r/YouShouldKnow • u/LtSoundwave • Jul 19 '20

Other YSK That many people with a disability consider their aides (wheelchair, etc.) an extension of themselves. You should ask before touching or moving them.

Read this article and was surprised to hear how many people struggle with this. Even if you are trying to help, you should ask first.

www.bbc.com/news/disability-49584591

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u/Kibeth_8 Jul 19 '20

I work in healthcare in a fairly small office. I have to get people lie down on a bed, and if they have a cane I usually move it out of the way when they're getting up on the bed or already lying down, so that I can get in close beside them. Would that bother you? I try to make sure I always hand it back right after when they're getting up, but would it be more polite to ask if I can move it first?

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u/DaToeBeans Jul 19 '20

I’d personally be okay with that. But I can also walk (usually) without my cane for short distances while some are much more dependent. Never hurts to ask though!

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u/Kibeth_8 Jul 19 '20

Thanks! I'll try to be more conscious of that in the future :)

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u/burlycabin Jul 19 '20

You're a kind and thoughtful person.

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u/ThatSquareChick Jul 19 '20

I wear a dexcom diabetes glucose monitor, it looks like a big, gray, button attached to my arm.

People already think every part of you is literally up for grabs when you’re a dancer and that only bothers me when I’ve already told someone not to touch me. What bothers me is when they grab at my monitor as if they wanna pick it off me or tap it like a fish tank. Dude, I understand why you wanna grab my butt except leave my medical device out of it. When they ask about it, people will go to touch it like I have no idea what they’ll be talking about when they say “hey, what’s that thing on your arm?” I can’t cover it because it works on Bluetooth and it’ll give false readings if I try to keep people from touching it by hiding it. Not much I can hide once the third stage song hits anyway.

I just wish people would stop touching it when they ask about it. I know exactly what they mean, I just want them to leave it alone!

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u/Kibeth_8 Jul 19 '20

I see a ton of people with these but I have no idea how they work. Is it like... Pierced into your skin somehow? It's only for taking for glucose level right, you still need to do an insulin shot?

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u/The-Master-Mind Jul 19 '20

The dexcom is inserted with an inserter device, which is not reusable (new device for each sensor). The device basically stabs you with a needle, but then the needle retracts, leaving a thin flexible wire under your skin. This wire sends signals about the levels of glucose in the interstitial fluid, to the transmitter which is the gray oval thingy you see on the arm. Each sensor lasts 10 days. And no, the sensor has nothing to do with insulin delivery, you also have to either take insulin shots or use an insulin pump for that.

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u/Kibeth_8 Jul 19 '20

That is so cool. Thank you for the explanation! Are you able to insert them yourself, or do you go to a doctor for that?

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u/The-Master-Mind Jul 20 '20

You insert them yourself! It’s super easy, you just clean the skin, take the sticker backing off, remove the button guard, and push the button. It happens in one second and barely hurts, sometimes you don’t even feel it. Then you put the transmitter (gray oval thingy) onto the sensor and you’re good to go! It takes a couple hours to warm up and then displays readings every five minutes on your pump/phone/smart watch/receiver/etc.

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u/iamfearformylife Jul 19 '20

i don't have a cane but i would imagine it would be good to at least say "hey I'm moving your cane to <location> so i can have easier access"

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u/AliveAndKickingAss Jul 19 '20

please ask, if you move it out of reach you're probably doing a disservice.

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u/Kibeth_8 Jul 19 '20

Thank you, I will definitely do my best to remember this next time!

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u/Triknitter Jul 20 '20

Yes. It would bother me and destroy any trust. Ask first, then move.

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u/VixenRoss Jul 20 '20

You could say “I’m just moving your cane/crutch/stick to do xyz but I will move it back so you can easily reach it”. And then move it back.