Eating Out

[Evil Tramp]

Hi all, I'm new here, and this is my first post and thread. I'm 19 and in the UK, and I had type-1 Diabetes for almost two years now, since August 2006. I've managed to hopefully control it quite well by now, and enjoy life like I did before with just a few minor changes here and there.

I know it's not the healthiest of all food, but I do still go out with my mates here and there, and often end up eating out. My biggest dialema is where do I inject my insulin? My friends do all know I have diabetes and I don't think they'll mind me just injecting there, but it doesn't seem right for me to just inject right there and then, so normally I go sneak into the toilets to inject myself, cautious not to touch anything.

Thats far from a hygenic place to do it, so I'd just like to know where you guys inject your insulin while eating outside in a restaurant or somewhere outside your home?
Thanks all. :flybye:

[notme]

On a pump now so it isn't an issue anymore. When I was injecting I sat right there at the table and injected. It can be done so quick and discretely, nobody is the wiser. If you tend to make a production out of injecting, it may be more of a problem. I was a shoot through the clothes kinda girl.

[Richard157]

Welcome to our site! I used to use the public toilets too but I always felt they were unclean. I then started injecting in my car before entering the restaurant. If that was not convenient then I injected at the table but in a very discreet manner, below the table level through my clothing. Many diabetics inject through clothing in a situation like that. Now I am pumping and all I have to do is push a few buttins. Good luck!

Richard

[fgummett]

Same here.. on a pump now but when on multiple daily injections (MDI) I would usually just sit at the table, lift my shirt a wee bit and use my belly... between the table-top and the folds of my shirt there was little for anyone to see. Try it it with friends you trust first in case you feel gun-shy... it's nothing to be ashamed of :D

[xMenace]

normally I go sneak into the toilets to inject myself, cautious not to touch anything.

Thats far from a hygenic place to do it,

Welcome.

Do you know ANY clean places where you can ever inject? Most of us don't have access to hospital clean rooms. There's germies everywhere. Sitting on your bed is arguably as bad as sitting on your toilet.

Learning to wash your hands correctly is probably the biggest fighter.

[Evil Tramp]

Thanks for all the advice all, I'll definately try injecting as descreetly as I can. To be honest, injecting through my clothes did creep into my mind a few times, but just didn't think it can be done :turtle: . I'll start trying that out.

And thanks for the welcome, it awsome to be here. :rock:

[shiftzor]

I have gotten over the self conscious thing, I just whip out my belly and inject, would never inject through my cloths. I use the table to put my stuff on, be careful of waiters and needles, i.e. you don’t want to stab them :D I don’t care what people think, I am a diabetic why should I hide it?

[Keezheekoni]

On a pump now, but when I wasn't I'd just inject through clothes at the table. Unless it was my upper arm's turn for the injection, then everyone got a look at what I was doing... It didn't seem to bother anyone, so I never thought of it bothering anyone. I did get a strange look once from a cop... though I guess he figured that if I was a junkie, I wouldn't be shooting myself in the upper arm, not into a vein.

[morrisma]

Welcome to our club!

When I was using syringes, I injected through clothing all the time - no problem. I did occasionally end up with small holes and/or blood spots but never anything like an infection ... and I re-used needles for a number of injections or until they hurt.

My friends & family were all used to it so no issues. Sometimes I'd get to strike up conversations with others in the restaurant because they saw my kit out and were in the same boat, etc.

[orpy]

Good question; I just started injecting before meals and I thought about doing it at my desk at work but then decided to go to the ladies room...I don't want anyone to see me grabbing my fat roll to inject. I do find it inconvenient to have to go all the way to the ladies room to inject, then come back to get my food out of the microwave.

:)

[howdysf]

I have gotten over the self conscious thing, I just whip out my belly and inject, would never inject through my cloths. I use the table to put my stuff on, be careful of waiters and needles, i.e. you don’t want to stab them :D I don’t care what people think, I am a diabetic why should I hide it?

Me too.. I don't really care what anyone thinks.. I whip it out wherever I am and just do it...it's not a big deal to me...

[Penny]

I can even inject in my arm and no one is the wiser anymore. I just bend over to get "something" out of my purse and inject before I lift my head up. I have had people say "don't you need to take an injection before you eat?"...and I have already done it. I did have the same worries as you do, but you get better and faster all the time. :D

[xMenace]

Me too.. I don't really care what anyone thinks.. I whip it out wherever I am and just do it...it's not a big deal to me...


Hmmm. Reminds me of a girl I once ... oh ... nevermind :cool:

[Mich]

Hi & Welcome!

You're right, the bathroom is an icky place to inject. I do carry wipes or disinfectant for my hands, just in case.

There are a few tricks you can use. The cover with your shirt and do it below table level plan works well. If you plan ahead, wear a dark or maroon patterned shirt. :cool: You can develop a tecnique for "palming" the syringe so it's nearly invisible.

I'm not sure anyone really cares, but you never know if someone is really sensitive about medical procedures.

In a plane on a long flight, my family and friends have learned to open a newspaper or lean forward to give me cover when injecting. Just being discrete, you understand.

We're glad you're here too.

Mich

[Eddy]

Good question; I just started injecting before meals and I thought about doing it at my desk at work but then decided to go to the ladies room...


People would not like it if I went to the ladies' room to inject. ;)

More seriously, I generally inject at table/desk. Sometimes I'll hide in the men's room, if I don't want to risk starting a conversation...

[pegasus]

For about 30 years I treated it all as "private" and was worred about bugging other people. I'd *always* go to the bathroom (including outhouses when visiting people in rural places). If the syringe itself is yours alone, and if you want to carry a few alcohol wipes for the vial and your skin, those places of contact really are the key points--anything else is just like at home.

As for at the meal table, good friends started to say, you can do it here, no problem. And then I started to feel like shiftzor--it's part of who I am; deal with it. If I'm with people I'll usually say, are you okay if ...? in case they might be uncomfortable; some people do have major needle phobias. But at other tables--they can mind their own business :cool: .

Work is a different issue. I'm self-employed, so it's not a big deal. But I have friends with chronic conditions who don't mention it in work situations for fear of discrimination. Here in the states, I think it's a legit concern.