The bane of my existence is finding a system to carry around my Diabetes supplies. I also have Scoliosis, and try not to overload my back. Belt packs seem to be “in” and I just ordered a Lululemon 2.5L one to haul around my crapload of supplies. I think I’ve found the lightest sugar to carry is the glucose gel packs, and then some tabs in a baggie in case I don’t need a whole gel pack. I put a few pen tips in, and my fast acting pen in case my pump rips out which isn’t not often. I also have my Baqsimi, which I’ve never had to use, my poker/glucometer/test strips, because I can’t rely on my CGM being accurate or even working consistently, and some back up lancets and alcohol swabs. I also have my hand sanitizer, a slim wallet and my keys. I can’t think of slimming it down any more than that.
It really depends on where you are going and how long you will be gone. It does not have to always be the same kit.
If you are going to the grocery store, you don’t really need to bring any glucose. The entire store is one big glucose pack.
I carry candy for my car. It just stays in there. Unless I am going to be far away from my car, I don’t really need it in my pocket, because I can always go to my car if I need something.
In my car I also have syringes. Don’t need them in my pocket unless I will be far away from my car.
It really just depends on the trip. Most of the time, in my pocket I only carry a BG meter. I can buy candy if I need it. If I am going someplace that does not have food or candy available, then I will carry something.
I agree with @Eric. I don’t carry much on me unless I’m going out of town. Most of my trips these days are local errands or going to friends’ places. I don’t drive, so I carry either a tube of glucose tabs or some hard candies in case I go low on the streetcar/subway or in a taxi, but I’m usually not far from somewhere that sells something sweet. Whether I carry my PDM depends on how likely it is I’ll eat. (I used to always take it in case I had a screamer, but that’s never happened outside the house in eight years, so now I’m not too worried about it.) And I carry my phone, which doesn’t work as a phone but it has Dexcom on it. I have also left the house with nothing, and the sky didn’t fall.
So, two or three things. No pen, no testing stuff, no syringes or insulin vials or spare pods or swabs. Keep life simple.
I had to use a 15g glucose gel on a walk back from the bookstore and two glucose tabs last night after dinner out. I often have my dexcom either read wrong or stop working so I’ll never leave without my glucometer, poker and test strips, and I rip sites out too often to go without my backup pen + pen tips. I’ve been having more lows than usual lately, perhaps it’s the heat, or perhaps it’s that I’ve dropped about 5ish pounds, but my rates need some adjustments because I’m under bolusing and still experiencing lows. Today I had a 51g banana bread and took 2 instead of 5 units, which worked out great. Then I had a root vegetable beef stew + a peach and took only 1.5 units, but am low now 2 hours post so I’m eating another peach. It’s really hot but otherwise not sure why. If I were out right now I’d need my tabs.
Wow, we are all so different when it comes to onset of lows! I always carry a syringe and some carbs whenever I leave the house, even a short walk into town with my hounds, and I will frequently need a bit of carbs. I have yet to understand why even the tiniest bit of movement trends me down. There must be others with the same experience!
As you described it, it might be a little different than what I was mentioning.
Out walking is different than going to the store in your car. But it also depends on if there are stores along the route you are walking. I would personally rather pop into a convenience store or coffee shop and have a treat than eat a glucose tab!
It really just depends on your surroundings and where you are.
But I will say this about the spare pen. If your goal is to reduce the size of the stuff you carry, consider something this little gem.
(Guess which finger 
is my favorite for testing. 
)
Every single pump is basically a vial of insulin. If it comes down to it, and you rip a site out, you can use a syringe and pull insulin out of the pump, right? And then just inject it until you are home again.
If you want to get fancy, make a micro-syringe like this. All it takes is an exacto knife, and a pencil led holder to put it in. I carry this in my pocket when I am going to be away from the house for an extended time.
Wow your poor finger!!! I never thought about bringing a syringe and pulling the insulin from the pump–that’s a great idea!!! I always try to use the insulin in my back up pen before it expires in a pump fill, but sometimes I forget to replace the pen in time. I’ve also never injected with a syringe, but I’d like to learn because I love no waste and as much space as possible.
Injecting with a syringe is basically the same. The only difference is in filling it.
I have used a syringe to pull insulin from a pod. You are on Tandem, right? There are certainly others here who can advise how to do that.
I know how to pull insulin from a tandem, but I don’t understand the dosing on the syringe little lines and what not. I am sure I can figure it out, but I haven’t tried yet.
So funny – I’ve never injected with an insulin pen. I don’t think I’ve ever even seen an insulin pen! (Old school syringe user…!)
The syringes I use have 1/2 unit markings. Those are really helpful!
The 1/2 unit markings are on the left, the full unit markings are on the right.
This is not the best illustration, but it kinda gives you an idea.
From the box image, here is an example:
3 units:(See how it goes to the line on the right? Full units)
3 1/2 units:(See how it goes to the line on the left? 1/2 units)
If this is something you are not familiar with, it would probably be a good idea to meet with a nurse to show you in person.
I switched to these for my walking around sugar:
Each little bag has 17 grams, is lightweight and (best of all) is very cheap compared to glucose gel. Also, the gels have a shelf life…old ones grow crystals inside the pouch which are a big surprise when you’re squeezing one down!
For emergency insulin, I do the @Eric thing and carry a syringe if I’m driving somewhere but if I am closer to home I carry a few Afrezza capsules and an inhaler. My thought is the syringe might be needed if I was more than an hour away from home but if I am closer a correction bolus will be enough to get me home.
Same here. Sitting at the computer, going high, walk two blocks and my sugar drops. It doesn’t even take a bike ride, workout or yard work. Just about anything active trends me down too.
All I carry around town or on the bike is a tube or sometimes two of glucose tablets. Durable, light, very quick. I buy the big jars at Walmart or Walgreens and refill the tubes to keep the cost down, taping them shut.
@jo_jo you might want to consider an overpatch for your infusion sets. I use a big patch from a 4" roll of Tegaderm and I don’t rip or sweat it off.
Good to know I’m not alone but sorry you have to cope with it, too!
I have started to carry glucose tabs, too. I’d rather take something with nutritional value but gtabs are very portable! I cut them in half and carry them in tiny zip lock bags, as a whole tab is often too mang grams.
Each line is 1 unit unless you can find 1/2 unit syringes. I’ve given myself 1/2u by just eyeballing it.
This is a good visual and makes perfect sense. I’d still have my Pharmacist walk me through whatever syringe I get to make certain I know what one doing:) Thanks!
@jo_jo,
Ask for the ones with 1/2 unit markings. It really helps to be able to take exact doses. Especially since you are used to a pump and can take very exact amounts with the pump.
Give them this NDC number for your request. This is a small (30 unit) BD syringe with 1/2 unit markings, 31 gauge needle, and 8mm needle length. BD syringes are the best.
NDC# 08290328440
NDC’s are helpful because if you ask for a prescription for syringes or buy them online, there is no telling what you may get. But NDC’s are specific.
They are relatively cheap to buy without a prescription. You can do that in almost all states except 2 or 3. Since you won’t be using them a lot, you can get 100 for pretty cheap and it would probably last you a long time.
Or I can send you a box. 
Thank you! I will ask at my pharmacy 
I got 1/2 unit syringes from this website for about $15 per box. Best deal I could find and they came really fast! Reviews are great.