"Balance" letter about injecting in public

Hi All,

I just wanted to invite some comments on a letter I read in this months Diabetes UK magazine, Balance. It was a response to a letter in a previous issue, and reads:

"I was astounded by the letter from the man whose wife injected herself at a restaurant table while dining with friends ('Injection etiquette', Your health: Dear Richard, Jan/Feb 2009 Balance). How anyone can think this is acceptable is beyond me, but Richard's reply made it seem that anyone who might be upset should look away. Personally, I'd be disgusted if someone at the table did this, and I'm a nurse! I would be angry at that person's lack of consideration for others. The lady may not want to inject in the toilet, but if she is eating at a decent restaurant then they should be perfectly hygenic and a far more suitable place for such and intimate act." - Balance, Mar/April 2009, P.11

Now at first glance I thought this was a joke... But then was a little shocked to read that this person (a nurse) sounded deadly serious about it. I was wondering what other people's thoughts were on this - do you feel comfortable when injecting in public, or do you find somewhere private (e.g. a toilet) to do it?

Simon

The two letters in balance have really unsettled me. I asked my husband what he thought and he said it's the other people's issue if they have a problem with these necessary injections.

Every time I'm eating out with someone for the first time I always check to see if they're afraid of needles, to give them a chance to look away while I do my injection. I always try to inject discreetly and many people don't realise I'm doing it. My husband asked what these people would do if a person was in a wheelchair, clearly, it would be disgraceful if the person in the wheelchair was asked to go somewhere else as they were being inconsiderate. Unfortunately, I'm a person with diabetes and have to inject insulin. I don't like it much either, but do I have to move away every single time I need to inject?

I did used to go and hide when I had to inject but then I made the decision that I shouldn't have to go into the toilets to have my insulin.

I also asked my husband what his thoughts were and he said that it is other people's problem if they have an issue with it and they shouldn't be so nosy in the first place!!!

I had no idea that people would feel so strongly about it especially a nurse and I would never like to offend people but we shouldn't be made to feel that we are doing something wrong.

I have always injected in public, even in business meetings, and usually manage to do it discreetly so most people don't even notice or realise what I'm doing. I've never noticed negative reactions from anyone, and only very occasionally curiosity. The only time I find injecting in public a hassle is when I grab something to eat on the run in winter, but that's only because it's fiddly to unbutton layers, inject and carry stuff at the same time.

I have always injected in public. I don't know if people are becoming more conservative, it seems that way to me. I know some people don't see diabetes as a disability but to me this story is related to the one about the cbeebies presenter who has 1 arm and some parents complained that she scared their kids - people seem to be more uncomfortable with medical/disability stuff in public.

I think going to the toilet is unhygienic, and it is hard to balance meter, insulin pen, writing pen, diary, insulin all on the small area on top of the toilet. I guess I could go to the disabled loo but then people glare at you - you have all 4 limbs and don't use a wheelchair, why are you in the disabled toilet? And also it is similarly unhygienic. People don't store other medical stuff in the toilet, the first aid kit is not kept there, for a good reason - it is disgusting.

Personally, I think that if someone has a disabling phobia of some kind - and it must be disabling for a nurse to be scared of seeing people inject - then they should get it treated. People should not have to go out of their way because someone has a phobia. I wonder how this nurse manages to do her job if she is so squeamish about injections.

I'm with all of you. When first diagnosed I injected in toliets, but like others found this impractical. I also decided if people didn't like it that was their problem. I am discreet, but not ashamed !! The original letter is a joke, if that person really is a nurse I hope they never care for me they obviously have no understanding of what it means to be a diabetic. Personally if we can't inject then there should be a ban on all medicines in public ;-)

Before I had the pens I used syringes & vials, so found this easier to go to the toilets and do my thing. I never had any problems in doing this, and still don't believe there's any more hygiene risk whether you use a toilet or at the table.
Since getting the pens one of the obvious things to me was the simplicity of being able to inject oneself at a table in a restaurant.
Like most have said, I try to be discreet, but I couldn't care less what anyone else thinks, says, or does. I regularly inject and test in all kinds of public places, and have never had a problem.

I took a bolus while waiting in a queue at M&S to pay for some goods the other week - I thought that was pretty impressive as no one even noticed.

Absolutley agree with everyone. I too used to go to toilets to inject, that is until I had my DAFNE training. After talking to everyone else in the group I gained the confidence (after 30 years of diabetes - from the age of 11) to test and inject in public. I am discreet - usually injecting in tummy and even my family don't realise I have injected. Whether the toilets are hygenic or not is irrelevant, why should we have to leave the dinner table/friends/topic of conversation to enable us to take medication - particularly if splitting quick acting injections after courses. Would anyone expect someone suffering from asthma to go to the toilets to use an inhaler?!

Well it seems the rest of Balance readers share our shock and dismay at this nurses views on injecting in public. 2 pages of this months letters section are devoted to people's reactions to the letter mentioned at the top of this post, and I am pleased to say that not one of them supports the point of view expressed by this nurse.

Just to add my complete agreement to everything that's been said. I think this nurse really needs to take a long hard look at her attitude.