I have been working on this for a while, designing and coming up with the best parts to use, and the best way to make it. I am finally finished with it and I am very happy with how it has turned out.
(Here is a post of the first version, which only had insulin but did not have the glucagon.)
You have probably seen the survival bracelets and survival gadgets you can buy. For example, a survival bracelet that has matches and a fish hook and fishing line. Yeah, that will really help me if I am in an elevator that gets stuck, or the subway breaks down, or I am stuck on the highway in total gridlock. I’ll just go fishing.
I have made a survival bracelet that gives me what I would most want - insulin and glucagon. That at least levels the playing field. I’d have the same chances of surviving as any non-D. This bracelet is basically a manual pancreas.
Here are some pictures of the build.
I am using some parts from mechanical pencils because they have the right diameter.
I attached them using JB Weld epoxy.
I painted it silver to help with heat reflection and to keep the sun off of it:
For the insulin syringe, I chose a syringe with a 10mm 26 gauge needle. The needle is much thicker than any standard insulin syringe needle. Why? Because I want this thing to be durable! If I need to inject a hundred times with it, I will. I don’t want something that will not last, like some of those dainty 31 gauge syringes. This is not about comfort, it is about survival.
Here is a close-up picture for comparison. The 26 gauge needle is the one on the bottom.
I cut the syringe down to fit inside the insulin cartridge, so it saves space. It is still fully functional!
The reason this took me so long to finally be able to make is because I have been waiting on the shelf-stable premixed glucagon. They finally released it! Get some Gvoke, people! It’s really cool!
I cut the Gvoke syringe down to fit. The Gvoke volume is very small compared to the Lilly glucagon kits you have to mix. It has the same amount of glucagon as a Lilly glucagon kit, but it is contained in only 0.20 milliliters. That’s a full 1mg of glucagon in an injection that is only 20 units!
(For this, do not get the Gvoke automatic injector pen, get the syringe version!)
I marked the Gvoke syringe in 1/4 increments. You can even micro-dose it smaller if you are careful and have steady hands. If your liver is fully stocked with glycogen, the entire contents of this small glucagon syringe would give you the equivalent of 100 grams of sugar! And it is much smaller than any other way of carrying 100 grams.
Here it is, cut down and marked.
Here are the parts inside the container (I took this pic to show how they fit inside, before painting the container). You can see how the insulin syringe fits inside the insulin cartridge. That is the one on the bottom of this pic.
Wrapping the container in paracord to make it wearable.
Here are all the parts. The glucagon syringe is on the top. On the right is the mini-syringe and the insulin cartridge. I am using a NovoLog cartridge because it is smaller than a vial. I removed some of the insulin so that the syringe can fit inside the back of the cartridge. But the cartridge still has 80 units. In starvation conditions, that would be enough basal for me to last about 7 days. That is long enough, because if I have not resolved my issue in 7 days, than I am probably screwed for a number of other reasons besides diabetes!
And here it is, all put together. I used a single piece of paracord for this, about 20 feet or so, which could also come in handy in an emergency! I am using the Mad Max style knot to secure it, so there are no plastic buckles that can break. It stays secure and is easy to adjust for any size. (Diet Coke can for scale)
If you want to do this, I can send you links and info to help, just ask!