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New to the T1 club

Coopsman1

Well-Known Member
Messages
52
Location
Bristol, UK
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi all,

My name is Lee and I live in Bristol. I found out just before Xmas that I am a T1 diabetic, and if I am honest I struggled during the Xmas period.

Anyway, I love cycling and although this is a small speed bump into will overcome this and get back into cycling.

I have just received a diabetes ezy carry are, to carry all my sparkling new equipment in. Would you all be so kind as to give me ideas what I should carry and if anybody has the same case, perhaps show me the layout of your stash.
 
Hi,

I live on t'other side of Bath.

Welcome to the club! I usually throw my stuff in a backpack designed for a laptop?
But you'll do right by yourself with what you got in the case...
 
I don't have a case, but I take my meter, plenty of strips and glucose tablets plus a snack.

Welcome to our club Have a look around and feel free to ask any questions you want
 
Welcome to the forum

When I'm going anywhere I always carry my BG meter and test strips, both my insulin pens, a few extra needles, and glucose tablets
 
Hi @Coopsman1 . Welcome aboard. You've got a lot to learn and this is a great place to learn.
Ask as many questions as you want, remember no question is stupid.
Haven't got a kit like you but have definitely got the same worktop.
 
Unless you are a very organised chap you will probably have things all over the place! And will have gluco-tabs or your hypo treatment of choice everywhere! I have my dog walking coat with glucotabs in pocket, lucozade and tub of biscuits by my bed, spare testing stuff in glove pocket in car (and a crunchie!) and jelly babes and cereal bars in handbag!!!! Most importantly take kit when you cycle. You will find what suits you best! To me being prepared gives me confidence!! Good luck!
 
@Coopsman1 Hello Lee and welcome to the community. I found that I can use the empty tubs from my test strips to carry spare needles or lancets. this means that I can fit my 2 pens and my test kit pack into one or two pockets of a jacket for short trips out and about. Having said that I use a small backpack to carry everything I need including glucose tablets or a bottle of coke just in case.
 
Welcome to the forum Lee

I'm sure once your bg levels have stabilised and your more confident in managing your type 1 cycling will be back on the agenda.

Glucotabs are good as is carrying some small snacks, but for hypo's that come on quick maybe look to carrying some liquid glucose too, there's a product called GlucoJuice that works extremely fast, you can purchase it in some of the high-street chemist chains like Boots or order the juice on-line, I ordered some from Amazon a few months back and purchased 12 bottles for around £14. Best wishes.
 
Hi and welcome. I suspect we all carry stuff in different ways. I carry my Bolus insulin around in it's case with a few needles. I carry my meter around most times in it's case with a tub of strips, lance and spare lancets. I have another meter and case left in the car to make life easier (BTW meters don't like very cold weather). I always have a packet of glucose tablets in my pocket and in the car.
 
I never used to carry fast acting carbs when I used to go riding and I nearly saw my demise. So NEVER forget fast acting carbs.
 
I gave up in carrying all my med supplies in a case - mainly because I'm a slob Lol - instead I usually keep everything in my backpack which is the same idea but more space. Glucose Tablets are very important as I noticed other people had mentioned the same thing. I live on a bicycle trail system and have taken dextrose tablets to raise my BGs mainly because I cycled further than expected. The other thing, and Bristol may not have the same issue as where I live - be more aware of the weather - we get terrible snow and wind storms here and if the weather forecast is calling for a storm, I'll carry my Basil Insulin with me too in the event that I can;t get home from work.
Bringing enough supplies to last you a few days will give you more freedom to make sudden changes in plans from one day to the next. One thing that I do sometimes - I think it happens to everyone at some point in time - is forgetting to bring your insulin. I've had to drive home from work mid-day (I live 30 KMs away) It really pisses me off - you would think living with type 1 for 50 plus years you wouldn't forget but it still occasionally happens. One other thing I noticed too - not a good idea to carry on a conversation with someone or get distracted when giving yourself a shot - especially if you take more than one kind of insulin.
 
Don't EVER forget your insulin or your sugar supply. It's not worth going through that unnecessary struggle. I learned the hard way. Exercise is also very draining on blood sugar so be careful..... And never inject humalog before exercise although when I sometimes was very high like 25 to 30 or more I would inject 2 or 3 units humalog then go riding moderate intensity....be very cautious. But out of fear I only exercise on my basal, I then I go all out full intensity.
 
And go easier on exercise or don't exercise. if your levels have been high for a long time as your sugar can also go up even if your exercising. And never go exercising if you didn't inject your basal insulin.
 
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