Many people with diabetes take medicines and/or insulin injections to help manage their diabetes. But what do you do when you find yourself needing to take your medication or an injection while in public?
Maybe you’re worried that people will watch you. Perhaps you want to avoid being judged by those around you. But while it’s not always comfortable, it’s important to take your medicine or injections as prescribed, even if you have to do it in a public place.
The important thing is to make sure you’re discreet and safe when you need to inject insulin or take medicine when you’re around others. And remember, there’s no reason to feel ashamed.
Skip the Shame
Taking steps to manage your blood sugar with medicine or injection shouldn’t come with shame. You don’t need to feel any shame if you need to check your blood sugar levels or inject insulin in a public place.
Delaying your injection isn’t always possible, so you need to do what’s best for managing your diabetes. Sure, you might get a few strange looks or someone might comment, but that’s better than letting your health suffer.
You can’t control how other people respond. However, you can kindly and respectfully explain what you’re doing and why it’s important if asked.
Tips for Taking Medicines or Injections in Public
While you should never feel ashamed about taking your diabetes medicine or insulin injections in public, you do want to be respectful and safe. Try following these tips to ensure your safety and keep others from feeling uncomfortable.
Tip #1 – Keep Supplies Handy
When heading to a public place, ensure you have your diabetes supplies handy. A backpack or purse is a great choice. This ensures you always have direct access to your medicines or insulin. It’s also a good idea to keep official labels on your medication or insulin vials or pens.
Tip #2 – Prepare to Explain
Be prepared to explain what you’re doing and why. Someone may ask why you’re taking an injection out of curiosity. A simple explanation like, “I have diabetes and I have to take an injection to manage my condition,” is simple and easy for anyone to understand.
Tip #3 – Remember Your Health is a Priority
Don’t let discomfort keep you from taking care of your health. Delaying or skipping insulin injections can result in spikes in blood sugar. Your health is a top priority no matter what anyone else thinks. Always remember that.
Tip #4 – Keep it Subtle if Possible
Some people can’t stand the thought or sight of needles. Try to keep injections subtle if possible to avoid making someone uncomfortable. Injecting in the thigh or stomach is often fairly easy to hide when you’re in public. Being discreet means that no one may even notice what you’re doing.
Tip #5 – Ensure Your Location is Safe
It’s fine to take insulin in public when needed. Just make sure your location is safe for taking an injection. Ensure the location is sanitary (skip bathroom stalls whenever possible). Make sure you have enough space, so you aren’t at risk of getting bumped or jostled while injecting.
Tip #6 – Properly Dispose of Needles
Whenever you inject in public, be sure you dispose of needles properly. Some public places have sharps containers in restrooms you can use. If you can’t find a sharps container, recap the needle, stash it in a safe place, and dispose of it in a sharps collection container at home. Never dispose of them in general waste bins.
Sources:
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/insulin/injecting-insulin-in-public.html
https://prescriptionhope.com/blog-injecting-insulin-in-public/
https://clinical.diabetesjournals.org/content/31/1/46
The mySugr website does not provide medical or legal advice. mySugr blog articles are not scientific articles, but intended for informational purposes only.
Medical or nutritional information on the mySugr website is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a physician or health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
