What's in your bag?

Type 2
#1

This may seem silly, and guys you can bow out if you want, or answer if you will. I have a bad neck and degenerative disc disease in my upper back and neck....so purses and bags are a problem for me.

I am wondering what you carry in your bags/purses/backpacks? I have a small pouch for my diabetic supplies, and then there is a datebook (small)a small notebook, a wallet, pencils,pens, a pouch with aspirin, lip gloss, in it and a coin pouch. I am on a sliding scale for my diabetes, so I am supposed to take blood sugars before eating, thus the diabetic pouch with meter, strips, lancets and then my humalog pen, needles, and swabs.

This is getting heavy to carry, And I'll bet I've tried over four bags in the last four months. I'm a bag lady anyway, but this is getting spendy, What do you carry in your bag?

#2

It doesn't sound silly. I have been thinking the same way for the past few months and trying to figure out the same.

For someone who is on the pump (like myself) we have a few more things to carry so it is harder. Leave as much "extras in your car, so worse case you have to get it out of your car. If you work at an office or have another area where your personal things go when you work, leave a spare set of stuff there. With the exception of your insulin of course.

As for what to carry in your bag, it is all up to you. Carry a few things in your bag as possible, with one of the major things being your diabetes stuff. As for the other things:
The notebook and datebook- I would look into getting a small tablet. You can do so much- its my everythings. It has my datebook, notebook and more in it. Your coin purse and wallet are 2 things you can't do with out.

I have tried this to lighten my load but as for what I carry in my bag, it is a few more things that would just make it harder if you were to have my bag. I usally end up carring a few bags, but that isnt what you need.... so less is better. Evalyuate what you REALLY need to carry of what you can do with out.

#3

Depends on whether you want fashion or not. I am the "not." I have not carried a purse since I was in my 20s.
Currently, being retired and not caring, I wear a fanny pack and I cram into it a very small card folder (driver license, credit card, library & grocery cards, insurance), cgm receiver, cell phone, carbs, lipstick if not in pocket, pen, tiny spiral notebook for grocery/other lists, cash in the back flat zippered part of the fanny pack along with a little change (coins). I have the bigger OneTouch meter so I throw it in the car seat. If it is hot I carry a lightweight cloth bag if I must leave the car. I should carry a syringe and insulin in case of pump failure but I don't locally. I do on trips. A trip bag is different than the home/local stuff, for me. I can get home within 25 minutes from anywhere in my home area.

#4

I use one of those "sling pack" backpack type things rather than a purse. I find it way easier on my shoulder/back. I have severe allergies and a severe visual impairment in addition to diabetes, so I carry even more stuff than the average diabetic. I have a case with an extra infusion set, cartridge, alcohol swabs, and tape in case I have pump issues, and a tiny case with batteries for pump/meter, coin and extra pump bits, and pills like Tylenol, Reactine, Benadryl, and allergy eye drops. Then I have an insulin pen, an epi pen, and an inhaler, and my meter kit that has my meter, lancing device, and strips. I also carry my phone, keys, wallet, sunglasses (I really need them to see), a magnifier, a monocular (small telescope for seeing at distance), and a few tubes of glucose tablets. All of that is the bare minimum that I can take with me, I've tried many times to whittle it down further and if I leave any of those things out I invariably end up needing them. I also often have a pen or two and Kleenex in my bag, but those are just "nice to have" and not essential. I also have room in there for a lunch or snacks which I usually have with me since I use public transit and when I'm out I'm frequently out for the entire day.

#5

I don't carry a purse or bag if I can help it, I just don't like slugging around a bunch of stuff I don't need or want. I do take a backpack when we go on holiday in the winter, we travel light, just carry on. It's got a small selection of clothes, some shampoo, hairbrush, camera etc. I will reluctantly take a small purse with me on holiday for my camera etc., so I can have a "hands free experience!" But for day to day at home, no purse or bag. I keep my wallet and keys and cell phone in my jeans pockets.

#6

I carry one of these pretty much everywhere..

http://www.nightgear.co.uk/product_images/32655/32655-zoom.jpg

Contains

1) Glucotabs
2) Spare syringes in case of pump faliure
3) Novopen Novorapid 100U
4) Spare pen needles
5) Lithium batteries for pump and remote
6) Blood Meter/Pump remote
7) Glucomen blood ketone meter and strips
8) Test Strips
9) 2 X Spare infusion sets
10)2X Spare 315 unit pump cartridges
11) Adhesive removal wipes and anti bacteria wipes
12) In case of emergency USB which holds all my medical records, contacts and dosing
info
13) Vial of Novorapid
14) Lancets

Fits in my rucksack, gym bag etc. Just gotten used to always having to carry a bag hahah.

766-20140707_135646.jpg (2.72 MB)
#7

Right now:

1. hair brush
2. wallet
3. BG monitoring kit
4. date book
5. a book (Giving Voice to Values)
6. Music book (French arias)
7. Music sheets
8. lip gloss
9. lip balm (I can't live without this)
10. Metformin
11. pencil case
12. Mandolin concert program
13. card case
14. discount cards case
15. bills

#8

Well, if you're in the mood for a frivolous answer, I wrote a blog on the subject: http://www.tudiabetes.org/profiles/blogs/my-stuff-dblog Cheers!

#9

Well, now I don't feel so bad about all the "stuff" I carry, But I would like to par it down quite a bit, but I don't see a way to do that, My next question is, for the ladies, HOW BIG IS YOUR BAG? I used to use a backpack, cause I carried knitting or a book with me, but sure would like to be in a smaller bag, instead of feeling like I'm leaving on vacation to just go to the store,

#10

I carry way too much in my bag. For a while I had two, then the smaller one had a broken zipper which I had repaired and instead of switching back, I've combined most things into one because I don't really want to carry two bags... This one has a shoulder pad strap and I also recommend the cross body with with a very wide strap. Baggallini is my fav brand at the moment but I'm sure I could design a better one- maybe one day. Another thing that helps is to get material bags(not leather) with a lightweight material as the weight of your purse/bag adds on to your burden. I have shoulder/back/neck issues and this helps me a lot. I don't even know everything I have in there, D stuff is only about 1/3 of it maybe, lol.

#11

Right now? I carry a huge Hello Kitty totebag to tote all of my crap around lol.

Diabetes supplies:

-meter with test strips and lancing device with a few extra lancets just in case.

-A pouch with novolog and lantus pens in it with a bunch of pen needles and a needle clipper.

- at least one tube of glucose tablets.

-Glucagon

-A snack.

-sugar free candy like caramel nips or werther's originals

Other things:

-Car keys

-Sun glasses

-A little thing of make up stuff

-Cell phone

-breath mints

-wallet

-Volunteer ID.

-tissues

-various receipts and notes I should probably clean out

-2-3 ink pens because I end up with them for some reason.

#12

I just gave dear "Stuff" a standing ovation for all her classy hard work! Brava...

#13

In my backpack
1. Omnipod PDM -includes test strips, Novolog vial and lancet and alcohol swabs
2. Spare pod or 2
3. Humolog pen in case of total pod failure
4. Extra test strips
5. Extra alcohol swabs
6. Jelly Beans
7. Letter from doctor explaining I am T1D when flying

#14

Judith, Stuff and I thank you! We're inseparable...

#15

I carry a meter,pills in a old test stip bottle as I only take 1 pill at lunch. Glucose tabs are always with me. I have a shoulder bag ," fanny pack ", and a back pack. Depending what are where I am going. Have you asked your DR. Or do you see a Physical Therapist? Nancy

#16

Curious for those who carry glucagon, does it need refrigeration? I thought not, but I was looking at my kit today and it says to keep it refrigerated. My mom was saying she thinks I should carry one with me at all times rather than just keeping it at home (I live alone), and she's also interested in keeping one at her place for times I stay over there. She thinks the instructions are simple enough that anyone would know how to use it. One concern I'd have is people getting mixed up with a glucagon kit and epi pen and not knowing which I needed in an emergency.

#17

Jen, I carry glucagon with me also, as far as I know it doesn't need to be refrigerated it should be stored at room temps of 68-77. My feeling is I can use it myself if I'm having a non responding low and hopefully if I were to pass out someone could figure it out from the pics and my med bracelet that I may need that.

Here are the instructions:

POSSIBLE PROBLEMS WITH GLUCAGON TREATMENT
Severe side effects are very rare, although nausea and vomiting may occur occasionally.
A few people may be allergic to glucagon or to one of the inactive ingredients in glucagon, or
may experience rapid heart beat for a short while.
If you experience any other reactions which are likely to have been caused by glucagon, please
contact your doctor.
STORAGE
Before dissolving glucagon with diluting solution — Store the kit at controlled room
temperature between 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F).
After dissolving glucagon with diluting solution — Should be used immediately.
Discard any
unused portion.
Solutions should be clear and of a water-like consistency at time of use.
Literature revised September 19, 2012
Marketed by: Lilly USA, LLC
Indianapolis, IN 46285, USA
PA 2286 AMP
Copyright © 1999, 2012, Eli Lilly and Company.

#18

Well my mother died following a severe hypo, she was given a "glucogon" injection by a well intentioned friend who informed the emergency services she had done so upon their arrival.

Unfortunately she had neglected to mix the injection with glucogon and just injected the saline! So never assume anybody could do it!

Stupidity reins supreme.

#19

I'm so sorry. When things like this happen we carry it with us forever. Thinking that a simple difference in how we acted could have saved a loved one. While the friend may have made a key error it is also true that glucagon seems needlessly complex and the emergency services personnel should checked these things. None of that makes your loss an less, I am truly sorry.

#20

Thanks BSC.

I don't blame the friend, these things happens. Just wish i'd been there at the time, as the outcome may have been a little different.