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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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I have older pumps I would use in an emergency. The hassle of getting a loaner pump and then having to return it isn’t worth it for me. Even though my old Medtronic pump uses different supplies than Tandem, I do still have a bunch of them.
I also pack SkinTac and adhesive remover when I go away.
Over lays for both my pod and sensor. Skin Tac adhesive wipes.
Having been a Boy Scout when I was young taught me to be prepared for anything. I tend to over pack for everything. So, I pack just about everything listed. However, I never considered taking one of my old insulin pumps. I’ll consider it. But for a 7 day trip, I’m not sure. I guess it depend upon where I’m going.
Glucagon, CGM overpatches
AA batteries, which is what my pump takes
I bring backups of my supplies then xtra basal and bolus insulin, meter and test strips Incase I need to go old school.
I was in Boston in 2013 when we were all confined to our hotels while they searched for the marathon bomber. I also remember 9/11 when planes were grounded. I never assume I can easily restock supplies and always take at least double the amount I’ll need of everything including my backup pump. Fingers crossed that I never need it. I hope I could be one of the ones who share live saving stuff with anyone who gets caught without it.
Ughhh the extra CGM sensor is the worst. It takes up an unnecessarily large amount of space.
I’m really surprised at the low percentages of people that take extra supplies. We don’t carry an extra pump and haven’t used one long enough to have old extras. But even though we are, in general, very light packers, we always make sure we have extra D-supplies, in case a sensor fails or is ripped off, a bottle of insulin gets damaged, etc.
But it also depends on WHERE we are going. On an overseas trip of any length we’d always take an extra transmitter. But we’d be unlikely to take one on a domestic trip unless we were going for several weeks. We always take pens even on an overnight trip ever since my husband flew to NYC on a day trip with some buddies, his pump failed, he had not brought pens for back-up and his BG soared!
I see the burden of carrying extra supplies as the price to pay for insurance that nothing will actually fail.
I agree that it depends on where the trip is. My decision point is how long would it take to get replacement supplies and what are the effects of a delay. I’m MDI Tresiba which lasts >24 hours, which significantly reduces the urgency to replace background insulin.
For NYC, I brought nothing extra.
For my trip to a third world country- I brought one, and only one, extra of each supply including a CGM receiver. Dexcom wasn’t available where I went and I worried if something happened to my phone, I wouldn’t be able to download the software if I bought a replacement phone.
Skin prep pads.
Glucose tabs and snacks.
I take twice as much pods, CGM supplies as I know I will need. It is a pain to carry all that junk but necessary. We never know when a pod or sensor will fail. I also take syringes just in case my pump fails which it never has in the almost three decades I have used one. I also carry a few Baqsimi just in case I have a severe low. I carry more insulin than I know I will need since I broke a bottle once when overseas and almost ran out on another foreign trip.
A while back I went to the UK for a choir tour. I had just acquired a CGM, a G4 Platinum, specifically as a safety measure for the trip. I don’t bring second meter any more, but this was before the Dexcom was trusted for bolusing, so I was still meter-dependent and felt I needed an extra just in case. As it turned out I DID need it, but not for myself. There was another, newly dx’d, T1 on the trip and she lost her meter when she left her bag on the bus or some such. So I was able to come to the rescue. It was possible to buy a replacement of course but European/Brit ones are calibrated in moles rather than mL so that was still a glitch–she used mine for the remainder of the trip.
Just did this and brought almost all of these things. Didn’t think to pack an extra transmitter tho. But, did have 3 ways of administering insulin, plus CGM and regular meter. So, I knew I was good. I choose “loaner pump” too but really it’s an old pump that still works. I actually had to use it the week before my trip for a pump failure emergency, so glad I have it.
Additional (i.e. beyond what I usually carry with me) glucose tablets and a dose of Baqsimi.
I usually take 2-3 times what I think I’ll need.
Depends where I’m going. If it is a populated area with easy access to pharmacies then I don’t usually bring extra insulin. The more rural the area, the more I carry.
It is WAY TOO MUCH stuff to be prepared away from home. Generally, half my suitcase. And even more stuff if it is a two-week trip. You missed snacks and glucose tabs.
On MDI so have an InPen and bring back up cartridges and an extra pen. Alway bring another G7 sensor so don’t need transmitter. Bring back up glucose meter and strips. Also bring syringes in case pens malfunction I can extract insulin to use. Never use it all but I like to feel prepared. Especially if going out of the country.
Extra everything that I currently use.
I also bring my backup plan supplies, pens of lantus and syringes.
International I would take 2x the mandatory supplies. National I would take far less, assuming the location was not wilderness. Wilderness a different creature entirely, and would require vast amounts of food stuff not medication per se.
Xtra batteries for meter and pump if applicable
From experience travelling for a week or more I also make sure I have Dex4 tabs and various packaged snacks and bars if needed for any lows. My favourite are Pure Protein bars, Welch’s Fruit Snacks and Sunkist Fruit Snacks👍
recharger for my Tandemx2IQ pump and all the other stuff people have mentioned
I always bring extra infusion sets and CGM sensors in case of accidental tear out.
With Tandem pump, a charger is also essential. I forgot mine in my last weekend away.
I use a Dexcom G6, so don’t need to finger stick, but always bring my meter & strips just in case, and extra lancets as sometimes my non-diabetic family members like me to check their BG.
I always take a vial and syringes in case of pump failure.
For overnight trips also bring juice boxes/ glucose tabs and glucagon in case for lows.
Hard to travel light as a T1D, especially with those GIANT Dexcom sensor inserters! 🧳🧳🧳
I didn’t choose extra meter, but I should have.
I also take tons of glucose tabs _and_ glucagon/Baqsimi, alcohol wipes, overtapes, batteries and chargers, syringes (one or two filled and then a bunch of empty ones – I don’t have any pens), plus there’s probably one or two things I’m forgetting.
I have had so many problems while traveling.
As one “for instance”, I went to the UK and took 3 large bottles of glucose tabs thinking I might only need one. I used all 3 bottles and still had about a week of trip to go. I had turned down my basal, but mid-third bottle, got super serious and turned it down by maybe 70%… sometimes off all the way for an hour or two.
Then there was the time I went through 3 defective sensors (mechanically, they wouldn’t release the needle), but that incident was while I was at home. However, I always _think_ of it when traveling… “what if 3 of these sensors are defective?… better take more.”… and the time my transmitter failed… and twice having all of my insulin get frozen in defective hotel refrigerators… dead batteries, dead meters… I’ve experienced nearly all of the inconvenient problems with DStuff.
In addition to extra insulin, pump supplies, an extra CGM, a BG meter and testing supplies, insulin pens and needle tips, alcohol wipes, I would bring charger cords and batteries for pump and other gear that needs a cord or batteries, Baqsimi, and plenty of glucose gel, gummies, juice packs, and peanut butter cracker snacks. I keep extra insulin and backup pens in a Frio pack. and I carry all the extra diabetes self-care equipment and supplies in a carry-all bag organized into in zip lock bags and clear plastic zippered cases. Also bring a travel size hard plastic container for sharps disposal.
I take glucagon along with the other things listed for an MDI pen user. I also take Smarties.
I bring along a copy of my pump settings, & Baqsimi.
Extra of anything I might need, plus all the implements for any pieces of equipment like chargers. I recently stopped taking a whole vial of insulin and started prefilling cartridges instead, but I still take twice as many as I think I’ll need and calculate based on the minimum number of days it could last. I don’t like surprises in day-to-day life, I definitely wouldn’t like any surprises while traveling.
Safe disposal box for infusion set & needle, strips, CGM old sensors. Also backup to keep my vials of insulin @ proper temperature. I wish they adapted device for vials like Tempra-Med( it is only for insulin pens). A letter from MD if flying for TSA
Extra sealed foil pack of 8u and 4u inhaled insulin. Cartridges.
Extra inhalers
Definitely HYPO resources of all kinds
I request a backup insulin pump when I travel internationally. I have had so few issues with my Tandem pump, I rarely give it a second thought. But I do pack extra pump supplies, CGM supplies, insulin, and a syringe or two.
Extra everything (supplies and insulin for 14 days). I always double it. I used just take extra BG strips but now I pack an extra meter. If my transmitter has several weeks, I do not take an extra. But if it is on its last 30 days, then I take an extra. The “Something Else” is roll of medical tape to hold the infusion set tubing at 90 degrees, extra overtapes. LOTS of quick snacks for lows, band-aids for bleeders, and a very fast acting insulin like Lyumjev for highs that don’t respond to pump bolusing. In addition, to an extra vial of pump insulin
I would also bring extra glucose tabs/hypo treatments! I don’t normally carry extra insulin, because one vial lasts me an entire month. If my vial was getting low, I would either bring a second vial or would just open a new one to bring and leave the old one at home. It’s only a week!
I’d always carry extra food that doesn’t require refrigeration, like Luna bars. And if I were going camping or hiking I might carry extra insulin vials well-insulated.
In addition to the marked items, I also bring a glucagon and extra low snacks.