I never go anywhere without my tester - Lantus and Novo rapid pens and a granola bar or fruit bar. In my testing kit I have spare needles, extra lancets and an extra novo rapid vile. When travelling I always bring lots of extra test strips and extra insulin (nearly double what I actually need - just in case) and I always travel with lots of food. Got stuck the Chicago airport trying to get back to Canada for 4 extra hours because of the snow - luckily I had enough granola bars to make it through "dinner."
Being a girl and having a purse makes things much easier. For guys it would tougher to carry all the "Stuff" around. Maybe a messanger bag? or a small sports back pack. You know the foldable flat kind with a draw string top?
I recommend always carrying something for lows. It's literally a lifesaver.
As Amy said, Messenger bags are good, I carry Adorn's Messenger Bag everywhere (you get 10% off as a TuD member). It's so heavy with my d stuff (all of which has been listed already) and other stuff that I call it my overnight bag. I must say, bsc's rolling bag would be good, but I'm definitely going to keep my Sauconys.
The very best thing to hold 'stuff', except during the heat of summer is this from scottevest.com. 22 pockets, there are other styles, and there's usually a coupon somewhere. I have a black and a magenta, and rarely carry a purse. Also works great as an extra free carry-on. No, not affiliated, just love the product!
That would never go with my shoes.
Maybe the turquoise womens one :)
If I am just going for a quick trip to the store I don't take anything (I always have glucose tabs in my car). But, this is for a one stop hit and run back home. Other than that it depends on the plan and potential for issues. If I'm going to be out for more than an hour I take my lunch bag/cooler which always has tabs and pen needles. It also has three outer pockets that hold my meter and items I may want easy access to. I take some food (cheese, PB on whole wheat, nuts, protein bar) whatever I think I may need. I don't take my Apidra unless I am planning on having a meal out. When running errands, going low is the issue. I can always eat to my meter without having to bolus in a pinch. Normally I am only away from home for a few hours so it is fairly easy to cover my bases. Haven't taken a real road trip yet. I just haven't figured out how to take my refrigerator with me.
I have not met you BSC, but you could have a point about the shoes.
I try not to let my son leave the house without his "diabetes bag" which has his glucometer, Novolog pen and handful of needles, glucose tabs/jellybeans/juice box, his glucagon kit, cell phone, and a medic alert card. He wears his medic alert necklace at all times as well. It's always ready to go, and his friends, boss, coaches, etc. know that if he goes low and can't help himself, they have permission to open it up to get what is needed and help him. He just keeps it in one of those small "soccer" bags that you can wear like a backpack; it's lightweight and not too "man-bag"ish. :-)
Yeah, I know I'm probably going overboard, but hey, I'm a freaked out mom and he's only been dx since Sept. so better safe than sorry... especially since he had a 22 when he was at the mall the other day ago... that could have been bad, but he kept his head and got it under control.
He really likes that he can con his way into the movies with candy by pulling the "but I'm diabetic!" card on the guy who checks all the teen's bags!
MrsBaloo, mom to mom I think you're doing a great job!
I am a T1 on an insulin pump and wear the Dexcom CGMS so I take BG meter/supplies, insulin and cartridge needle, glucose (use Smarties), infusion set and quick-serter (to insert new infusion set) if I am going to be more than 1 hr drive away. Put it all in my purse;). I also always keep a few syringes in my car and 1 in my purse. Helps to have an additional way to take insulin should something happen to the pump.
Everything?
Syringe, insulin (just in case my pump fails)
Meter/extra strips
Batteries AAA (love the IKEA 10 packs. They don't last that long but they're cheap and if I'm not home to reach for the industrial powered ones I have they do the job)
glucose tablets/snack bars
if I remember an extra cannula, but usually not
I have my end-of-the-world stash at home. So I'm hoping I'm pretty close if some disaster strikes. Day to day I only factor in things like pump failure or disconnect and carry enough in terms of insulin and supplies to get me back home.
In addition to the usual, I keep a juice box in my glove compartment. Works faster than candy, so if I go low running errands, it makes me able to drive sooner.
My NP turned me on to toddler sized (4 oz) Juicy Juice. Nothing says "respect me!" like a toddler-sized juice box!
For trips out of the house for any length of time, I take my meter with extra syringes and batteries (in case of pump failure), and my pocketbook, which has tabs, syringes, and a couple of set changes and reservoirs, along with the bottle of insulin I am currently using. I also have tabs in the car as well as juice boxes (if they don't freeze in the winter)
Depends on where I'm going really. If I'm going on a long walk/hike with my dog I'll take a bookbag with sugars and a bar plus my meter. Going to work or out for the day I'll take meter/pen/sugars...can get annoying sometimes but you get used to it. I've actually thought about trying to fin a little fanny-pack to wear around my waist, would be so convenient! Just make sure you have your meter and some sugar tablets ALWAYS on you, the one time you don't, you'll have a problem. Cheers bro.
my husband uses a camera bag partly for the looks as it is NOT a fanny pack eeeeew haha but yeah it also is insulated a bit which keeps the insulin cooler in the summer as it can over heat and go bad with out you knowing it. in it are his needles 2 kinds of insulin glucometer test strips raisins for a quick sugar and trail mix for a protein snack. my daughter carries insulin, meter, batteries for her pump, extra hose,cartridge and a syringe just in case,test strips, sour apple flavoured glucose tabs, and trail mix
i carry my monitor case which has insulin, needles, pen, monitor and strips then i carry one of those miniature cans of coke (150 ml) in case i hypo and glucose tablets, i only carry the can of coke cause teh glucose tablets dont bring me up quick enough. if im riding it goes in my coat pocket if im just out or at college it'll go in my bag along with some biscuits :) oh and my medic alert bracelet or necklace :)
lol, I get teased all the time for my Junior Juice! It fits perfectly in my purse, and has just the right amount of carbs for a quick pick-me-up.