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?

HaventGotAllDay

"Surely the workplace has a private room where you can do it?"

Not all workplaces do. Mine doesn't.

I presume the only test you'll need to do is before lunch and possibly before driving home? If it bothers you to do it at your desk then rechange the lancet after your fasting test in the morning so it is ready for lunchtime, then wait until you get in the car to go home to do it again. Then you don't need all the laying your kit out (although I don't understand that bit I admit, never once had to lay out my testing kit and have tested in some weird and wonderful places!)

I had a colleague who had to do this (GD) but really couldn't. Her DH did it at home and I did it for her at her desk at work!

Who gives a shit what others think? They are responsible for them - you're not!

I would say at your desk.

A colleague I used to work with had a brain tumour and he needed to be jabbed with Growth Hormone.

Quite often we could be found with him bent over a chair in the office kitchen and I just about to jab him in the arse! It was quite normal and no one was aghast by it

incredibly hypothetically thank you

pinksparkly I found someone like me!!!! For every one of my blood tests while pregnant I arranged for my DP to come with me and I was held down might have bit him once. I was that person making a scene and I hate walking around a hospital crying people were having real problems and I had a stupid phobia. I had numbing spray from paediatrics, headphones in and the most experienced person available and it was still awful. I gave myself such a migraine after one I had the rest of the day off work

vangoghsdog horrible just thinking about think isn't it, people will talk about it so casually and I'm (both ill and kinda jealous)

I'd take a very brisk approach to it all:
An email saying -
'Dear all,
As some of you know I need to check my blood sugar on a regular basis.
If any of you have a problem with the thought of needles or have any questions, please let me know so we can discuss it.
Thank you for your support,
Bean'
It gets it 'out there' and you can carry on without feeling you have to hide what you need to do.

@olderthanyouthink
I fully sympathise. I'm not afraid of needles, but I hatehatehate anything to do with my fingertips - I legit started tearing up and shaking and heavy breathing when the diabetic midwife asked me to use the pen thing for the first time - I'd rather have a full vial of blood taken from my arm than squeeze a single drop out of my finger. Completely irrational. Still struggle to bring myself to push that button, several times a day. (not envy)

@Fettfrett
Before breakfast (which I have at work because of morning sickness), after breakfast, after mid-morning snack, after lunch, late afternoon. So 5 times at work at the moment. I've had some dodgy tests so I'm having to do extra at the moment.

@IncrediblySadToo
I'm pretty sure there's only space for the one lancet in there, and the diabetic midwife told me to change it every time (and wrote me a prescription for like 200 of them). I might just double-check with her though because it seems like a massive waste of plastic at the very least!

@MitziK
Oh, for sure, I really like (almost) all of my co-workers. They would never make a fuss or make me feel uncomfortable on purpose, but that's why I don't want to make them feel awkward either.

The title of this thread, so misled me here hhahaha

olderthanyouthink it's awful isn't it? I don't think I bit DH but he did ask me to keep my nails short! I hate it when people say 'oh you don't like needles do you?' It's so much more than that. Last time I had one was before I had surgery and I was curled up with DH holding my feet, the nurse holding my hand (DH had learned!) and the poor doctor trying to get blood from the other arm while I sobbed. Anyone outside in the waiting room must have thought they were murdering me!

I nearly passed out on a first aid course when they started talking about epipens and the trainer thought I was making a fuss. I genuinely couldn't help it though.

Which CCG do you fall under OP?
You should really be offered the Libre with GD rather than BG monitoring.

New national, no buggering about guidelines are also due out imminently for people with T1.

How absolutely ridiculous of people to suggest her 'hide it with a folder ' 'needle phobia!' Get over it. It's needed medication that should be taken as and when and wherever needed, wherever that may be.

Please continue at your desk if that's where you would like, and ignore or politely remind people that it's medication that's imperative to your well being.
This is supposed to be 2019!

I would just carry on doing it at your desk. DS has T1 and just does it where ever. He also has the Lancet with a multi barrel. He does use each Lancet to death too.

I know it's not best practice but I think probably 90% of diabetics use each Lancet more than once despite being advised otherwise when trained.

@GinandGingerBeer OMG if I’d known about that monitor I’d have bought it myself and saved me the world of trauma having to stab myself several times a day!

Next pregnancy (if there’s one), I’m asking for that monitor!

@squashedgrape

You can't 'get over' needle phobia, or not easily.

But, you've clearly misread all the posts. Every single one, even from people with phobia, has accepted the OP should do it where suits her and that any issue another person has is theirs to deal with, not hers to worry about.

But, you knew that, you just wanted to look superior. Which you failed at.

I was going to suggest the Freestyle Libre too, can't recommend it highly enough

There's always one. Do you know what a phobia is squashedgrape? It's not a case of not liking needles, or feeling a bit squeamish, it's an intense, uncontrollable fear. What does the fact it's 2019 have to do with a needle phobia?

If you bothered reading the thread, even those of us with a needle phobia have told the OP to continue at her desk. All I would ask is that someone doing it told me so I could go elsewhere. I really don't think that's unreasonable.

I have a friend who is severely needle phobic. No chance of getting over it completely. Maybe it's different when it's not about to happen to you, I dont know. The brightly coloured tray is a good idea. Anyone can see from a distance what you are doing and not come over that second.

You really don’t need to check with the DN. it’s perfectly fine to reuse the lancet. All it is doing is pricking your finger. Even when I’m testing multiple times a day, I’ll use one for days on end until it’s more uncomfortable to use (they get blunt I guess) then I click around to the next needle.

Accu check fastclix finger pricker £15 24 & 200 lancets for £10.

Or you can get the set with the reader in for £35 (but only a few strips and lancets) but you could get a prescription for those. I’ve tried a couple of other readers & they were far more faffy than mine.

Best money you’ll spend.

Fastclix are awesome, saves faffing and time and nothing to see. I would invest in one for ease

Yes, just do it at your desk.

I use the same lancet for weeks... not necessarily best practice but not a problem. You definitely definitely definitely definitely do not need to change it every time. Really. Nobody nobody does. (By the way, I have been there, I used to change every time when first diagnosed, but life got too short quite fast and it has never been an issue).

Thanks everyone. Used the same lancet all day today and it was much less hassle. :D Think maybe I'll change it first thing in the morning when I'm home with the lancets, and use the same one for the whole day.

Even managed to test my blood sugar on my lap in bed in the labour ward this evening (don't even ask, I have the worst luck but everything is fine with me and the baby now and I'm back home ).

You’ll be a pro in no time!

If you want to change it then do, no harm, but really no need either. You’ll be able to feel when it needs changing.

Very glad you’re both ok 😊🌷

keep doing it at your desk,
also explain if asked what you are doing and why,
take the mystery out of it and also explain that if you collapse what the best thing someone could do for you after calling an ambulance,
and i would also store some high sugar candy or juice boxes in my bottom drawer as a in case of emergency situation

i know you can manage it very well, but sometimes a back up is good too and if its "out" then no one will give you a second glance

Keep doing it at your desk. I have several relatives with type 1 diabetes and there are a few kids with it in the school where I teach - they all check blood sugars as and when they need to without worrying if people can see them. If someone sees and asks what you're doing then you can explain it. I'm sure most would be sympathetic. I don't see a problem with what you're doing at all.