16 Comments
Do you currently have a kit containing the T1D supplies you would need in case of a natural disaster or emergency?
You must be logged in to post a comment.
© 2022 T1D Exchange. All Rights Reserved.
I have a small case that I carry in my bag when I’ll be away from home for more than a couple of hours, but not for days. It has an extra infusion set & reservoir for my pump, my current vial of insulin, some batteries for the pump, some syringes and a few alcohol & prep wipes. It was what I always had in my bag in the days when I went to/from the office everyday. So I could have that in an emergency but it wouldn’t get me far. My meter is in its own case and is kept on my desk, I don’t have any sensors or other CGM supplies ready to go.
It’s not assembled, but I do have what I need to put one together, including a bag the right size.
Never thought of doing that. It’s a good idea.
I have a small bag with the vial of insulin currently using to fill my Pod, always carry whenever I’m leaving the house further than walking distance, several pods with a frozen water bottle. There’s a spare Dexcom G6 sensor in my car.
I don’t know if my answer is yes or no (this I answered other). My daily T1D supplies are in the medicine cabinet with other medicines. I have reserves I keep in a different spot. Disasters will be a headache regardless where one keeps T1D supplies. However, keeping a “kit” and dragging that with me everywhere will soon become its own headache.
I would have a hard time keeping track of a “kit”. When I go shopping or take a several hour trip, I wear cargo pants. My diabetes equipment are in the 5 spacious pockets on my pants.
I don’t have an assembled kit but I keep a list on the refrigerator that I could put together in a few minutes.
Being on Medicare I do have a ‘collection’ of necessary supplies, it’s just not in a Kit
My answer depends upon what youmean. I have a small “pancreas” bag that goes from my dining room table to my purse, etc. It contains my cgm reader, spare needles, short-acting insulin pen, and sugar tablets. It goes with my everywhere. Everything else that I use on a daily basis, but not during the daytime hours, is together and could be packed up in a mater of seconds.
I always keep extra “just in case” pump change and hypo treatment supplies with me in my everyday carryall bag. I also have a designated compartmental travel case made for diabetes self-care supplies that I stock with enough extras for 10 to 14 days in case of a natural disaster or emergency. The only thing I have to do is grab extra insulin from the fridge on my way to safety. I have Frio pouches in the kit to keep insulin cold. Periodically I check to make sure everything hasn’t passed the expiration date.
With Medicare I only have supplies for 30 days at a time. I would have to throw all supplies (whatever is on hand) into duffle bag to evacuate or shelter in place.
No, to contain everything I would need for a natural disaster or emergency it would need insulin – more than just the one vial I am currently using. I assume natural disaster means my house is demolished by fire, flood, tornado and that could mean I need more than one currently used vial and those are in my fridge. In addition, everything else, including a go bag, is at home-if it happens when I’m out and about In the community and can’t return home, I do not have a kit in my car, as storage in the car has extreme fluctuations in temperature and could or would ruin the supplies in the vehicle. I’m not without plans and ready to pack bags, but all emergent situations are not possible to plan for.
I’m lucky enough to have several vials of back up insulin at the moment, but they are naturally in the fridge. I do have an extra G6 sensor and a few Omnipods in our go bag (along with an old finger prick meter), so if we were able to grab that it might help. BUT I’d only have the one semi-used insulin vial that’s in my every day kit…unless I could get to the fridge in time. Good reminder to replace the “emergency” Omnipod that I usually keep in my everyday kit too. (I actually used it last week, but not for the sort of emergency you’re talking about, just a randomly failed pod.)
Yes! A plastics storage box with handles in the cabinet right outside my bedroom. It has everything I would need. I rotate the Dexcom sensor when I get a new shipment so it doesn’t expire. Spare syringes, pump supplies, spare meter w/strips,glucose tablets, alcohol wipes etc. I of course do not have insulin but that stockpile is in the refrigerator & can grab when evacuating for wildfire, earthquake, tsunami (whatever natural disaster is coming our way). I figure I can never be over prepared and if I am someone in the evacuation center might not be.
Rotating out batteries is a bit of a nuisance, but important.
What I figure is, if the natural disaster is bad enough, all regular stores and ways to get supplies will be affected. So, I think of the disaster plan/kit as if I am going back to treating my diabetes as if it’s 1970 again… shots instead of pods, no CGM, meter only, glucose tabs… i.e. enough “analog” diabetes to live. If I can also have the “digital” diabetes for long enough to get through the disaster, that is going to be a bonus.
Somewhat. I’ve learned living through this pandemic that it is difficult to plan for every type of emergency. My worst nightmare is running out of insulin, and I can’t plan for that because insurance controls it. I have a large makeup type plastic insulated bag with my pump supplies. I keep tablets handy. My glucometer is always within reach. My strips are with my pump supplies. My pump supplies are in a box. I have a Yeti that I’ve used in hurricanes (live in FLA). I have a Frio that I use on trips. It all makes me nervous.