Where in the office is best to stab myself?

[BeanTownNancy]

A bit of a non-issue, I know, but just wondering on the consensus.

I unfortunately have GDM and as such need to regularly test my blood sugar. This requires me to have a flat surface so I can load up the app on my phone, the stabbing device and the testing device, then I have to prepare everything, stab myself in a finger, squeeze out a sample of blood onto the tester and scan it, then pack it all away.

I've been doing it at my desk, in the back corner of an open plan office, but occasionally someone will come over to speak to me, look awkwardly at what I'm doing and back away with a look of mild horror.

Should I be doing it at my desk or is that weird/unhygienic? I don't really want to go to the toilets when using my sterile equipment and opening up wounds (tiny I know, but still) and the kitchen seems even weirder because people prepare food and eat in there so doing anything with blood seems unhygienic.

What would you do?

The guy that sits opposite me has T1 and just does it at his desk. I couldn’t care less.

Definitely don’t worry about doing it at your desk. It’s not like you’re gushing blood everywhere!

If someone had a problem I’d be happy to let them know when I was going to do it, then they could look away.

If you stab on the side of your finger, it hurts less than on the pad, just stay away from your nail area.

older. I’d be happy to work something out with you. I’d hate to make you feel like that 🌷

I've been type 1 since I was young, I think also think you're over thinking this in the nicest possible way. It takes about 30 seconds to do and I bet nobody even notices - just do it at your desk. I've sat next to people who have taken months to notice me checking my blood sugars or injecting (on a pump now so I don't inject often but when I do, I do it wherever I happen to be when I need insulin.)

I had a collegue that would do it at her desk. It was no big deal as we were all used to it.

It can be done incredibly subtly, so your desk is fine. I'm amazed people even notice you doing it. It literally takes seconds and it's not a big deal.

@IncrediblySadToo

I've uploaded a picture (or tried to). I have to untwist the top of the pen thing, put the lancet in and then try and twist off the lancet lid without pulling the whole thing out of the pen, so I kind of have to push the lip of it down with my fingernail, put that lid to one side and attach the pen lid back on, then get the test strip out of the pot and put it in the reader, prick my finger and squeeze out the blood, then put it on the test strip, get out my phone and load up the app and scan it. Then dismantle everything and put it away. It just seems like such a faff! I was told I have to change the needle every time. Completely understand why my FIL got an implant thing he can just hover his phone over and it takes the reading.

I'm 30 weeks, so forsee another couple of months of this. Not massively concerned about it, just mildly frustrated at the additional complication to an already intense pregnancy.

@littlemeitslyn
I was being intentionally dramatic for comedic effect... And also click bait.

Thanks again for the reassurance everyone!

My son has had T1 since he was 4. We have tested everywhere. Side of the road, top of the bus, on the London Eye, at the theatre, up the Statue of Liberty, by the lifeguards chair at the pool, up a flipping tree once because he didn’t agree that he might be hypo and didn’t want to come down ....

Try again...

BeanTown, ds2 used to enjoy making loud comments in public about how his mum stabs him

I had gestational diabetes, I tested at my desk, told close colleagues about it. Nobody complained or made an issue of it.

I’d continue doing it at my desk.

I only scrolled right through to find the 'elf and safety MN officers, I'm sadly disappointed. Where are all the cries of 'but it's body fluid, you surely can't do it in an unsteralised office space. I'm liking the 'build a screen to protect the innocent' though!

My colleague used to do this at her desk too, no problems at all. She also used to milk it a bit and get us all fetching and carrying brews, butties and whatever else took her fancy.

In my last office someone used to do this in a meeting room. Not fully private as it had frosted glass and people had a habit of looking over / under it to see if the room was occupied / had the right person in it etc, but she turned her back to the door.

This was someone who was very private with her diabetes and didn’t want anyone to know. I only know because she left her standby thingy in there by accident one day and I found it.

As I was going in there to do a medical thing too, I was a ‘good’ person to find it and return it with no fuss but a mention of what I’d slipped in there to do, to reassure she she wasnt alone with the private medical stuff. We winked st each other when passing in corridors after that and I like to think she felt a bit more relaxed about it afterwards.

Sooo, in answer to your question, I’d do it where you feel most comfortable. I would bear in mind that people are weird about needles and blood, and may kick up a fuss. I find it a tad silly and self absorbed, unless it’s a really huge phobia, as they should have a moment of clarity and think about relative priorities “what’s more inconvenient & upsetting? Having diabetes and having to do this multiple times a day to yourself, or me coming up behind someone once and seeing a needle?’ ... but basically, people often don’t.

So I’d check with HR that it’s ok for you to carry on doing this discretely at your desk, or whether you should nip off to that room you mentioned, even if it takes you away from work for a few mins more a day... especially until you’ve got the hang of it all.

Once you’re a rapid and smooth operator (as it were!), you may want to switch back to doing it at your desk.

I have a phobia of needles. I don't just dislike them, I actually had to be held done last time I needed a blood test and I can't drive afterwards as I'm shaking too much. I would have no problem with you doing it at your desk but would appreciate if you warned me so I could make myself scarce while you did it. I'd hate anyone to feel they had to use the toilet when I could hide in there for a while!

I’m very squeamish and it would bother me if a collage did this at the desk. But all I’d ask is that they let me know they were about to do it and I’d leave them to it. Me finding it yucky is not your problem.

I take it there isn’t a meeting room you could use if you did want a bit more privacy?

I'd use your desk. If someone's uncomfortable that's their issue tbh. You will get faster and when you do the chances of anyone noticing will presumably be reduced as it will be quick.

If someone approaches who you think might freak just say give me a second please as they approach.

I do it at my desk. When I’ve changed jobs in the past I’ve always discussed it with my new line manager. It’s never been a problem.

Toilets are definitely not suitable. Nor are kitchens. If there’s a staff room or a first aid room, that would be an option. Otherwise just do it at your desk. Loads of people are diabetic and need to test at work. It’d be pretty unreasonable for anyone to complain.

It’s hard to see on my phone, I’ll have a look later on my iPad, but it looks like a cyclinder type... are you sure it doesn’t have multiple lancets in the chamber? Or that you can’t reuse the same lancet?

They’re not cheap, but I’d buy the one I have. It’s SO much easier.

Don’t ask HR or go to a meeting room. You’re fine as you are. You do not want to be traipsing over there when you’re heavily pregnant so someone doesn’t see you testing your bloods. That’s just ridiculous. Truly.

@IncrediblySadToo

Older you can’t even see the needle. It looks like a pen that you press against your skin

I also, annoyingly, have needle phobia and I don't need to see a needle to feel funny, in fact, just reading this and talking about them makes me feel a bit wibbly.
I know it's pathetic, but it is what it is.

I'd not have any issue with my colleague doing it though, as people have said, that's my problem not theirs.

And no, most workplaces will not have a policy on 'bodily fluids'!!

VanGoghsDog

Let’s talk about 🐶 then. Much nicer 😊

Woof.

I would do it at your desk. I do mine occasionally and do it at my desk. Or we have a meeting room next to my office where I might do it if no one is using it. It's not a big deal. What do you do with the lance once its used?

When I had GDM I did it everywhere - toilets, tables at cafes, crouched on the floor at a train station I think you're looking too much into it just do it! Just wash your hands first.

I only needed to it once or twice during a work day, I used and old testing strip pot for the discarded needle and test used strips. Used a clean tissue to blot finger on afterwards which I then put in with my test stuff and disposed of at home.

Nobody could see the needle

Nobody could see blood, it was literally a small bead to test.

I’m very glad I didn’t have anyone being nasty to me about it, it was stressful enough for me to have the worry of GD in the first place & I have a major needle phobia too I tend to have fainting fits. Luckily I managed it with the minimum or fuss.

I really wouldn’t tell anyone in an ‘official’ capacity about it, as then it becomes an issue otherwise it’s a quiet personal thing that lasts about ten seconds tops.

I taught somebody how to give pen injections a year ago, as they'd done the EpiPen training, but that was all online and she wasn't sure if she'd actually be able to inject somebody in an emergency - I self inject weekly and, although it's a different mechanism, we thought that it would help her get over the idea of doing it.

We could have done it anywhere, as it's a completely safe thing to do (I had my travel sharps bin, obviously) - but we had to do it in the medical room, not because of any particular rules (she checked), but because one member of staff is terrified of the thought. We even had to keep it a secret in case she found out about it nobody considered the possibility that she would open the door and walk in on us without warning.

You're fine where you are, it's not weird to need to test without making a big song and dance about it - or you could use a medical room - but some people are so traumatised by the thought of something pointy, you need to keep it hidden so they don't get the slightest ides it happens.

It sounds more like you've got people embarrassed, rather than phobic, as all they're doing is retreating, rather than panicking, running around in circles, shrieking and swooning to the floor.