I read this really interesting article from The New York Times … and it triggered so many thoughts and experiences I’ve encountered, using my digital D “stuff” while out in the public.
The first time happened to me at the movies. My husband and I settled in for a late afternoon film in a fairly uncrowded theater. I felt a vibration from my CGM receiver … and tapped the “on” button with the receiver tucked between my legs so as not the let the light disturb anyone. Sure enough, my BG was on the rise after the popcorn! So I pulled out my pump (again, holding it down low) to deliver a correction bolus.
The man sitting 4 seats away said, “HEY, put that phone away!!!” I continued to press buttons until the bolus was delivering … and then quickly put the pump back in my pocket. I was rattled! A stranger yelled at me! I finally settled myself down and was able to watch the rest of the film … but still mulling over the interchange.
After the movie, my husband just happened to stand next to the guy in the men’s room … and started chatting. He said, to the “shusher”, “You know, that was my wife that you chastised. She is a Type 1 diabetic and she needed to give herself insulin as her blood sugar was rising.”
The “shusher” was actually horrified and visibly upset … and immediately apologized and expressed his concern that I was “ok”!
I get it … he assumed I was checking my phone or texting … that IS annoying. My husband just tried to teach him a little lesson … don’t always assume that people are on their digital devices for social reasons.
The next time it happened, I was having lunch with a grandfatherly JDRF board member … and I pulled out my phone to check my Dexcom reading and deliver a meal bolus. Before I could even hit the Deliver button, he lowered his voice and said, “Now, you know I don’t let my grandchildren bring their cell phones to the table … and I’m not going to let you do that either.”
I was caught between a touch of shock and a total outburst of laughter. Once again, he assumed!!! I explained what I was doing … and he poured on the apologies. Sweet, but an interesting reminder of how we T1s use technology for our lives, not just for our social media.
Most recently, I was at a screening for a soon-to-be-released film at a local theater. All guests were reminded that we were NOT to use our cell phones … if they see us, they will escort us out of the theater.
I thought, “Uh oh!” So my dear husband signaled to the usher that I may have need for access to my cell phone during the film to manage my diabetes … the usher was quite flustered and stammered, “Well, that’s ok … just try to keep it on the low down. OK?”
I totally understand, in this new world of instant and constant technological connection, it can be very disturbing and distracting in certain settings. We are in a new world … and it does bring up some challenging and amusing interactions.
Has this happened to you? What’s your story?
Here’s the article from The New York Times,Filming the Show: Pardon the Intrusion? Or Punish It? by Michael Paulson and Michael Cooper, 6 October 2019.
Joshua Henry, the star of a new Off Broadway musical called “The Wrong Man,” had tried repeatedly to signal his disapproval to the man in the onstage seating who was using his smartphone to capture his performance, but he wasn’t getting through.
By the third song, Mr. Henry had had enough. So he reached into the seats, deftly grabbed the phone out of the man’s hand, wagged it disapprovingly, and tossed it under a riser — all mid-song, without skipping a beat. “I knew I had to do something,” he explained later.
Just a few nights earlier, in Ohio, the renowned violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter had stopped playing Beethoven mid-concerto to ask a woman in the front row to quit making a video of her. After the woman rose to reply, she was escorted out of the hall by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s president, and the music resumed.
Both artists were cheered — first in person, later on social media — for taking a stand against the growing ranks of smartphone addicts who cannot resist snapping pictures and making recordings that are often prohibited by rule or by law, that are distracting to performers and patrons, and that can constitute a form of intellectual property theft.
Read more: Filming the Show: Pardon the Intrusion? Or Punish It?
OK, so we are not trying to film or photograph … and run amuck of rules and laws. But it can be assumed that we are in the wrong. So be prepared! Try as best to educate and understand … and do what you have to do to stay healthy!
Recently, I visited a friend who is in prison. When I arrived with my new looping equipment, which includes the cell phone (with no SIM card, by the way) that operates it (and an explanatory note from my doctor), I was told I would not be able to bring in the equipment. I bolused, opened the loop, and left the cell phone in the car. I was able, as previously, to take in the Dexcom device to monitor my sugar numbers, and told I would be given an exception to be able to come and go from the visiting area, should I need to go to the car and administer insulin. They were nice about it – but cell phones are strictly prohibited. As more and more devices move to cell phone-based control, there are areas that are going to have to be addressed!
wow who knew? I am not a big fan of Blood Sugar on cell phones. But it does make one think. I got called out at a movie for looking at my pump screen. i agreed pagers have gotten larger over the years
I have had an experience or two of being chastised for using my devices now and again. My favorite one was a time when I was dosing. I have the older version of the Omnipod receiver. I was asked why I had such an old cellphone!
Love it!