What's the yellow container/pen, if you don't mind me asking?
An epi pen?
Whoa,now you're all making me feel bad and reckless. And I thought I had it all figured out!
When I was on MDI, I used to have a cosmetic bag with my Novorapid+Lantus,needles, alcohol swabs and some lancets. In addition to the meter of course. No "back up" plans. For hypos,I usually have some juice floating in my purse. Same thing goes for my school backpack. I just dump the stuff from here to there. On more than one occasion I forgot the whole kit and had to call someone to pick it up for me.
Now that I'm on the pump and in college-Where I spend most of my day-(from 7:30 to 3:20) it's even worse. Once or twice I was out of glucose tabs-just an empty container- which lead to one of the most unpleasant lectures of my life. The only constant is my meter test kit.
Old container(blue) vs new container(pink):
Ok. So I need to carry more stuff. What's a good item to begin with? I thought about leaving some set supplies but then I only have one inserter (quicksets) and I've never done it manually. Any tips? I'm thinking battery :-)
Hey, I like your case. Thanks for the photo!
OK, since we're showing our pretty photos:
Meter case and door one of the MEDPort:
Door two of the MEDPort (with stuff unpacked):
You want a back-up battery for everything. My meter died when I was working 35 miles from home and had a high-pressure meeting in ten minutes -- and I felt low-ish. Not good. More glucose would be good, and maybe something to support a low post-treatment, e.g. a power bar? I don't know about pump-related stuff, but a back-up of everything sounds prudent.
I would soooo love to be able to carry the cute little purses that I see everywhere! But for me, having a back up plan with me at all times is peace of mind. So I carry a medicool pack (with all the supplies everyone's listed) that drops inside my big purses... believe it or not, my heavy purse has given my aging body shoulder and neck pains. Anybody else have that problem? Solving one problem created another!
Because I'm over-cautious, I also keep a small backpack in my car with extra supplies above and beyond what I carry in my purse just in case I get stranded somewhere. I also keep extra gatorade and juice boxes in my car. But then I'm way over prepared..but once again, that's peace of mind for me.
That shoulder and neck pain is why I switched to using a day pack. When I'm shopping and walking long distances, I just put it on and the weight is distributed evenly across both shoulders and my back. Being stylish shouldn't result in permanent injury! LOL
You're right. :) I really need to find a day pack that I like. That needs to move up on my list of priorities - that and a new medic alert. That's originally why I got the backpack in my car but it's sort of an awkward size and I found it uncomfortable. I'd appreciate if anyone else uses a day pack if they would post a picture and link please!
I love this. Has a place for everything.
The low post-treatment plan sounds like a good idea. I should've thought of that before I guess. As for the battery, already stacked some B)
I second the battery back-up. My meter died at work one day right before lunch. Luckily was able to find one person in our building who had spare batteries of the sort I needed. You can always bet that you'll run out when it's the worst time possible.
I can't tell you how many times I've used the last test strip in a drum when checking for a low. I usually pack enough glucose to treat a stubborn low day... for when you have to treat multiple times in the same day.
Well, there are lots of options out there, but this is the one that I use:
I got mine from REI. They're good people:
http://www.rei.com/product/827908/the-north-face-borealis-pack-womens
This pack is not cheap ($89), but it has good padding (to prevent my music binders from poking me in the back) and lots of room for my girl gear, my dadgumbeetes gear, my guitarist gear (tuner, capo, nail files and clippers, spare strings, etc.) and my geek gear (iPhone, headset, ear-plugs to help me tune out any insane co-workers, laptop if I need it, thumb drive, etc.)
However, the pack-before-last I got for approx. $7 at Value Village. It pays to keep your eyes open if you like to hit the second-hand stores. I've found some stunning deals on day packs at second-hand stores, but then again I am in the Pacific Northwest and we go hiking any time the sun peeks out from behind a cloud for ten minutes.
Oooo thanks so much for the link! I like!
"dadgumbeetes" :)
Wow, you people sure carry a lot!
For short trips, I have my meter (between 10-35 strips; yes I combine vials), a AAA battery, a tube of glucose tabs, my cell phone, my insurance card, and a credit card. My pump stays clipped to my belt.
I also keep a big container of glucose tabs and a spare meter in my glove compartment.
For longer - but not overnight - trips (more than 45 minutes from home), I also carry a Ziploc bag with a vial of Novolog, a spare infusions set and reservoir, syringe, some tape, and (expired) ketone strips. It gets tough in the summer when I don't have a jacket pocket to put it in.
I still like aDorn, especially the aDorn Messenger Bag, http://www.adorndesigns.com/index.php. TuD members did get 10% off, but since our changes, I'm sorry to say I don't know where to find the info. Maybe someone else has it. With or without the discount, I like the company and carry the (unisex) Messenger bag myself, which is -- heavy!
Insulin pen, mentos stick, some change and my phone as well as some experience ;)
Wow...after reading this thread, I feel like a really bad T1. I carry my test kit (including strips and lancets), glucose tablets, and a granola bar. That's it! It never occurred to me to bring things like insulin or extra infusion sets or a glucagon kit with me. Of course I live a 20 minute walk from work so if I had a problem I could get a cab and be home in about 5 minutes.
Experience ... most important of all!
I honestly don't see the point of a glucagon kit. I've needed it at times in my sleep (not in a LONG time), but if I'm awake and conscious, I don't need it. If I pass out on the street somewhere, I doubt anyone else would administer it for me.
Where you work means a lot. When I used to take a train and an subway to get to work in NYC, I carried more -- because getting home is harder and the risk of getting stranded was higher.
Right now this is what I carry:
Diabetic Supplies include: my meter (which also programs my pump. I have the OmniPod), 50 to 100 strips (depending on if I just opened a new bottle or not), 2 to 3 extra pods (never know when there will be an error), extra insulin, glucagon kit, something for lows like candy bar or something else, glucose tabs or gel, something low in carbs for snacks, back up battery because if it it goes out I'm out both a meter and a way to program my pump, and ketone test strips.
Non-diabetic supplies: tylenol/ibuprofen, vitamins, eye drops for contacts, contacts case and solution, hand sanitizer, lotion, and gabapentin (for my peripheral neuropathy). This is carried in a large purse but thinking about getting a backpack if I start working at this job. Then I will also have my lunch, extra snacks, and probably a book or notebook for something to do on breaks.