Right, I know – I was saying it would have been useful to me several years ago. So it’s good that it’s getting done now.
That chart makes sense!
Personally I usually bring a spare infusion set instead of a pen when I’m away for a few hours, but the bottom line is that you bring some equipment to administer insulin.
Perhaps I’d add a source of slow carbs on longer trips to solve situations when I’m repeatedly dropping low.
Yep, I can add a checkmark for that category. Thanks!
I am trying to make it apply to any person - those using MDI, those using a pump, those using rapid insulin, those not using rapid insulin, CGM, non-CGM, T1, T2, etc.
It gets tricky trying to make it cover any person and still keep it simple and uncluttered!
12v solar cabin!?! Want!
Will spend next 3 weeks learning way too much about this concept.
Thanks Randy
This looks great Eric - do you want substantive or editorial comments or both or neither?
Thanks @bostrav59.
I would like both!
Also, I want to ask this question. Is there a good symbol I could use that shows something is optional? Instead of the checkmark?
Like for example, maybe you don’t absolutely need a spare pod or infusion set if you are going to be away for only a few hours. But it wouldn’t hurt to have it.
So maybe a different symbol for that.
Or maybe something like this?
Evidently.not, I think an asterisk with an asterisk below the form with the word optional…
Just noticed the “optional” under the check mark- I think that is as good as it can be.
That’s a great idea. My concern over the first check list is that it would be biased against taking any risk at all. While when you include the “optional” category (and I think it would be best with another symbol (maybe a blue circle?) you allow folks to incorporate their own risk tolerance.
I am constantly going out w/o the right stuff and then regretting it later. For example, I try to keep carbs around me but just this weekend I had walked into town and realized I couldn’t make it back home without some carbs. So I went into a store and got something.
So maybe there’s some discussion of context - ie if you are out in the woods you need to have different stuff than if you are running errands.
All of these are minor musings - I do like the optional option though…
e
Unless it is a commonly known symbol I would avoid. Check mark is common not sure about an optional symbol. I would probably spell that out. I do like your example chart.
I’m in the same boat for out of town trips.
@Eric this might be more than you intended but maybe an added column for multi-day travel? When I take a trip my supplies are based on the number of days I will be gone, and then quantities doubled (or more). It would be good to get that doubling concept on the checklist somewhere.
I also will carry a wider variety of supplies on a multi day trip than an overnight…Boy Scouts “be prepared” taken to an extreme and varying depending on where I’m staying, driving vs flying etc. Probably would look overwhelming to a newbie to see everything on that list.
A kindred spirit
Maybe a green-outlined (vs the current green-filled) check mark with “(optional)” underneath, to further set it apart from the regular check marks?
I was going to say that you should include a tick under syringe even when using a pump. I don’t bring spare insulin or pod, just a syringe when out for a full day as I, too, just use the syringe to draw from the pod (assuming there is insulin in the pod!). I would say that it is useful to ALWAYS have a syringe. I bring it with me even when running / biking.
I am still much more cautious with lows on the go, even for short trips. I know my capacity for problem-solving can diminish fast when I’m low. I try to always have 60 g of carbs in my purse – two glucose tab tubes, four fruit snack packages, or a combo of the two.
Whereas for highs… it feels crappy, but I know it’s not an immediate emergency like a low. If it takes me a couple hours to get home, I know I’ll still be pretty okay.
In college I took the train every day. It was a 45 minute ride one way, plus up to 15 minutes waiting for the train (up to 30 if there were delays), plus 5-30 minutes to walk wherever I needed to go. Most stops didn’t have restaurants or stores nearby; I’d have to walk 5-10 minutes to get to one. Lows were a much higher risk in that scenario than being without insulin for a couple hours.
I had a couple train rides over those years where I was low, checking all my backpack pockets for low treatments, rehearsing how I would ask a stranger for food, trying to figure out which stranger I should approach, checking my pockets to see if I had any cash to give them… I try to be over-prepared to not let myself get in that type of low situation again. And I’m grateful to the kind strangers who did help me when needed.
I had another day where I bolused for breakfast, ran out the door, and didn’t realize until I was on the train that I left my breakfast behind. I was grateful to have enough snacks to replace a meal in that instance!
Not sure if quantities of low treatments (like my 60 g rule) would be helpful to add… but for a newbie, they might!
Yes, I should add that.
But what is a good and simple recommendation?
Twice what you might need? Like if you would normally use 1 pod or 1 infusion set or 1 spare sensor, bring 2?
How should I do the grams for the categories of less than an hour, a few hours, a full day, and overnight?
Does 30g, 60g, 90g, 120g seem okay?
(I would put a note that the grams is in addition to any meals that are needed during that time.)
EDIT:
Something like this?
Any suggestions to this little note?
“The following suggestions are only guidelines. Keep in mind that it is not just the length of the trip, but also the circumstances of where you are. For example, a few hours at a friend’s house is not the same as a few hours walking in the woods alone! If in doubt, take the safer amounts with you.”
@Eric when this is finalized can I share it with my endo?