I am what I am.>>_________________________________________________________________Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

[Guest guest]

My 5yr old son asked me why I have to stick myself and when I would be all better and not sick anymore. Its hard to tell him that I have to do this forever and im not sure he understands. he now mimicks me when he is hungry saying he is hungry and needs food before his sugar bails up. I refer to it as my sugar bailing out on me when my sugar is low. I've tested him and he is fine and normal,Thank God. But I think he knows more than we give him credit for. Of course he is very handy to retrieve my insulin kit for me when its in the other room.

Kerry

Re: testing in public

On Thu, 15 Mar 2001 09:56:54 -0800 (PST), Gem Stone you wrote:>My 12 years old son is very concerned(read worried)<BR>>and watch me test when he is home and if not, he ask<BR>>me about the latest results as soon as he is back. I<BR>>now wonder if it was a good thing to let him know. & nbsp; <BR>That good thing your son is care and interest about your health, andhe is open mind about it too.

[Guest guest]

My 5yr old son asked me why I have to stick myself and when I would be all better and not sick anymore. Its hard to tell him that I have to do this forever and im not sure he understands. he now mimicks me when he is hungry saying he is hungry and needs food before his sugar bails up. I refer to it as my sugar bailing out on me when my sugar is low. I've tested him and he is fine and normal,Thank God. But I think he knows more than we give him credit for. Of course he is very handy to retrieve my insulin kit for me when its in the other room.

Kerry

Re: testing in public

On Thu, 15 Mar 2001 09:56:54 -0800 (PST), Gem Stone you wrote:>My 12 years old son is very concerned(read worried)<BR>>and watch me test when he is home and if not, he ask<BR>>me about the latest results as soon as he is back. I<BR>>now wonder if it was a good thing to let him know. & nbsp; <BR>That good thing your son is care and interest about your health, andhe is open mind about it too.