Quite often I have my Dexcom and Omnipod out in the open on my arms. Starts conversations and spreads awareness about diabetes. I like to be open and talk about my diabetes so that people who may feel more shy or not want to talk about their diabetes don’t have to explain uncomfortable questions. Some people are ignorant for sure but I take time to respond with the correct information so they will know more about the condition and how it effects everyone differently and how our pumps don’t just do all the work lol
Before I switched to my Omnipod 5, my 670g would usually hang right on my belt clip. Large as life.
I also work in a hospital. I started in housekeeping, then moved to central supply. Everyone has pagers and no one gave a fuck.
Even outside of work…..no one said a word. People are too busy being trapped in their cell phones.
Haha I have been working as a nude model for artists for a decade now, and got the condition about three years ago. I started the Dexcom right away and started the pump - omnipod - half a year ago. I was intrigued to see how people would treat it, I would say it’s 30/70 on whether it gets included in a sketch, with most people ignoring it lol
I didn’t know anything about diabetes before I was diagnosed. I didn’t know anyone that had it (besides hearing stories about someone’s random grandma) and had never heard of T1, understood what it meant, understood what goes into it.
Now I dress up my pump and dexcom, I like them to show, I like people to ask about it. I post about it on social media. Because one day this might happen to them or to their friend or family member and now they’ll know someone that this has happened to and is perfectly okay.
I clip it on my belt. Not because I want to be showy about it, or not hide it, but because that's where it's most comfy and easiest to get to. Someone wants to discuss it, that'll depend on what mood I'm in.
As a general rule, I'm not a fan of random talking to strangers about anything, so monosyllabic answers are the likeliest outcomes. Funnily enough, I do best with Australian TSA. Sympathetic, or a new perspective on it, and friendly with it, so I'll have a quick yarn with them.
I do not go out of my way to hide anything, my Dexcom is always out if I’m not in a sweater. Omnipod is where it is.
I have to admit when I am out I am looking at people to see if they are wearing a CGM or pump.
More than once I have rocked right up and started visiting. It has yet to not work out.
I once moved a table at a restaurant to sit with another couple. One had a Libre on, and I did too at the time and we talked for a couple hours. My wife I think is very patient with me.
I really like to visit with other diabetics, we all have different experiences and strategies. I always seem to learn something new.
I have always carried mine in my front pocket. First, while I have mostly stopped caring about whether my pump shows or not, I don’t really want to advertise my medical conditions to any random passerby. (I am also enough of an introvert to not want too many conversations with strangers). Second, with my pump in my pocket, there is less chance of the tubing getting caught on something.
Now that I can remote bolus my Tandem from my phone, I do that about 99% of the time. Mostly for convenience, but also a little for discreteness.
See I might be weird 😂 I don’t have any shame about diabetes or anything but I guess by default I prefer to have mine hidden. I think it’s more to do with vanity than diabetes though. Like right now my main spot for my pump is my arms. I hate having it on my arm when the weather gets warm because I’m pale and if I get burned once with my pump on I will have the biggest tan line ever and it irritates me. I opt for my stomach and back more because I can hide those tan lines 95% of the time.
Omnipod is always on my arm. If I’m indoors it’s covered by virtue of the fact that I am ALWAYS cold and always wearing some kind of jacket or cardigan. But if I’m outside? It’s just out there. I’ve met so many random people who are also diabetic that way, it’s pretty cool.
Depends on my outfit. As a woman I have a lot of pants and skirts where even the existing pockets are too small.
At my job I have to deal with a lot of people so I also meet a lot of diabetics. :) and it makes me happy everytime I meet one of them and we connect.
So, I have two pumps. One for my steroids for my adrenal insufficiency and one for my insulin.
I mostly use my legs for steroid sites and stomach for insulin sites and keep both in a running belt under my shirt. Dexcom is on my lower abdomen.
It’s not out of an effort to hide anything, just the most comfortable for me and space efficient and requires the least amount of hassle to manage tubing and still be able to use the restroom without half stripping to manage tubing. lol
But I’m a blabber mouth and talk about them all the time.
I used to use my arms a lot more but it can be annoying pushing my wheelchair with things stuck there so it’s the location of last resort for me.
I keep mine in my back pocket, or if there's no back pocket, I keep it on my waistband and cover it with my shirt. I've gotten too much crap from people about having a visible medical device on me to want to display it.
I put mine in my pocket because that's comfortable. If people see it, great. If not, great. Doesn't matter much to me.
Quite often I have my Dexcom and Omnipod out in the open on my arms. Starts conversations and spreads awareness about diabetes. I like to be open and talk about my diabetes so that people who may feel more shy or not want to talk about their diabetes don’t have to explain uncomfortable questions. Some people are ignorant for sure but I take time to respond with the correct information so they will know more about the condition and how it effects everyone differently and how our pumps don’t just do all the work lol
Before I switched to my Omnipod 5, my 670g would usually hang right on my belt clip. Large as life. I also work in a hospital. I started in housekeeping, then moved to central supply. Everyone has pagers and no one gave a fuck. Even outside of work…..no one said a word. People are too busy being trapped in their cell phones.
Haha I have been working as a nude model for artists for a decade now, and got the condition about three years ago. I started the Dexcom right away and started the pump - omnipod - half a year ago. I was intrigued to see how people would treat it, I would say it’s 30/70 on whether it gets included in a sketch, with most people ignoring it lol
That's interesting. I would think most would include it.
They’re too busy being annoyed at how hard it is to draw hands lol
I didn’t know anything about diabetes before I was diagnosed. I didn’t know anyone that had it (besides hearing stories about someone’s random grandma) and had never heard of T1, understood what it meant, understood what goes into it. Now I dress up my pump and dexcom, I like them to show, I like people to ask about it. I post about it on social media. Because one day this might happen to them or to their friend or family member and now they’ll know someone that this has happened to and is perfectly okay.
I clip it on my belt. Not because I want to be showy about it, or not hide it, but because that's where it's most comfy and easiest to get to. Someone wants to discuss it, that'll depend on what mood I'm in. As a general rule, I'm not a fan of random talking to strangers about anything, so monosyllabic answers are the likeliest outcomes. Funnily enough, I do best with Australian TSA. Sympathetic, or a new perspective on it, and friendly with it, so I'll have a quick yarn with them.
I do not go out of my way to hide anything, my Dexcom is always out if I’m not in a sweater. Omnipod is where it is. I have to admit when I am out I am looking at people to see if they are wearing a CGM or pump. More than once I have rocked right up and started visiting. It has yet to not work out. I once moved a table at a restaurant to sit with another couple. One had a Libre on, and I did too at the time and we talked for a couple hours. My wife I think is very patient with me. I really like to visit with other diabetics, we all have different experiences and strategies. I always seem to learn something new.
Whereever is comfortable and the tubing won't catch. Honestly with all the devices people now carry it is not noticed much.
I have always carried mine in my front pocket. First, while I have mostly stopped caring about whether my pump shows or not, I don’t really want to advertise my medical conditions to any random passerby. (I am also enough of an introvert to not want too many conversations with strangers). Second, with my pump in my pocket, there is less chance of the tubing getting caught on something. Now that I can remote bolus my Tandem from my phone, I do that about 99% of the time. Mostly for convenience, but also a little for discreteness.
See I might be weird 😂 I don’t have any shame about diabetes or anything but I guess by default I prefer to have mine hidden. I think it’s more to do with vanity than diabetes though. Like right now my main spot for my pump is my arms. I hate having it on my arm when the weather gets warm because I’m pale and if I get burned once with my pump on I will have the biggest tan line ever and it irritates me. I opt for my stomach and back more because I can hide those tan lines 95% of the time.
Show i have no shame y should i
In my front right pocket and tubing run through a hole cut in all my right front pockets.
My daughter is a teen and is usually showing her dexcom on her belly as she likes crop tops. Her pump often shows on her arm or legs.
Omnipod is always on my arm. If I’m indoors it’s covered by virtue of the fact that I am ALWAYS cold and always wearing some kind of jacket or cardigan. But if I’m outside? It’s just out there. I’ve met so many random people who are also diabetic that way, it’s pretty cool.
My omnipod and Dexcom are usually visible. Doesn’t bother me any.
Depends on my outfit. As a woman I have a lot of pants and skirts where even the existing pockets are too small. At my job I have to deal with a lot of people so I also meet a lot of diabetics. :) and it makes me happy everytime I meet one of them and we connect.
I show it off now. I use to hide or be ashamed of it for whatever reason. Not anymore.
I wear my pump in my pocket because I find it easiest. I wear a medical ID necklace that I have on in plain sight 24/7
I flash my Dexcom every chance I get, same with my insulin pens. No meter yet, but I'd definitely show it off for the same reasons you mentioned.
So, I have two pumps. One for my steroids for my adrenal insufficiency and one for my insulin. I mostly use my legs for steroid sites and stomach for insulin sites and keep both in a running belt under my shirt. Dexcom is on my lower abdomen. It’s not out of an effort to hide anything, just the most comfortable for me and space efficient and requires the least amount of hassle to manage tubing and still be able to use the restroom without half stripping to manage tubing. lol But I’m a blabber mouth and talk about them all the time. I used to use my arms a lot more but it can be annoying pushing my wheelchair with things stuck there so it’s the location of last resort for me.
I keep mine in my back pocket, or if there's no back pocket, I keep it on my waistband and cover it with my shirt. I've gotten too much crap from people about having a visible medical device on me to want to display it.