[jimhuck]

do you take your insulin shot in front of everyone, or do you find a private place to take the shot?

[princesslinda]

I'm T2, not on insulin, but take 2 Byetta shots daily. I will usually "shoot up" in the car, but have been known to at the table if I have on the right clothes (for easy access). I don't inject in bathrooms...most are way too filthy. I must say that since becoming a diabetic, i've noticed people injecting everywhere....something I never paid any attention to before diagnosis. I say go for it...most people probably won't notice (or care) anyway.

[Lizzy]

Before pump I would inject wherever and whenever needed. Afterall insulin is my life-line. I would usually shoot thru my shirt.

[Tattoo azz]

I've always injected whenever and wherever i feel the need. If people don't like it, tough. Although no-one has ever complained in all my 26 yrs of being t1.

[andypoo]

Its really weird how I inject,because I have injected in a public place ,but very discreetly,where I don't believe anyone can really notice. But mostly I'll go into a restroom or a place where its more private.

[Gary_W]

IMO, you need at least one more category...

I don't pop off to the toilets etc but I'm certainly not blatent about it (at least I wasn't on MDI). I'd do it in a subtle manner under the table. Not that I'm ashamed of it, I just can't be bothered with 'the diabetic' conversation when I'm out and about.

So I do it in public, but certainly not for all to see. In my years of doing it, few folks have noticed. So I won't vote if you don't mind as the two choices given are between secrecy and the other implies brazen 'look at me'. Perhaps I'm reading it wrong though

[rak1978]

Before the pump, I would say both depending on who I am with or where I am. If I was having a day where I did not feel like talking about diabetes with anyone, then I try to keep it private. If I was okay with answering any questions that may arise, then I would inject in public.

[Ohana]

I'm sorta like andypoo.

I will inject in public, but I may turn slightly or find a quiet corner. I lift my shirt only an inch or so right by my hip, so I am not being indecent (I don't think).

I have even shot in my arm a couple of times (yep, found a good spot to use on my arm) but since I am not overweight, I have to put my arm on my knee and twist and it really isn't discreet at ALL!!

But if I am wearing a skirt/dress etc. I use my thigh, and I will go to the bathroom, b/c hiking my skirt up high enough to see what I am doing can get tricky (I got to get pretty high on my thigh to pinch enough).

[DCaplinger]

When I'm in public with a group, I always ask if anyone I am with has problems with needles, however 99.9% of the time they don't. I've only had anyone comment once when they saw the syringe. Once I told them it was insulin, they shut up.

I do nothing to hide my injections. In fact, it usually draws a "Through the trousers?" response. Yup... through the trousers. LOL.

Regards,

D

[poodlebone]

Pre-pump, I would inject wherever I needed to. With pens it was never a big deal and I'm sure I was rarely ever noticed. I only know of one time for sure when someone saw me, at a mall food court. An elderly couple was sitting at a nearby table and I could see them looking at me and I heard the woman say (in an excited voice) something about a pen. I was impressed that they noticed the little details!

When I was on vial/syringes it was during my 2 shot a day of NPH/R routine so I really never had to inject in public. I might have felt funny about pulling out a vial and syringe and drawing up my dose but I'm sure I would have done it.

[Subby]

No problems injecting in public when I injected. I might have made some effort to be subtle (ie, I hardly brought out my kit and flourished it around) but at the same time I just "did it". The condition took/takes up enough thought and time and inconvenience. I'm hardly going to be running off to find privacy 6+ times a day as well, in the extremely small chance someone actually particularly noticed, or had a problem with it (they never did to my knowledge).

[jimhuck]

People immediately associate syringes with heroin, HIV, and drug dealers. Very silly.

I remember when I was a kid, I would "saw off" my syringes and use them as squirt guns. I can't imagine what parents would think nowadays if they saw kids outside spraying each other with insulin syringes.

Of course, maybe that's why I didn't have many friends when I was a kid.

[tk4454]

i use to be embarissed about my type 1 diabetes and wouldnt ever take shots at school, or even tell people i was diabetic, it was a big mistake, there is no cure might as well take the best care of yourself always, even if it means takeing shots at school, later in life u will be glad u got in the habbit of manageing it whenever/wherever.

[Delphinus]

I do both.

My worry about doing it in the car tho, which really, is only semi-private, is someone will see me sitting there, looking down and fiddling with something, and call the cops and there will be some hassle, etc. Totally get the wrong idea. Altho I would love to rub it in, if a cop did investigate, honestly, I would prefer not to be held up explaining what I was doing and wasting my time doing so.

So I try to do it completely private and out of view, or blatantly public, so it's clear what I am doing.

I will just take my gear out if eating out, and do it up.

I am not gonna vote. Maybe a moderator can edit the poll to reflect a third option, that being both.

With the OP's permission, if needed, of course.

[Mindstorm]

Since my grandma passed on, I do it wherever I please. I've got a pump now, so it's kind of irrelevant, but from time to time I do have to bring an insulin pen with me! I'll use it in the restaurant/in public because, most of the time, people don't know what the heck that thing is and don't notice you using it.