Diabetic people injecting at the meal table whilst people are still eating?

[KatieWatie]

I'm not sure if I'm being unreasonable about this or not. I haven't said anything or done anything, but I'm a bit about it. I don't want to get accused of being unsympathetic.

It is my BIL, who I can't stand and he likes to make a big show of his various ailments, so maybe I'm being really unfair because of how I generally feel about him anyway. It's not done in a quiet way, he gets his wife to come round the table to do it and insists on showing off the needle, talking about it etc.

What do other diabetic people do?

I'm due to (reluctantly) go on holiday with them in a few weeks and I'm dreading every meal time (dreading the whole thing tbh but that's another story). My mum suggests I just walk away but then I think I would get thought of as precious.

[Punkatheart]

I have Interferon injections three times a week and I would never DREAM of doing it front of people.

I could understand if it was absolutely urgent but it does seem rude and as you say, somewhat showy. Attention-seeking.

[littleducks]

I have a diabetic friend who injects insulin before eating, I was quite impressed she could do it through her jeans but apart from that it has never interested/bothered me.

[KatieWatie]

whathellcall "but it doesn't excuse making out that a diabetic taking their insulin is in someway offensive or disgusting"

Er, where did I say this or even "make it out"??

Like Rapaccioli I'm also pretty unobservant, and I wouldn't even notice if there wasn't a commentary about it before during and after. I don't want a needle flashed in front of my face and a big explanation about it at every meal time, that's all. I do happen to think that waving needles and medical paraphenalia around at a meal table or in general is pretty 'offensive' but I never said the taking of insulin was offensive or disgusting or should be done in a toilet. FFS. Don't people LOVE to jump on the defence!

I'd be mortified if I was making people uncomfortable UNNECESSARILY. He seems to get a kick out of it. We all have our crosses to bear, but most of us bear them quietly without needing to garner attention and sympathy at every opportunity don't we? I wouldn't even know he was diabetic if it wasn't for this particular mealtime behaviour.

[KatieWatie]

lynehamrose "Has anyone else noticed the op didn't mention injecting in the toilet- only people who are slating her! How odd to suggest people should go to the loo to administer meds....."

EXACTLY!!

[KatieWatie]

I actually said THE EXACT OPPOSITE. That I would remove myself from the situation if I wasn't thought of as being precious.

It seems some people have a set 'patter' of objections that they want to roll out, regardless of the original post and its circumstances!

[Tee2072]

When I needed insulin during my pregnancy I often injected at the table, but below most people's line of sight. And I did need to do it then because first I would check my current BG level, then see how big the portion was, and then adjust my insulin accordingly.

There is no need for him to make a big fuss. He's showing off.

He sort of reminds me of my cousin who hates it when people ask her about having diabetes but then whips out her BG meter and her insulin and lays it out on top of the dinner table. Um, if you don't want to answer questions, don't shove it in people's faces!

And LOTF, feel free to call me diabetic. It's what I am, after all. It's not all I am, but it's part of what I am. I am just on tablets now and soon hopefully back to diet controlled as I lose weight!

[Numberfour]

YANBU if the man is making a show of it.

I had a girl in lectures who used to sit right in front, on the left had side of the lecture theatre and she would haul out her muffin top roll and inject herself in class. Unnecessary to do that. But like OP, I disliked her immensely and I have no doubt that that coloured my opinion of what she was doing.

[whathellcall]

Well OP maybe you didn't use those exact words, but you have a pretty big problem with it if you are dreading mealtimes, and considering walking away when he injects. If the problem is with your BIL and not diabetics doing this in general, then I think you have picked a poor example to complain about. Why not a general rant about his behaviour?

[confuseddotcodotuk]

YANBU. I had a friend at college who used to inject at the table, but I never even noticed it until I'd known her for a good few weeks! I sat with her everyday and she just carried on chatting and didn't draw any attention to it.

[tangarine]

I agree the behaviour is distasteful (waving needles about etc). YANBU about that.

The question was what do other diabetic people do, which seems to be a mixture of doing it discreetly at the table or doing it in private. Not making a song and dance about it.

[SardineQueen]

My FIL does not inject discreetly. He says when he is going to do it and everyone is thus free to leg it / avert their eyes. He uncovers areas that are best left covered My DH is super squeamish of injections and always decides to go and put the kettle on

FIL wouldn't start disrobing in a restaurant though.

My friend with diabetes injects very discreetly, can do her blood thingy and everything and you'd not even notice.

It's the making a song and dance of it that's not on, not the actual injection IYSWIM.

[PogueMahone]

YABU if you want him to wait til people have stopped eating - he needs to inject before he eats. He may have mentioned this when he has given his "big explanation about it at every meal time".

If he is literally "waving needles" and "flashing the needle around" that sounds a bit dangerous and unnecessary. If he is literally doing this, YANBU. But I suspect you're exaggerating, that he's simply refusing to hide the needle and be 'discreet'. (FFS this sounds like a BF-in-public thread about to go badly wrong.)

Sounds like you don't like him very much and this is colouring how you feel about this issue. Unfortunately it makes you sound a bit intolerant.

[ensure]

I think yab a bit u to be honest, why is a needle inherently distasteful?
He is just talking about a part of his life.
Maybe he doesn't like the process and talks about it and gets his wife to help to sort of distract himself.

It's probably annoying because you don't like him.

[Heebiejeebie]

There aren't many upsides to having diabetes. So what if he wants a bit of attention or sympathy?

[Bonsoir]

OP - it is of course not appropriate to inject at table, for whatever reason.

[KnitterInTheNW]

Punkatheart my mum also has interferon injections (as well as insulin ones) and you can't really compare the massive interferon needle to the teeny tiny insulin one!

[belgo]

I'm surprised this is even an issue. It's insulin, not heroin.

[BlackSwan]

Tiffany's Table Manners says on p342 that it's rude to inject yourself with any substance at table. Period.

[catwhiskers10]

Why is it not appropriate to inject at the table? If he needs to have insulin with his meals, what's the harm in doing it at the table? It's not like there's a risk of anyone getting contaminated by body fluids or anything.

Unless he is getting his arse out at the table for his wife to inject, I think YAB (a bit) U.
He does sound annoying though and would probably piss me off too.

[GetOnYourDancingShoes]

As someone has already mentioned - the amount of insulin required is directly related to the amount of food on the plate. My DD would have to adjust the dose according to the amount of carbs she was about to eat. Should she wait until she has her food in front of her, excuse herself from the table and then return once she has injected?

[BlackSwan]

It's not appropriate for an adult, who sounds like he's just trying to draw attention to himself and be perverse about it.

OP, it's time to come up with a colourful excuse to get yourself out of this ill-considered family holiday.

[mousymouse]

I liked the "I am on my period at that time" one

[lurkerspeaks]

My friend will often check his BM and then inject himself, all whilst sitting at the table.

He never makes a fuss, and will carry on talking while he does it. He is obsessional about his diabetic control though and sometimes will inject twice during one meal when he has seen the portion sizes.

It probably isn't ideal to inject at the dinner table but having diabetes isn't everyones dream illness either. The more people who do it the more socially acceptable it would come. I would hate to think that one of my friends was prejudicing their future health, because that is what poor diabetic control does, because of embarrassment.

I do think it must be bit wearing however if he always makes a big production out of it.

[Punkatheart]

...also I have to have the Interferon in my bum some of the time so true, Knitter....no one would want to see me doing THAT! (Hope the Interferon is working for you mum and it is not making her too exhausted - it must be very complicated having Insulin as well..)

[chloesmumtoo]

Would not bother me if it was done at the table. What difference does it make. It is known issue why he has to do it and everyone should just get used to it and accept it. I notice you say he makes a big show of his various ailments or is it just that it is a large part of his life to talk about? My dd has loads of multiple food allergies including a life threatening peanut allergy(having to carry around Epipens), eczema,asthma, dust and pollen allergies. I used to talk about things alot as it really gets in your head trying to cope with things/everyday life, however, I quickly started to feel like people thought I was making a big deal of things and really didn't understand. I don't talk much about it now unless I really have to or feel really comfortable with the person.