What's Diabetes Like When...

Today, a colleague who has pharmaceutical marketing experience in diabetes care, asked me a number of legitimate questions about diabetes. One of them was,

“Is it really hard taking injections in front of people? Because many people use this as a reason for not wanting to inject.”

When I was a child and teenager, it definitely had to do with shame. Not so long ago, I remember being in situations (not usually with family or with close friends) when I would give myself a time limit for taking an injection if I felt uncomfortable in front of a particular group i.e., acquaintances, new social group, colleagues, clients etc. Usually it had to do with proximity and privacy when sitting at a dinner table – especially in smart New York bistros. I often worried about other people’s comfort levels more than my own. Before fast acting analogs, in my mind it really went like this…

“OK, entree will arrive in 30 minutes, must excuse myself to bathroom now or I am doomed.”

Today, I just don’t worry. Perhaps it is because we are used to technological gadgets like mobile phones, blackberry devices, ipod et al. And just like anyone who may turn off their phone, check a message or collapse their ipod earplugs to have a conversation, I have no qualms about whipping out my pump or setting my glucose meter on my lap, and performing a quickie blood test and basal in less than 10 seconds. It is just that simple. (Of course the other reason may be that I have had this illness for far too long!)

I think we have come a long way. The complacency factor, however, is a very different story.

More next time.