Oh yeah, I forgot, I have like a 1/2 lb of Starburst Jelly Beans in a bag in my car...the grocery store seems to be having trouble keeping them in stock though so I may have to send them into the front lines....
I’m on the omnipod. If its just an evening out, I carry my pdm, rescue glucose, test strips and lancet, and a novolog pen, justice in case. Ill carry everything on my person. As I spend more time away from home, I carry corresponding more stuff including anything I need for pod changes. I’m a two week trip now and packed enough supplies to last a month.
" Out and about " as you call it ...will happen shortly : my Bayer bag contains : https://www.bayercare.ca/EN/ProductImages/Large/lg_contour_summerfl... Bayer Link meter ( to pump ) , second Bayer meter ( not linked to pump ) , strips, BD lancet ,( relative) clean tissue to wipe drops of blood ( interstitial and second drop ) 2 extra lancets , insulin vial and 1 insulin needle ( for pump failure , hi BG ) , quarter to open pump , 2 batteries
( pump ) , Countour link Quick reference guide , personal completed /updated medical Form ( courtesy of MedIDc.com) . And seperate : Dex4 Glucose pills .
PS bag is supplied at n/c
It all depends on how far "out" I'm going. I pretty much figure if I'm within an hour of my house (and I'm willing to go back if necessary), all I carry is my meter case - with meter, strips, a couple lancets and some Smarties candy. I'm on a pump now, but even in the old days I could generally keep a bottle of Humalog and a couple syringes in there as well. That's it! I've never really needed more. I've heard of people who carry the whole supply kit with them, but that seems like overkill to me. If things ever went so wrong that I needed to change an infusion set suddenly (hasn't happened yet), I figure I'd rather just be home to deal with it.
Obviously, over night (or longer distance) trips require some extra supplies and planning for emergencies, but for around town I keep it pretty minimal.
hahaha, i almost bought a huge bag of swedish fish before I realized christmas candy was on sale lol
Oh, forgot to add my Medic Alert bracelet and med info card!
This is what I take for trips up to around 8 hours.
Bloodsugar kit, Humalog Pen, 2 pen needles, tube-o-tabs, car keys, wallet, cell phone (used to take picture), and my folding multi-tool.
I can fit all this in my jeans and jacket pockets.
one pocket holds my phone; second pocket holds glucose tabs - and these are for no further than the street.
If I am going more than across the street, add a tester, a statement of what Lantus & what Humalog I'm taking with I:C ratio.
If I'm driving distances there's my suitcase.
Ordinarily, I carry a murse with all of my diabetes supplies. If I need to change my pump, I need to have it all with me.
This includes:
- wide Opsite Flexifix tape
- narrow Opsite Flexifix tape
- 4 OmniPods*
- small ziplock bag with insulin vials and extra vial of blood glucose test strips
- small ziplock back with syringes
- medium ziplock back with ketone strips
- small ziplock back with Swiss pocket knife
*Insulet went through a period of time when many OmniPods would fail. When I was stuck at work after the OmniPod I was wearing failed, then the first replacement failed during priming, and the second replacement failed shortly after the cannula was inserted - leaving me with no more OmniPods and thus no insulin being delivered (I didn't carry any syringes with me then) - I keep at least 4. If they're flawed, at least one will work!
Other items I keep in my bag include:
- extra Dexcom insert
- OmniPod PDM
- famotidine
- ibuprofen
- naproxen
- blood glucose monitor kit (glucose monitor, test strips, Accu-Check Multiclix lancer, tissue)
- vial to keep used blood glucose test strips in
- tissue packs
- glucose tablets
- Dexcom receiver
And since I can, I use it for some non-medical stuff:
- iPhone charger cord
- iPhone battery pack
- handcream
- breath mints
- wallet
- iPhone
- writing pens
- earphones
Back when I used insulin pens, I carried much less stuff. But at least the excuse of my pump supplies justifies me carrying a satchel or carrier bag or manbag or shoulder bag or murse or whatever you want to call it, so I can stash other stuff if I want. I should carry more stuff (toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, small writing pad, business cards).
Now that I'm recovering from surgery and am not allowed to carry heavy things, I put my essentials (blood glucose meter set, vial for used blood glucose test strips, wallet, OmniPod PDM, Dexcom, iPhone, glucose tabs) in a small zippered cloth carrying bag I got from an outdoors sports store.
Perhaps you should just get a rolling bag
I was diagnosed in March of last year.
At work (5 minutes from home ) I carry the following in my laptop case:
When I was on MDI:
- Novolog pen (and if low, a refill cartrdge (or a 2nd pen if disposable pen). 5 pen needles (in a free case that came from Sanofi-Aventis for signing up with their Lantus program)
- glucometer, strips, and lancer (in meter case), some alcohol wipes and spare
- glucose tabs
If I go out to dinner in the city, I would also carry a Lantus pen if I am going to be out when it is time for that.
On a business trip/flying:
spare pens (both Lantus and Novolog), a ton of needles, spare meter and strips, prescriptions for all the above (in case
stuff gets lost) , letter for security (never needed) . generally 2x the insulin I think I'll need.
Now on the pump (Omnipod):
At work (near home):
Omnipod case with PDM, spare batteries, strips, lancer, vial of Novolog insulin, insulin syringes if pump fails.
glucose tabs
For a 5 minute trip to the grocery store, all I take is glucose tabs. For longer trips I bring the PDM case with all the above in the car.
For a overnight trip away from home, the above PLUS
spare pods (enough pods for the time away + 1 or 2 extra)
2 X the insulin I think I need
Insulin pens if pump fails (Lantus and Novolog), pen needles, alcohol swabs
Insulin syringes
prescriptions for emergency use
glucose tablets
medic alert dog tag and card
That would look good on you bsc ;)
If I could just find shoes that match, I would be all set.
Well, it's for your health and survival! A good justification for shoe shopping!
Sooooooooo tempting. Perhaps in a more manly color. Then I can carry lots of books too!
I'm with you 100%. I'm not gonna carry a bag. I'm gonna put a meter and insulin shot(s) in my pocket (I'm a big fan of preloading the syringe although I can't always plan that well in advance!), and go out the door.
And even better I can be walking down the street, and whenever I feel the need I just whip it out (the meter or the insulin that is) and do it without even slowing down. This business with carrying around bags and unpacking stuff to even get to bg testing stuff... oh man, could never bring myself to do that.
You know those little bags/pouches that come with bg meters? Never ever gonna do that. Pouch goes straight into the trash, meter goes straight into my pocket.
I remember when one of my friends had a baby (before me and my wife did). Everything with them was a half hour of packing before ever going out the door. With our first baby? Grab the baby, unfold the $10 Target stroller, and go :-).
Looks like you got everything, but alcohol pads and a spare battery is what I would add to your list. Just a note.......don't leave items in a hot/cold vehicle. Insulin is quite temperature sensitive.
You've been holding onto those jelly beans since last Easter? ha.
So, I tend to leave the house each day with a little more than I probably need, but enough to keep me alive for at least a couple of weeks should I get stuck somewhere. So, here's what I generally leave the house with on the days I go to work:
plus three french hens, two turtle doves , and a partridge in a pear tree. ha! :) (you forgot humor, the best medicine)