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Equipment

Jc3131

Well-Known Member
Messages
329
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hello everyone, just a quick question (or 2) about your type 1 equipment.

What do you carry around with you on a daily basis? And what do you carry it all in?

Im asking because as a man im a polo shirt and jeans person. Everything i carry out with me is shoved into my jeans pocket. Women mainly will have hand bags etc but what about the men out there? How do you carry all the insulin, monitors etc ?

It's not a do or die question but it's something ive been thinking about.

John
 
My gear looks like this:


Whilst for work I've got my bg test kit in my backpack, I'm happy to bolus off my Dexcom and I carry a teeny syringe in my wallet that I can use in case my pump breaks. There's plenty of insulin in the pump reservoir after all....
 
Although I am a woman, one of the biggest disappointments about having diabetes was the need to buy a handbag when I could fit keys, phone and credit card in my jacket pocket,
When I MDI'ed, I carried insulin pen (with needle attached ... just before I left home), dextrose, meter and finger pricker (out of its case because that just took up more room).
I am now a pumper so don't need to worry about the pen. What else I take depends on how long I am going to be away: for a couple of hours, that's enough; for half a day, I need a pump backup (syringe and vial of insulin); overnight and I need a way to attach a new cannula in case it goes wrong.
 
Insulin Pen, Meter and tube of glucotabs, usually during a work day the pen and meter are in my rucksack, the tube of glucotabs are always kept in my jean pocket. On a day/night out the wife (AKA Sherpa Missus) usually tags along as her handbag isn't my colour! And if I'm completely on my own, the meter will fit in my jean pocket along with the pen, but it is a bit bulky and theres no room for anything else! Waiting for the bum bag to make a come back
 
helensaramay said:
or half a day, I need a pump backup (syringe and vial of insulin)
Click to expand...
I've never understood why people with pumps take a pump back up with them that includes a vial of insulin. You always have a vial in your pump, which is accessible via a syringe, so all you need is a syringe!
 
tim2000s said:
I've never understood why people with pumps take a pump back up with them that includes a vial of insulin. You always have a vial in your pump, which is accessible via a syringe, so all you need is a syringe!
Click to expand...
I guess it is for peace of mind: there is a small chance I will misjudge the insulin in my pump and run out ... or damage the cartridge in some way.
 
Dario smart meter, Smartphone, Bolus pen and a needle. I always keep a spare lancet in that tiny wee pocket in all my jeans thats good for little else!

If I'm out and about for the whole day, I'll take my basal pen with me as well.

Although I'm using a CGM, I still like to take my BG meter with me - especially when I'm out on my mountain bike. If the sensor were to get ripped off during a fall, then I'd still have a means to check my BG. My meter is a little bigger than a cigarette lighter, so has a very small footprint.
 
Always carry around glucose, it's in my coat and trouser pockets and carry some in the glove compartment of my car. My pump has an integrated bg meter built into the PDM so that's quite handy, but if I'm only out for a short-while (as in a 30 min dog walk) I don't take anything with me apart from the glucose, if out longer then the PDM comes along too.

Usually if I spend the day out with my wife then it all goes in her handbag

tim2000s said:
I've never understood why people with pumps take a pump back up with them that includes a vial of insulin. You always have a vial in your pump, which is accessible via a syringe, so all you need is a syringe!
Click to expand...

Not the case with all pumps, you can't access the insulin reservoir (sealed in the Pod) on a Omnipod Pump.
 
Hopping over to the neighbours I only take my telephone to scan my Libre. In case of hypo they'll have something sweet in their place. If possibly offered food or drink I take my insulin and maybe my meter. Baggy trousers! When it's to hot for clothes with pockets I usually stuff it in a plastic supermarket bag. Going out with the dogs or swimming or such I also take dextro and a sandwich, again in the plastic bag, together with my swimming stuff and a book. When shopping I need a bag anyway, so put it in there ( take phone or meter and dextro, possibly insulin). Visiting friends, I take meter, phone, insulin. In my pockets or my hand, put them on the table. Leave dextro in the car. Overnight I take the long-acting and spare pens for both insulins. On sailing trips over a few days I have spare meter, spare pens, spare Libre sensor, extra needles and strips, extra insulin and Glucagon, as help might take longer to reach me.
In winter everything is easier, as I have parka's with pockets big enough to take a book with me
 
My partner is also type 1 so often we share a monitor and strips, so I just stuff my pen and stabber in her handbag. If I'm out on my own I take a backpack and carry my pens, monitor, needles etc in Diabeazy case which is very useful. Out for a run I just take a monitor etc in a bumbag (I'm so cool). Unfortunately no easy option for men, but a small packback works well
 
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