How much is too much for supplies?

1

With losing my job long time ago and not having good insurance I have started to stock pile supplies for diabetes in case it happens again. I have a collection of Infusion Sets for insulin pump, reseviors, accu-chek lancents, test strips (up to date), sensors, well list goes on and on.

Randomly, I get those updates from companies to check for supplies to make sure there is recall on an item. Meaning, I’ll need to go though boxes and boxes of items to make sure item was not recalled.

So I decieded to make a access program to inventory all my supplies and I’m just astounded by what I have.

Quick Sets: 180
Reseviors: 240
IV Prep: 450
Accu-Chek Click (Lancents) 1600
One Touch Test Strips - 1300 (all up to date)
Sensors: 120
Alcohol Pads: 550
IV 3000 - 300
scrynges: 3500 - not counting lose ones
Humalog Vials: 11

still other supplies to gather and inventory

well list goes on…

Sister was there when I was counting and inventoring all my supplies and told me I’m a horder. Went on for along time explaining to her, yes I’m hording cause you never know when you’ll lose your job and your insurance coverage and will have to worry about supplies when too late.

I have a schedule of ordering supplies and get supplies, alot of my supplies are covered with little or no cost, so it’s like why not. Am I nuts or insane. I have backup pumps also in case something happens to my pump along with pump settings backuped up also. Trying to implement that also in my program.

I have some meds like heart meds others that I have a running 3 - 4 months ahead also. These meds that I take cost alot without insurnace. I just don’t want to be stuck without a job again along with insurance and have to scrap money up to pay for meds that are way exepensive.

Tried to explain to sister, kinda got snotty and said your lucky you haven’t lost your job and insurnace and been through it.

I’m screwed and tattoed if I don’t have supplies and tools I need to manage diabetes and along with other issues I have.

What your thoughts???

I’ve been there when I have had to worry about supplies and what to do.

2

WOW! That’s a lot of supplies. I can understand your stockpiling because losing a job and Insurance can happen anytime to most People and it is darn scary going through that experience.
Saving junk that is not used is nuts. Saving medical supplies is not.


I’m amazed that you were allowed to get that many supplies though. It would be a shame if some of the Insulin and strips would expire without being used. Otherwise, considering I do not know how fast that you use these supplies up, that decision should be made by you. Just a guess, you probably have saved enough at this point and can continue again later, if you want. Lucky you. :slight_smile:

3

I don’t think it’s unreasonable to stockpile 6 months or a year of supplies. I’m guessing that’s about where you are with insulin (11 vials is probably 6 months to a year depending on your TDD).

Going out past a year’s worth is questionable especially because e.g. the expiration date on insulin might be only a year off. I know, storing it in the fridge will help keep it long past its expiration date. BUT… where I live we tend to lose electricity every summer for up to a few weeks. (Google “PEPCO outages”).

Personally, I think you’re a little short on test strips and a little long on syringes. It’s a lot easier to re-use a syringe, than to re-use a test strip!

Of course, I read other people on this list who are literally living from one 30-day-supply prescription to the next with no grace period or stockpile at all. Obviously you and me don’t fall into that category.

4

I don’t think you’re crazy at all! Given that our lives literally depend on this stuff, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to have at least 6 months’ worth of supplies on hand. Personally, I think it’s crazy that we’re so limited in getting supplies re-ordered on such stringent timelines. I travel a fair amount and more than once have had to pay for test strips or infusion sets out-of-pocket because my insurance would not renew my refills before I left for travel (sometimes you can get them to make an exception, sometimes you can’t). And, yes, the possibility of losing insurance makes stashing these kinds of things even more important.

5

Hi Chadd,

Both my son and I are T1’s and I keep at least 6 months of supplies on hand and rotate accordingly. I am fortunate to have good insurance

6

How were you able to accumulate this much? I’m one of those with a set amount per month based on my Rx. If I run out of strips, I have buy myself or wait until it can be refilled.

7

Hoarding sensors may be a problem, since they have a short shelf life. About three months And check the Humalog expiration dates. Keep 'em in the fridge. Most meds can last up to a year, but I am surprised that your doc allows you to have so much ahead of your needs. Again, watch the expiration dates. The other items will probably last a long time, but not a lifetime. I assume having extra pumps will eventually go out of warranty. I only have one backup pump, and that’s for when I travel. I think your fear about diabetes and its treatment at this level is not reasonable. I keep about 90 days worth of supplies. You could always go back to Humulin and MDI if your insurance runs out. It is much cheaper. Best of luck.

8

I was uninsured for about 4 years and believe me if you have spent much time being uninsured you would totally understand…Humulin N and R are terrible ways to control blood glucose, for me anyways. Going from the pump to N and R would add at least 1% on to my A1c and that is being optimistic. Sensors: I have used sensors up to 5 years old and they worked just fine for me. As far as insulin I am a little more paranoid but if the sensor is off that is not critical. I also have used strips outdated well past 2 years. Got a hold of some control solution and made sure they were reading right and used them without a problem. I think the key to using anything outdated is to monitor up the ying yang if you are going to take the risk of doing it.

9

I do hoard Dexcom sensors and other (non-perishable) stuff. I almost always get my sensors to last at least 2 weeks, if not 3. I do use them in order though. We all have our own concerns about supplies.

Hearing about all the chemo and other drugs that are just plain unavailable for people whose lives depend on them does scare me. I always have 3-4 bottles of insulin left when my new shipment comes - wish I had more backups!

Thanks MD, good to know about sensor life!

10

I don’t think you are crazy at all. I have been without insurance and may be again, depending on an unresolved issue. With test strips costing anywhere from a dollar to a dollar thirty five each, it seems to me to be wise to get all that are available. I will be doing the same thing with infusion sets and reservoirs as soon as I can. I am most worried about having insulin to use in all of this hardware.

11

I totally get it and I probably always will.
In this day of weird weather happenings, earthquakes, unstable jobs and economy…I’m just as concerned.
In fact, my pharmacy started asking me why I dont fill my strips every 30 days and I decided, ok, I will.
I’m going to do it, so I have it.
Especially since they bothered to ask.