Public poking

[sandyhandz]

We eat out way too often (approx 50% of our meals). At first, I was injecting my insulin when I got home because I was never sure what I was going to be eating. But with the increasing need for insulin, I feel I can no longer wait pc. So I started bringing my pen with me to restaurants. I order my food and then go to the bathroom to inject.

Do you guys do it this way too? Or do you just pull it out in public? How do you contain your needles afterwards? Leave it attached until you get home? Is there such a thing as a portable sharps container that would fit in a small purse?

I'm new to the pen also and have been constantly forgetting to bring my dern needles! Is there a certain system you use?

What do you do about the alcohol scrub? So far, I've been carrying around a little baggie with a presoaked alcohol cotton ball.

Any tips you could pass on about how you do it would be helpful.

[Cyborg]

Before the pump, I would usually carry insulin in a cooler and left it in the car. I was a little shy so I would just go out to the car to inject. I think bathrooms are too dirty. I have to assume with a pen it is easier and more convenient than with a syringe. Less conspicuous also...

I buy alcohol swabs. They come in the little packets like the wet dinner napkins you get at a rib joint. They are cheap and convenient. I have seen small sharps containers. You could use an empty test strip vial or something similar.

[sandyhandz]

Oh yeah! The test strip container would be perfect. Especially for those little needles with the insulin pen. I'll have to try that.

At first I would also inject in the car, but then never knew what I would end up ordering from the menu. Some of the restaurants can have you waiting forever and I have a fear of going hypo.

Where do you guys take your big sharps containers for disposal? Where's the cheapest place you know of to purchase the containers?

I used to get the boxes of alcohol pads, but find it cheaper just to buy a bottle of alcohol with some swabs. I'm a penny-pincher, as you can probably tell. You have to be with this disease! My diabetic station has already claimed the corner of my kitchen table - I can't let it also claim my bank account!

Thanks Cyborg for the tips.

[Cyborg]

:) When I used to inject in the car, I would definately wait until the food arrived. Kind of a hassle and one of the reasons I like the pump so much.

[notme]

I am a pumper now so I can only tell you what I used to do. I do test in restaurants....still do. I try to be a bit discreet, keeping the meter on my lap. I would inject also at the table, but I am one of those through the clothes slobs so I can't help you there. I would draw it up at wait height at the table, just under the table cloth and inject at any location that was below the table or in my arm if I was against a wall. I never went to the bathroom to inject. I agree with Cyborg on that one.

I love my pump. Right at the table bothers nobody.

[poodlebone]

I used to test my BG and inject at the table. I didn't want to gross anyone out so I'd often put the meter on my lap. I would use my Humalog pen to inject right through my clothing. No wipes, nothing. Straight through the clothes. I reused pen needles and just left it attached to the pen, with the little inner cap on plus the pen cap.

I'm pumping now which makes it much easier. I do sometimes have to change my infusion set at work, which means I'm left with a long needle to dispose of. I carry an empty Altoids tin in my bag and put any sharps & used test strips in that and then transfer them to my home sharps container. When that's full I just seal the lid and put it in the regular trash. We're allowed to do that in NYC, but I'm sure different places have different rules.

[valc3]

I use a pen and inject at the table, through clothes, no alcohol. I keep needles in a zip lock bag in my purse. I do take it off after I inject, because insulin will leak out. Just put the cap back on and dispose of it when you get home.

Check with you health department on their policy for needle disposal. I use a liquid laundry detergent container. Fill it up, tape the top and write on the outside "Do not Recycle" and put it in the trash. Your local hospital or Dr may also take them and dispose of them.

[rzrbks]

With a title like that I was expecting something COMpletely different (no, not really).

Since I have an InDuo,

http://www.diabetesforums.com/monitoring/3519-accu-check-compact.html

checking blood and injecting are no hassle. Besides, if it bothers them, they shouldn't be watching me.

And I do NOT go to the bathroom to inject, those places have more germs and infection in them than..........I'll leave it to your imagination.

[Tokyo Cate]

I have a small bag (18 cm by 10 cm) that holds both my pens and a bag of unused pen needles (which I keep in the bag but can tell because of the paper tab over the end) and I throw the used ones in the bottom of the bag until I get home and then put them in my sharps container. The bag also has room for band-aids, my iPod, headache medicine and could fit my test kit, too, but I keep it in its own case.

I test and inject at the table, though I try to be discreet and will most often use my lower leg because some people are squeamish and nobody really needs to see my frighteningly white belly.

[sandyhandz]

Maybe we're just the products of how our parents handled things. My Mom is type I and over the more than 20 years since she has been injecting, I have only on rare occasion seen her test or inject. The times I can remember, it was when I woke up early and she hadn't put her kit away yet.

Perhaps I'm still a bit ashamed, or something. I don't know. I feel I don't want anyone to know my weaknesses. Sometimes I get embarrassed when my husband takes out his non-vitamin meds in public to take at the table.

Everyone is so funny about the bathrooms! It's only the door that I touch to open and lock before I test/inject. But I guess I've been lucky so far with single bathrooms vs. having to go into a stall. That might be a bit trickier.

Thanks for the tips about tin containers/bags and ways to handle disposals.

[notme]

[QUOTE=rzrbks]With a title like that I was expecting something COMpletely different (no, not really).

hehehehehe rzrbks.... :listen:

[Diana]

I pump now, but when I used shots I would generally inject at the table. If I was somewhere I felt uncomfy injecting, I would go to the toilet and do it there. Or if you are going to somewhere like a fast food place and have a good idea of what you are going to eat and how long it will take to get it, I guess you could inject before you go in, in the car. I found it reasonably easy to give shots without anyone noticing. With a pen it is easy to dial up the dose under the table, and then I would just inject through my clothing, no swabbing. As for disposing of the needle, I would suggest leaving the needle on the pen until you get home and can use your normal disposal method. Personally, I would often use the one needle all day. To help with the problem of forgetting the needles, I just put a handful into every bag I normally used. That way you are pretty sure of being able to dig one up no matter where you are. Or put a stash in your car if you like.

I dont really believe that injecting in the toilets is so unhygenic. I mean, I dont go dropping my needles down the toilet before using them, or dragging them along the bathroom floor. I really dont think there is anything wrong with injecting in toilets, if thats what makes you comfortable.

ETA: Actually, sometimes I would choose to use the toilets if I was out on a family thing, as quite a lot of my family have T2, and are far too nosy for their own good. I find nothing more annoying than having someone leaning over your shoulder looking at your gluocose monitor, so that they can then counsel you on what you should eat for dinner! But when I am out with friends or other people, often no one will notice what I am doing.

[Cyborg]

as quite a lot of my family have T2, and are far too nosy for their own good. I find nothing more annoying than having someone leaning over your shoulder looking at your gluocose monitor, so that they can then counsel you on what you should eat for dinner!

lol... I'd think with the pump your numbers are probably better than the rest of the diabetics in your family. As far as eating, I believe type 2's are the ones that need to be more concerned about what they eat.

[Diana]

Yep, but you try telling this to my family. Grr. And no matter how many times I try explaining, they just dont understand the concept of my pump.

[dgrilli]

I always before would just inject from the car. Also it is very annoying to me to get you can't have that because your diabetic. They often have no clue, the only thing they think know is diabetics cannot have sweets.

[Stuboy]

depending on how the resturant is layed out, i'll inject at my table... but sometimes i'll go to the bathroom to do it... i dont really like going to the bathroom to inject because it's not exactly the most hygenic place to do it.

At the end of the day, taking your insulin is a part of you so you shouldn't be shy of doing it in public, if people dont wanna see it... tell them not to watch! It's none of their business anyway.

[seacomp]

What do you do about the alcohol scrub? So far, I've been carrying around a little baggie with a presoaked alcohol cotton ball. The alcohol wipe is not necessary. Many doctors recommend that you do not do it. I personally have never done it and I inject through clothes, reuse the same syringe a few times, but have never had a infection either from injecting (or BG testing).

[rzrbks]

sandyhandz

Maybe we're just the products of how our parents handled things. My Mom is type I and over the more than 20 years since she has been injecting, I have only on rare occasion seen her test or inject. The times I can remember, it was when I woke up early and she hadn't put her kit away yet.

Perhaps I'm still a bit ashamed, or something. I don't know. I feel I don't want anyone to know my weaknesses.


Say it now and say it LOUD

I'm Diabetic and I Don't give a Flyin' Flip what you Bozos think about me injecting and testing in PUBLIC



OR

To paraphrase the words of a semi-Famous British Diabetic (at least from DF perspective)

OI, I gotta do this to stay alive, ya don't wanna watch, don't. If you do watch, shut and and listen. IN either case, bugger all.

[sofaraway]

I'll just inject at the table, try to do it out of sight of other people, as some people have needle phobias and don't want to freak people out. I'll test with my meter on my lap.

I will always inject after eating in a restaurant because i don't know exactly when they will bring the food.

the thing i find hardest is if i'm having a desert, because the time period between main course and desert, if i inject after desert, it will be a long time since i started eating so will already be goign high. i guess the answer is bolusing twice.

[rzrbks]

i guess the answer is bolusing twice.

yes, I agree, you have to stack when eating out...........I know, I'm the King of Stacking:wavey:

[HollyB]

Aaron is on a pump now but when he was injecting he was like that breastfeeding commercial: Anywhere, Anytime. In front of Anyone.

The pens did help -- they are very discrete. We never had anyone even ask about it, let alone make a snarky comment.

[gettingby]

I inject and test at the table with no problems. I used to hide it in the beginning but I got to thinking about this: I have to do this to stay alive. If others want to be nosy, then they may see what they don't want to see. Not my fault. They are the ones being nosy. LOL.:)

[Gabby123]

I wouldn't think injecting thru your clothes would be very good. Wouldn't there be alot of dust and dirt that would be in the clothes?

[DeusXM]

Depends on your lifestyle, really. I try to make sure my clothes don't get dusty....:vroam:

Nah, seriously though, I've been injected through my clothes for the last 8 years and change my needle when I change cartridges. Still here!

[ProudNanaof5]

Well I have changed alot of the ways I do things since I read this forum. I have never used alcohol swab unless I bleed then I will use them. Or if I am somewhere that I can't wash my hands to test or can't find my hand santitizer. I used to go to the bathroom to shoot up until I read where you could shoot thru your clothes. That makes it alot more convienient for me. I have learned a lot of short cuts from this forum. I'm still learning every day. I have a little bag (like a makeup bag) that I put my syringes, pen, needles, alcohol swabs, list of meds I'm on, Emergency contacts, my meds, and list of meds with numbers that I can reorder. I also use this bag to put my used needles in until I get home. I use a gallon milk jug to put my used needles in and just put them in the outgoing trash. Good Luck.

[Chris Graham]

I test at the table, and if I'm with people I trust I inject at the table. I'm getting more confidant every time. I realized that while I am hyper-aware of what I'm doing, most people are not. They are enjoying their meals and rarely notice my meter or pen. I don't worry about the alcohol wipes like I did in the beginning, and I also reuse the pen needles like some others here.

[grace girl]

I check my bs at the table, and usually go to the bathroom to inject. It's not so much other people for me as it is my kids. They were small when all of this started for me and the whole needle thing freaked them out, so I never did it in front of them. Now I'm just so used to going off to shoot up that I don't think much about it.

[parrotletzoo]

I never hesitated to inject in public. If people dont like it, they dont have to watch. I don't ask other people to go to the bathroom to take their oral meds. we should have to in order to take insulin. same goes for testing my bloodsugars. I really dont care if other people are uncomfortable for five seconds while i test. they dont have to live with diabetes....

when I injected more often then not I just injected thru my clothing and never bothered with alcohol swabs either way.

[parrotletzoo]

grace,

my two nieces are used to seeing me with needles and with my pump, they are age 5 and 3 now. By the time the 5yr old was 2 she was giving me my shots and both girls now argue over who gets to test my bs. When i was pumping they argued over who got to give me my bolus. Kids are amazingly resiliant and if the adults around then are comfortable with something that is potentially scary, they will be comfortable with it too. It's obviously up to you but imo, kids benefit from the lessons we can teach them when we are injecting/testing.

my mom had diabetes and i also grew up with her injecting in front of us kids. I was never afraid of shots because of her. ;)

[Stuboy]

Nah, seriously though, I've been injected through my clothes for the last 8 years and change my needle when I change cartridges. Still here!

Don't you're needles get damaged? You are using a novopen3 right?

I've never used the same needle twice yet... i wonder how long it';; take for me to give up changing them everytime lol

[DeusXM]

Nah, the needles are pretty durable. I also get through a cart a week anyway so it's not as if they're on that long, 28 injections maybe?

I know technically you're supposed to change the needle every time but even when I was 'being good' I was told by my care team that a needle will last you at least twice. I guarantee you'll start reusing needles pretty much as soon as you go on MDI and it becomes a hassle carrying round the **** things.

If you are injecting through clothes though, don't jab your arms if you're wearing white t-shirts, be dead careful if you're going in your stomach, and injecting through jeans is a very stupid idea.

[rzrbks]

Don't you're needles get damaged? You are using a novopen3 right?

I use a type of Novopen, and I change needles only when I change cartridges.

[gettingby]

grace,

my two nieces are used to seeing me with needles and with my pump, they are age 5 and 3 now. By the time the 5yr old was 2 she was giving me my shots and both girls now argue over who gets to test my bs. When i was pumping they argued over who got to give me my bolus. Kids are amazingly resiliant and if the adults around then are comfortable with something that is potentially scary, they will be comfortable with it too. It's obviously up to you but imo, kids benefit from the lessons we can teach them when we are injecting/testing.

my mom had diabetes and i also grew up with her injecting in front of us kids. I was never afraid of shots because of her. ;)
I have to agree here. My best friend's brother grew up watching me test and inject so when he had to have a shot at the doctor's office once, he told the nurse "Go ahead. It ain't gonna hurt. My Cinny(I loved it when he called me that,lol) does it all the time". His mom said the look on the nurse's face was priceless. LOL.

[poodlebone]

grace,

my two nieces are used to seeing me with needles and with my pump, they are age 5 and 3 now. By the time the 5yr old was 2 she was giving me my shots and both girls now argue over who gets to test my bs. When i was pumping they argued over who got to give me my bolus. Kids are amazingly resiliant and if the adults around then are comfortable with something that is potentially scary, they will be comfortable with it too. It's obviously up to you but imo, kids benefit from the lessons we can teach them when we are injecting/testing.


My niece & nephew have also seen me inject and test my BG countless times. They were both fascinated by it when they were younger (they're 11 & 13 now) and would push each other aside to get closer. It doesn't bother them at all if I pull my monitor out at the table to check my BG. I used to threaten my nephew with a syringe when he acted up, telling him I was going to give him a shot. While he loved watching me inject myself he didn't want that needle anywhere near him. I could never convince him to let me do a BG test on him. He will hit ramps at 40mph on his bike or skateboard and go flying in the air with no fear, but he's terrified of that pointy little lancet!

[dkev]

I test at home before going to restaurant, then take my injection discreetly at the table. I use one needle for the day (3x's). I just inject it through my shirt. Never had any problems.