Ok - I’m just curious how many hours or distance people will go without bringing a backup. I am on the omnipod and work 15 mins from home. My doctor said to bring a backup pod and insulin and syringes when I go out. If you go to the mall for 2 hours, do you bring a backup? If you go out to dinner do you bring a backup? Or do you just bring a backup when you are out all day away from home. Just curious what people do. I have a wedding to attend in a few mins and I guess I will bring the flexpen I have as a backup (but against my will, lol). Oh and do you always wear a bracelet or a necklace when you go out identifying you as a diabetic? I wear it 50% of the time.
I KEEP backup supplies at work.
The thought of BRINGING backup supplies to work and back every day, seems onerous. But not everyone has a desk or fridge to keep things in.
Every so often I bring a new set of backup supplies to work and use what I had been keeping at work.
Mostly used insulin cartridges etc. get carried around by me when I’m out of the house for more than a few hours.
I have a “pocket/backpack” meter as my main meter, and for backups I have an extra “home” meter, and a “work” meter.
Tim.
I keep two backup pods at school, and then i keep one pod in my case with some glucose tabs, insulin, etc. Everything i might need. I take this with me everywhere i go. Unless it’s just 5 minutes down the road to go to the store or something.
I carry two extra pods with me. Once at work I went through two pods. If I’m pretty close to home, I won’t tote. But if I’m going to be any distance, I bring my stuff. I always bring a syringe and Humalog with me. If I’m out for a few hours, I’d probably not bring a pod with me.
I wear a MedicAlert bracelet. I didn’t for a long time but it’s something my partner gets peace of mind from so I comply. And I actually feel a bit better about it. I’ve had some insulin reactions that could have gone very badly. Better safe than sorry and all that.
Bracelet - I wear it one hundred percent of the time. Just got a new medical alert bracelet to wear when I get dressed up. It is a blue glass beaded bracelet. as for back up supplies - I have spare sets at work. I also carry an emergency bag full with extra sets (Mio sets that have an integrated serter) as well as IV preps, reservoirs etc. I carry this bag everywhere, at least it stays in the car with me and I leave it there if in the mall or wherever. Comes back in at night and back in the car with me the next day. I carry couple of extra syringes in my meter kit in case I need to obtain “emergency insulin” from my current reservoir. I also carry pump and meter batteries in meter case as well. In the emergency bag I also carry a bottle of glucose tabs and extra lancet drums - yes I actually change my lancets.
I have actually had to dive into the emergency bag supplies just recently when a site I had on my thigh yanked out with my shortages after a bathroom break. So glad I had spare sites to swap out with.
I have an extra set at the office. I deer hunt and I am now carrying with me an extra set in my back pack. B4 pumping I never carried anything at all since my lantus was my 24 hour basal. I am more paranoid now that I pump. I am leaving this Thursday on a Medetereanean cruise. I am bringing a second PDM and a second Dexcom system. Do I also need to bring my Apidra pen??? Is this starting to become over concerned???
I would definitely also bring your Apidra pen as well as back up lantus and syringes in case of a pump Or pod or pdm failure. You never know. bring double the amount of insulin and supplies that you think you will need. The infirmary will store your extra insulin for you if you ask. Don’t trust your cabin refrig. It is known to freeze insulin. Anything you are not currently using should kept there. There have been very helpful when I have cruised. Over protective - no. You can never member prepared. Especially in a foreign country.
The only thing worse than hauling backup supplies is not having them when you need them. I never carried a purse before diagnosis, now I have to lug one around everywhere like my own personal diaper bag! Your current routine will fail at some point, I guarentee it. Your the man in charge of your treatment - don’t let yourself down.
I wear a bracelet and I’ve heard that some folks actually get it tattoo’d so they don’t have to wear one. Pick a reputable place if you decide on the tattoo.
I wear med-alert bracelt if leaving the hosue and always takes extra supplies…natural disasters don’t give warning…better safe than sorry with something you cna’t live without
I keep backups at work too.
I ALWAYS have the backup supp;ies for my pump in my purse. Left out the other day and thought I had them but when it got taken out from the site found out I had used the last one about 2 weeks ago so I had my husband go back by the house to reload up on them. I don’t want to be without just incase something happens.
I have a back up for everything A humalog pen goes everywhere with me with the pen needles of course I have all pump supplies with me two of everything and glucose tabs everywhere. I have enough back up meters to supply a small diabetes clinic lol one in my purse it is the one that goes with my pump another at both jobs and more at home and family homes. I would rather be safe then sorry. as for medic alert bracelet well I have a tattoo so 100 % of the time I have it. I am prob. the poster child for medical ID’s as I know the good they do with my patients on the ambulance and I encourage everyone to wear one.
Wow! Guess I’m the bad one! I never wear my medic alerts although I have 3. I just hate wearing any jewlery at all. As for supplies, I only take extra if I know my pump is running low & may need to change before I get home. I have had my infusion set ripped off twice at work over the last 6 yrs but not terribly concerned. I sometimes wrok as far as 3 hrs away from home. If I am not returning home the same day then I will always carry an extra change. My husband gets irritated with me for being so lax but I really am careful about protecting my infusion set especially after the last time it got ripped out so I just don’t worry too much anymore. But I always carry plenty of snacks as getting low when working is a bigger problem for me!
Always have backup & xtra test strips & batteries as well as liquid glucose w/me --I keep nonperishable snacks in my car—travel is a nightmare:) And I never take medic alert ID off…all my info can ne accessed w/a phone call
I have extra infusion sets in my car and DH’s car… so wherever we go I have backups. If I happen to go somewhere with someone else, it depends on how long we’ll be gone. Just an hour or two, I’ll wing it with just my meter (which includes extra tape and adhesive wipes), any longer than that and I take a couple of spares.
I only take a backup meter if I am going out of town… same with backup insulin, I don’t bother unless I know I’ll be refilling my pump.
I almost always bring back up supplies with me as part of my kit. I keep limited extra supplies in my kit - insulin, syringe, and infusion set in addition to the meter and strips. I also keep back up supplies in my desk at work, including an extra meter. I wouldn’t mind so much if I had to drive home earlier than intended if at the mall, but It would be entirely annoying to miss family time while out visiting and have to leave early because my infusion set ripped out, and it’s an hour drive home. I learned the hard way - if you keep everything in your kit, and forget your kit at home, and at work for the day (I’m out of the house for 12 hours)… this is a problem. I keep back up supplies (extra infusion set, meter, vial of strips) at work. I can always buy insulin whenever I need it at the pharmacy (I’m in Canada and can easily buy insulin & strips over the counter).
It is so much easier for women, I think. I almost always have extras of anything I might need in a makeup bag in my purse. I went on what I expected to be a 1 hour outing last week to the dog park without my purse and of course, my Omnipod slid off. It was hot, I was sweaty…and embarrassed as it fell out from under my shirt in front of other people that I didn’t know, but whatever. Anyway…“I don’t leave home without it” anymore. (What was that commercial? Am Ex? Master Card?)
I am not great about wearing my med alert jewelry. I still feel my lows but who’s to say that if/when I lose that ability I will be in a safe place. I think we all should wear something anytime we are out without someone who knows our story…at least those of us on insulin.