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If you were to go on a 7-day trip away from home, which of the following supplies would you bring, in addition to what you would normally use in 7 days? Select all that apply to you.
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One additional thing I would bring is one of my old backup pumps. “Loaner” was a choice, but I don’t need that as I can use my own old pump.
I also take my previous insulin pump as backup even though I have never needed to use it.
Having had a bad low in December for which I needed a microdose of glucagon, I’d now also bring a Gvoke syringe.
I remember when everyone was stranded in place on 9/11. I always pack at least twice what I think I might need of everything, usually 3x as much insulin. My previous pump stays in my luggage.
My T:Slim died yesterday.
My t:slim died yesterday. I was out on a walk when it started screeching that urgent beep you get when you’re below 55 (or at least the Dexcom thinks so). I was at 85 per my Dexcom, which was still working. The screen wouldn’t wake up so it continued screeching every 3 minutes. I got back home about 20 minutes later and plugged it in to see if that would revive it. (Note that the battery was probably around 85% when I left but I wanted to make sure.)
I called Tandem and she asked if it was blinking 3 red lights, which I hadn’t noticed in the daylight but I was able to confirm it after about a minute or so. She told me that the pump needs to be replaced and that the new one will arrive tomorrow (Monday). So two days without the pump.
Fortunately, I kept my old Medtronic 630 with a box of reservoirs and infusion sets and was able to reprogram it using the t:connect app to recall my basal settings. (I had placed it in its storage mode without a battery.) Otherwise, I would’ve needed to get a prescription for Lantus and go to MDI for a couple of days, likely ruining my Saturday plans. Fortunately, the Dexcom continued working.
So, the lesson for me is to take that back-up Medtronic with me when I travel out-of town (about once a month), even though it’s a pain to carry extra supplies.
I was away in Italy once and without realizing it I used up all my infusion sets. I went to a hospital but they couldn’t help. Fortunately I was home 8 days later and kept the same infusion set in me. It worked. I did have needles just in case.
I went out of town to a funeral last year. My CGM goes through cycles where 2 sensors in the box of three don’t work right the whole ten days. I was only going to be gone three days and had not had a bag low in a couple of weeks. I seriously thought about just taking one extra sensor, but that little diabetes voice most T1people have, told me to bring a whole box. It also told me to bring a glucagon kit. On the way to the funeral, my seatbelt ripped my sensor out. Never had that happen before. Stopped at a truck stop, put in a new sensor and noticed my sugar was in the mid 100s
We got a bite to eat and some coffee. I took my Novolog for the carbs I ate and decided not to do a correction bolus until I got a reading from the new sensor. No more insulin as my sugar was 118. Sometime early the next morning my receiver started screeching for a critical low. I didn’t wake up. My mom who had moderate Alzheimer’s woke up, grabbed the glucagon, mixed it and gave it to me in the thigh. I woke up, barfed as I always do after glucagon, ate some glucose tabs and a PB&J after silencing the receiver. I hadn’t needed glucagon in over a year and I seriously doubted she would look in my purse, find it, mix it, and shoot it in me. it’s amazing what our brains can do in an emergency. Next trip take your glucagon!
I agree, Heather! I don’t forget my Baqsimi anymore!!! My experience at an airport (written above) led me to request some type of glucagon. I really should have had it available, but didn’t. Lesson learned!!!
I had an experience once where I had to try 4 sensors before I found one that would work. (The needles weren’t releasing and I couldn’t get the inserter off without pulling the sensor out.) So I always do 2 or 3 times what I will expect to need.
I did that for a trip overseas, but it didn’t work out. My sensors kept failing because they said I had to put a new one in. As I _was_ putting new ones in, it was quite annoying. And, because I was overseas, the company wouldn’t/couldn’t help me out. I had to go without a CGM for the final leg of my trip.
But, I ended up really needing a working CGM because we had a late connecting plane arrival and had to run about a mile or two through the airport to make our next plane.
We made it by the skin of our teeth. When we got on the plane and had settle in, I checked my BS and it was 43. (I am hypo unaware, so didn’t have any symptoms.)
I just thought, “No wonder I had such a hard time running through the airport!”
Anyway, I’ve experienced far too many CGM and pump issues to ever feel comfortable going away from my home with less than double what I will need! =:o
If my Dexcom sensor was going to expire before the 7 days was up, yes I’d bring another. If my transmitter was going to expire before 7 days was up, I’d bring the replacement. If my two insulin vials were about to surpass 28 days, I’d bring a fresh vial of each type, with extra syringes as well.