Be Prepared + Know Your Rights: Your Guide to Protesting with Diabetes

Editor’s Note: Protesting it is an extremely personal decision. Beyond Type 1 neither endorses nor opposes any person living with diabetes’ participation. If you are protesting with diabetes, this guide helps you do so as safely as possible.

Protesting is one of many ways to create change and is a right of all Americans under the First Amendment. But if you are protesting with diabetes, there are extra things to consider.

If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes and you’re heading out to protest, here’s what you need to know.

Protesting with diabetes? Here’s how to be prepared

Step 1: Make sure you are healthy enough and prepared to participate. Consider the state of your health over the last few days and weeks.

• Health & preparation – The best circumstances under which to attend a protest are when your blood sugars have been stable, you have been eating hearty and nutritious meals, you are well-hydrated, your immune system is strong and your mental health is fortified. 
• Follow COVID safety regulations—Wear a mask, keep your distance, and sanitize often. If unwell, support the protest in other ways.

Step 2: Pack a bag. In addition to the standard items suggested for all protesters, like extra masks/face coverings, cash, your health insurance card, permanent markers, water and snacks, there are extra things to consider if you have diabetes. Remember that you may get stuck away from home for a longer period of time than planned.

• Double down on water – While heavy, staying hydrated can keep your blood sugar levels more manageable and can prevent other health issues. When volunteers or street medics offer more water, accept their offer. 
• Bring a variety of snacks with a combination of carbohydrates and protein, and glucagon (nasal or injectable kit) – It is helpful to have both fast-acting glucose, like glucose tabs or gels, to raise your blood sugar quickly if you experience a low, as well as more substantial snacks to consume periodically to keep your blood sugar stable. Ensure that the people you’re going with know how to use glucagon, including what personal signs of a low blood sugar you experience that they can look out for. 
• Pack extra blood sugar monitoring supplies – Even if you have a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), it is possible for your sensor to fail or become inaccurate due to heat causing your adhesive to loosen or jostling from being in a crowd. With either your CGM or blood glucose monitor, make sure you are checking your blood sugar levels often. If you have a closed-loop system and can utilize an ‘exercise’ setting to keep your blood sugar levels slightly higher (typically around 8.9 mmol/L160 mg/dL), do so.
• Include a back-up insulin delivery method – If you wear an insulin pump, bring insulin pens (with extra pen needles) or vials and syringes. If you utilize injections, make sure you have more supplies than you typically need. Consider packing in a small cooler system/insulated bag to keep your insulin cool. 
• Write down your medical information on index cards kept in the outer pocket of your bag – This should include your medical background information (all medical issues you live with), your medications, and the contact information for your healthcare provider and emergency contact.

Step 3: Wear protective articles of clothing + a medical alert item. Wear a mask or face covering, long pants, comfortable closed-toed shoes, a long sleeve shirt, a hat and/or sunglasses, plus a medical alert item, like a bracelet or necklace.

• Medical Alerts – If you don’t have a medical alert item, write your alerts on your arm with a permanent marker, such as “insulin-dependent, type 1 diabetes.” Keep them clear to ensure anyone unfamiliar with diabetes understands your condition.
• Protective clothing – Long sleeves, sunglasses, a hat, etc.—shields you from the sun and will also provide a barrier for your skin in case tear gas is deployed. A primary component of tear gas is capsaicin, a chemical compound derived from chili peppers. As tear gas (made from fine particles) is absorbed by your skin, it can produce extensive amounts of inflammation. This can lead to health issues in anyone but can lead to issues with blood sugar, extra pain response and dehydration for people with diabetes. 

Step 4: Have a buddy and communicate. No one should go to a protest alone if possible, but particularly no one with an underlying health condition. 

• Have a buddy and communicate – Avoid protesting alone, especially with an underlying health condition.
• Choose a trusted companion – Attend with someone who knows you have diabetes and can help monitor your health.
• Stay hydrated and nourished – Ask your buddy to remind you to drink water and eat regularly.
• Plan for separation – Set a designated meeting spot and time in case you get separated.
• Clarify boundaries – Ensure you and your buddy are on the same page about personal limits, like the risk of arrest, to avoid safety issues.

Step 5: Take care of yourself when you get home. Chances are you just walked a long distance and tensions were high.

• Hydrate and eat after protesting – Stress and exertion can cause blood sugar fluctuations.
• Monitor your blood sugar – Check levels frequently and adjust as needed.
• Use CGM follow features

Know your rights

Attending a protest carries the risk of being detained or arrested.

Because of this, ensure you know your rights before you attend.

Be aware that while everyone in the US has the same rights theoretically, being undocumented, a person of color or belonging to any marginalized group—including living with diabetes—alters how you may need to approach interactions with members of law enforcement. 

The following is summarized from the American Diabetes Association’s Inappropriate Law Enforcement Response to Individuals with Diabetes.

1. If you get arrested, clearly and calmly state to the police officer that you have diabetes. If you are concerned about or nearing a medical episode—such as a low or high blood sugar event—while detained, communicate the circumstances to the officer. By law, if an officer has visible cues (such as clear signs of low or high blood sugar) or has been given notice of a person’s medical condition, they must abide by the resulting rights that provides.
2. You have a right to be able to take care of your health and receive medical assistance if and as needed. The Fourteenth Amendment grants the right of pretrial detainees (anyone who has been detained, arrested, or jailed) to adequate medical care.
3. Under the Fourth Amendment, a police officer is not allowed to search or confiscate your belongings without a warrant or without probable cause. If a police officer believes they have probable cause, they must inform you of what they are searching, as well as what they are seizing. Consensual seizures are not prohibited by the Fourth Amendment, so you must state that you do not consent for your belongings to be seized. This all becomes more murky if the police officer can make a case that a severe crime was being committed, an immediate threat is being posed to the officer or public, or if you are resisting or otherwise evading arrest. Stay calm, be clear and follow directions as much as possible.

Overall, if you are considering or attending a protest, safety comes first. Be prepared. Be careful. Know your rights.