Why Skittles? Is it because you like the taste or because they correct hypos more quickly than glucose tabs or other candy? I’m just curious.
I’ve never had a pump fail, either, over many years (I’ve had several Animas pumps and now a T-slim).
I did have a type of failure with my T-slim which was new for me. I tended to use the tubing to pull the pump out of my pants pocket. One time I pulled on it and the tubing broke right off the pump. I wished I had a syringe then but I just had to leave in the middle of a meeting and go home.
T-slim resevoirs have a little tail with their proprietary attachment at the end (ie not a luer lock). It hasn’t been a recurring problem, but I now reach down into my pocket and take the pump out rather than pulling on the tubing. So, anyway, I would not call that the pump breaking (I just needed to put in a new reservoir), but I just thought I’d add that particular way a pump can become temporarily useless…
I use Skittles and Sweet tarts. They’re pure sugar and don’t melt. Plus they taste good especially the sour Skittles.
Hello: Could you let me know where the post is about extracting insulin from a Tandem t:slim? I too used to use my pump’s cartridge as a back up in case I needed to get insulin with a syringe but I was told that the cartridge of the tslim does not respond well to having insulin extracted. Thanks.
Skittles are 1 carb each, they don’t melt and I don’t eat them for fun. I only buy the large bags of Wild Berry flavor. I don’t like any other flavors of Skittles.
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All I can say is that we do periodically and it works well for us.
Maybe give it a try and see if you have any issues?
I don’t think syringes can be bought here in the US without a prescription. At least, I was unable to but them when I ran out. 
It is different state by state.
Quick summary map:
https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/policy/RetailSaleOfSyringes.htm
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I carry a set of maybe one change of most of my supplies in a kit in my car, anything perishable like strips are in my purse with my meter. I pack my own lunch in a small cooler daily for work so I carry a vial of insulin in there…now if I’m going over town shopping and am within a short drive from home, I do not take my Insulin with me. All other distances I will take a cooler with a vial of insulin with me.
Along with extra pump supplies and lunch/food, I keep an almost empty vial and a couple of syringes in a small, soft side cooler is always with me or nearby. The vial is in a Frio cooler.
Half let you buy easily and the other half might have restrictions?
In Nevada they were just in the general area in the drug store, In Hawaii they are behind the counter, you just ask, in California they never let people know but they lifted all the restrictions. Some states have a few requirements or it varies??? If you want insurance to cover it you do need a prescription as far as I know. This link gives some of the requirements.
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Thanks for this link, @Tim35!
We must share a cat! I’ve had to learn to not leave my t:flex tubing exposed. Or my CPAP hose. She thinks she can get away with these shenanigans just because she is cute and cuddly.
I guess that works. She’s laying on my lap now.
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Thank you for your reply. My doctor’s office has given me a fiasp pen for emergencies to get around the issue of extracting from the pump.
Barbraann, I’ve carried insulin and syringes in my purse 24/7 for 37 years. I just pick a purse with a smallish inner pocket and use it for nothing except insulin and syringes. I’ve also always lived in the southern US, so the only thing I make sure of is not to leave it in the car if we’re going to be outside. In that case, I would leave it at home or take a small cooler with me. I’ve never had insulin in a vial be affected by heat. For about a year I was using insulin pens (for a medical study) and those were very affected by heat. For whatever reason, vials seem to work much better.
What type of pens were affected by heat? Long-acting? Did you feel as though, thru repeated testing, that the insulin was ineffective?
Dave44, they were Humalog pens and, yes, I did ongoing monitoring and the pens seemed to completely lose their efficacy. This was several years ago, so they may have improved the stability of pens in general by now. But it happened with about 10% of the pens I received for the study. It may have had to do with how they were stored when they were transported to the study facility.
I am not sure what issue you may refer to as I do not believe there are any if we are still talking about extracting insulin from the Tandem t:slim X2.
I would call it trivial to do so actually.
In any event as long as you feel your needs are met than that is what counts for you.
I use a pump, if for some reason it malfunctions I will remove the insulin reservoir and use it with a extra syringe I carry. The reservoir acts just like a vial. You will have to reset your reservoir and pump but emergency avoided.
Which pump do you have?
The process for extracting could be different depending on the pump.