I had one of those a few years ago but really didn’t like it as much as the Multiclix. I will have to look into this.
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The MultiClix has no longer been available on the primary market for a little while now, if I’m not mistaken…
Having never used the MultiClix, we remain smitten with the FastClix and the “lifetime supply” of lancet drums (one additional drum) AccuChek sends with each new device. Being as how our dog (who will always remain a puppy in size and behavior) has chosen FastClix as her preferred chew toy (along with a daughter who I cannot train to keep her FastClix out of puppy’s reach), I am drowning in lancet drums because my daughter and puppy go through lancing devices much faster than the lancet drums. Seriously, I just ordered another three FastClix (about a 6-week supply of lancing devices I reckon, along with another decade’s worth [one - each drum holds 6 lancets] of complimentary lancets)…
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My daughter hates the FastClix. She has 3 Multiclix in rotation plus the spares in the supply cabinet. I have no idea what she’ll do when the stash is gone, but it will be a long while before she has to worry. I’ve seen the lancing devices in a few places online, but the prices are ridiculous.
I keep mine organized and Tupperware boxes!
This subject has been brought up on a number of other threads, but I want to encourage everyone to take steps to keep yourself or your young ones alive in the event of an emergency. Don’t rely on luck, or chance, or on always having access to a doctor, pharmacy, or hospital in an emergency. Instead, rely on yourself and your foresight to be prepared. Make it a point to build up at least a small supply of emergency insulin.
I have done personal experiments with expired insulin. And I have done personal experiments with un-refrigerated insulin. What I am working on now is both expired AND un-refrigerated. Just so there is no issue with what I am saying - I am not suggesting anyone ever use expired or un-refrigerated insulin, unless there is an emergency.
As far as a life-preserving stash, keep in mind that in an emergency, things like CGM and pumps are luxury items. The basic stuff you need to keep you alive is insulin and syringes.
Syringes are available with no prescription (check out Amazon). If you don’t have a box or two, get some!
I’ll report back on expired AND un-refrigerated insulin. And I’ll reiterate - don’t use it unless it’s an emergency.
Couple of the many other threads on this topic:
https://forum.tudiabetes.org/t/emergency-supplies-and-basic-insulin-strategies/
https://forum.tudiabetes.org/t/diabetic-preppers-what-do-you-put-in-your-survival-bag/
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I think your doing a great job on your stockpile. I loved the multiclix also and I lost one and still have one. When I went to order a new one I realized they were being discontinued. I have a drawer full of barrels. I took one of those coupons inside the box of the barrels to try and redeem it for a free fastclix but all I got was a fast runaround. They told me insurance paying is not the same as me paying and I couldnt get it. So I called Accu-check and they sent me one for free. It is very different than multiclix. It is lighter and feels a bit cheaper but it does work well. I had to get use to pushing the plunger instead of pushing the nice little button on the side. Changing in coverage for a diabetic is life altering and I think I have developed a fear which has giving way to my stockpiling. Non diabetics dont understand the panic of hearing you cannot get insulin or supplies. I went to pick up my prescription at the beginning of the month and then again the following week and was told I was not due to receive any more until the end of the month. OMG I think you could see the shear terror on my face. I was about to cry. I was down to one vial in which I was stretching as it was. Finally the pharmacist himself looked into it and said I was due from the week before and they were mistaken. I could see me running out and ending up in the hospital again trying to stretch that one bottle 2 weeks. Insulin is diabetic gold. I dont understand how your doctor can justify not giving her a prescription or moving up her appt closer so that there is not chance of her not having a enough. I would ask them what reason that they are using to justify that denial and press that issue. Other people or doctors have the urgency we have so I would hope you can call them a few more times and put a fire under their butts to get it done now
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My insurance will not permit me to get a 90 day supply…Maximum 30 days at a time. Which I can actually pick up every 25 days. I try and keep about a 30 day minimum supply on hand. I am ablle to use a local pharmacy where I can frequently get same day order/pickup unless I am out of refills.
Rapid acting insulin I try and keep at least 2 months supply on hand just in case a pen goes bad or gets contaminated. For horders, myself included, watch the expiration dates on items where it freshness is critical (insulin/test strips) and properly rotate your inventory using the oldest product first.
T2 for 10+ years…NOT using CGM or a pump.
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@Reese2 my daughter was originally scheduled to have a procedure done the week before Christmas. When we were offered a chance to have it done the day before her early-Nov endo appt we took it, which meant she was unable to make the 8 hr round trip to the endo. The endo had already received her A1c results. It wouldn’t have been an issue with her previous endo, but she goes to a satellite clinic where her new endo only sees patients 2 days/month. Ped endos are in short supply in our area, & good ones are non-existent, hence the long drive. We’re on a waiting list for cancellations. In the meantime, our surplus is getting us through. If we fall short I can either trade pump supplies or ask our local PCP for enough to carry us through. I hate asking her for insulin because there are so many in my area who can’t afford insulin. Either way, we’ll be OK. The Mar appt is my daughter’s last one before transitioning to adult care. That appt is already scheduled for June.
This is one reason I’ve become a supply hoarder. With the healthcare situation being what it is in the US, I’m not willing to take any risks. Teaching her to use R & NPH as safely as possible is high on my list of priorities for this year.
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Oh my!! That is marvelous! i wish I could stock up some supplies too. I have no insurance, yes, my country has some strange medical system, so it basically comes out of pocket as a huge expense. But might try arranging my finances and folllow example.
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Yes - Have over a dozen boxes of syringes stored, only if I need to revert back to Humulin, which I had to throw out many expired vials. More lancets than I’ll ever use. Haven’t bought test strips for over a year and cautious when using over 3 months expired (compare against unexpired) need to restock. Haven’t bought Dexcom stuff for over a year but had to join their auto-ship program as almost out of sensors. Slowly building stock of Lantus and Apidra to exceed 6 month supply - I figure if an EMP Apocalypse comes, I can find a storage at 70 degrees but not at 40, so 6 months would probably be my expiration, which still gives me time to square away my descendants for survival.
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A question for those who stockpile syringes:
Do the syringes still work after having them on hand a while? I ask because we had several boxes of cartridges for the Animas Ping when my daughter switched to the t:slim. I kept her Ping & the cartridges for backup. A few weeks ago I realized the cartridges no longer work. The plungers won’t move at all.
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I’ve used syringes that were older than dirt, with no ill effect. They were not stored in sunlight or in hot temperatures, so I guess it can depend on many factors.
Syringes - As of tonite: Easy Touch from 2012, 2013 & 2014 still work. BD from 2011 still work. Of course the pharmacy tag will say they Expire anywhere from 6 to 18 months after the script was filled.
Good to know it’s safe to stockpile. I haven’t bought a full box of syringes in years.
I’m not sure about syringes, but when I switched to the Ping in 2011 I kept my Cozmo pump as a backup. I used the Cozmo for several days a few months ago when I thought my out-of-warranty Ping had died (then it magically came back to life!), and the cartridges I had, which had expired in 2012, worked just fine. (Disclaimer: I don’t recommend using expired supplies. Doing so may be dangerous, as they may not work properly. I only did so because the Cozmo pump and supplies have not been manufacturered for years.)
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One of these boxes had an expiration in 2010. The others expired in 2012. I didn’t try all of the cartridges in each box, but the ones I did try would never have worked in a pump. We live in an extremely dry area. Maybe that dries them out? I actually keep Dex sensors in a veggie drawer in the fridge for the same reason. I started storing them there back when they had short expiration terms & just never stopped.
That could be. I live right next to the ocean, so it’s rarely dry here.
Wow what state do you live in. I thought we were bad. There is one endo in this region in Pa but its only an hour away. I dont even know of a pediatric endo. My prayers are with you. The struggles of being diabetic is real. People have no idea what we have to do in order to stay alive and its a lifelong struggle. I am truly fearful of whats to come with healthcare in this country because whatever it is it will impact greatly on diabetics.
I feel your pain Marianna. I think after not having a few times the impending doom that comes with it was enough to set me on the path of being very cheap in using supplies. I use dexcoms till they fall off and it has even encouraged a lot more careful eating so I dont need to bolus as much. The insurance companies as endos tell you use what you need yada yada but we all know when it comes down to it we are limited. So get that stockpile started lol