Etiquette and blood gloucose monitors.?

Question

When I need to check my blood gloucose in public, should I go to a restroom or other quiet place? Sometimes I catch people staring at me suspiciously. I also check it at my desk after meals. Most of my co-workers know I am diabetic and, as far as I know, have not complained to a supervisor about my testing at my desk. I would like to hear from everyone; diabetics, where do you test when in public and non-diabetics, would it disturb you to see someone checking their blood gloucose at a neighboring table in a restaurant or at their desk?

When testing in a restaurant, I always do it just after we order so there is no food on our table yet.

Answer 1

I don't care where I am, I need to take care of myself. I don't flaunt what I am doing, but I never try to hide it either.

Answer 2

I'm so glad someone else asked this question! It's something I've always wondered about, and I think most non-diabetics don't understand exactly how much of a pain this damn disease is, lol.
I would like to say "test wherever you are, it's nothing to be ashamed of", but like you I tend to get self conscious over it too. At work the way you do it seems fine, and I think in a restaurant a lot of the other answerer's suggestions were great, test with the monitor on your lap, discretely. I usually end up too shy to do this though :=(
I was once in the public bathroom, giving my insulin, and a woman came in and told me to go into the toilet cubicle and do it in there! I thought that was pretty unfair, not to mention unsanitary and gross.
Like someone else already said, ultimately you have a disease that requires constant monitoring to stay healthy, so you should do what you need to do to look after yourself. Good luck!

Answer 3

I always test in the restroom when I'm in public (work or restaurant) but the main reason is convenience. Since you are supposed to be thoroughly washing and drying the test site area prior to testing (for me I test on my hands), the sink in the bathroom area is the place for me. After washing and drying my hands, I lay out a new paper towel and then do my test. There is also the convenience of a trash can for the paper towels. I have a sharps container in my kit for used needles and test strips.

Because blood is drawn for testing, I definitely don't think it should be done at the table but I see nothing wrong with doing it at your desk.

Even in the restroom I've had a few people look at me strangely but I either ignore them or smile politely. I don't make a show of what I'm doing nor do I hide it. It is just a daily part of what I need to do so if anyone were to ask I would explain.

Answer 4

In public I always find a restroom or other place to check my blood. That also gives me the advantage of a pre-meal injection. Never ever spill your blood in a restaurant. The first question in people's minds may be HIV? AIDs? and they don't want it anywhere near them. It is simply not a good thing. It would disturb me to the extent that knowing there is a glucose problem is the person trying to warn me that I may be called upon in an emergency? I think of my blood testing as a very personal and private thing that I share with only a very few specially chosen people, not with a restaurant full of strangers.

Answer 5

Yes with both testing and taking injections (if you do) I take them into the bathroom or private area. Even at a friend's house I take it into the bathroom. I would never do this at the table in a restaurant, people don't really want to see blood or you poking yourself while they are trying to eat.

At work doing this at your desk as long as it's in a high-walled cubicle or an office, then it is fine. If you are out in the open or exposed to people walking by, I wouldn't.... I would take it to the restroom or other private room.

Whether you take that much effort for privacy is a personal preference, but I still wouldn't do this at the table in a restaurant.

Answer 6

I go to the restroom and test there. No questions asked and no stares. If your co workers are aware you are diabetic and they know you are testing, why would the complain. The idea of seeing someone test doesn't bother me but I can see where, especially in a restaurant, it could be disturbing.

Answer 7

The only reason I wouldn't check blood sugar at the table in a restaurant is out of consideration for other diners. Some people become nauseated at the suggestion of body fluids. And, this, of course, would ruin their dining experience. If you don't think the restaurant's bathroom is clean enough for you to do the BS Check, then perhaps you don't want to eat at that restaurant anyway.

Otherwise, the matter-of-fact approach that other Answerers have advocated would seem to work in the office or other public places. Discretion and consideration are the by-words here. And, since you are asking this question, it's obvious you want to be considerate of others.

Answer 8

I usually check it in the car before going into a restaurant. And I just check at my desk during the day. I find that is gives my coworkers a reason to bring it up. They are often curious but don't want to be nosy. If they see that you are not embarrassed to test if front of them then they figure you won't be embarrassed to talk about it either. And it is important the people be informed.

Answer 9

I can see both sides of the situation. I am type 1 diabetic and do test at my desk at work. I will also test in public, but do try to be decreet about it by testing in my lap. Some people are squeamish about blood and plus it is drilled into you (especially if you work in health care) that you can get Hepatitis, HIV/AIDS and all other sorts of viruses from blood. Although I know my blood is not contaminated, and I am not smearing it all around the place, some people get very paranoid about things like that.

Answer 10

Who cares?

I don't go hide somewhere. Why should I? I have a disease. I'm not going to defend myself because of it.

If I check my sugar in public, I do it discreetly but I'm not going to run off to a bathroom to do it.

If people want to give me strange looks, let them. I used to be self-conscious about that but no longer.

I have an insulin pump so that's not a problem. The little beeper-size gadget I wear clipped to my belt gives me my insulin. All I have to do is push a few buttons and I get my dose.

I have a meter that uses cartridges instead of individual test strips. That makes it easier. I just take it out, put it on my lap, push a button, stick my finger and test it. No problem there. I also silenced the alarm on the meter so it's beeps don't bother other people. I keep alcohol pads, a few "spot" bandaids and gauze pads in my kit. There is also a mini-sharp container for used lancets.

Easy.

EMT

Answer 11

I almost always do my testing at home, mostly because I almost always test first thing in the morning. I don't see much of a problem testing at your desk at work. Just make sure you dispose of your lancets properly. I think that if you are at a restaurant you can do it at the table discreetly. If you hold the meter in your lap, that should prevent people at other tables from seeing it accidently.