Do you know what 12 items Diabetics should carry?
1. Diabetes medicines
2. Insulin (if you take it)
3. Glucagon Emergency kit
4. Glucose meter and supplies
5. Emergency snacks
6. non-perishable food
7. water bottle
8. Identification documents
9. phone list
10. Cell phone
11. first-aid kit
12. A Carry Bag
Can you think of other items a diabetic should carry? See if you could add to this list.
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198 replies
How about a medical alert bracelet or dog tag? I have seen some pretty stylish ones on the market. You can get one made from rubber to stainless steel to leather…
Thank you for the suggestion.
I have often wondered if I can go too low when contrlling by diet and exercise? I have received different answers, yes and no! I have gone down to as low as 65, that is if my meter was accurate and it wasn't actually higher that day, and had a spell in the store over a year ago, I have had very few times like that, after diagnosis. I do carry glucose tabs, a snack, and water everywhere, I have juice in the house at all times and carry unopened juice with me much of the time, but is there anyone controlling by D&E that has gone too low?
Once with about 40,000 lbs in the trailer I was pulling thru South Carolina. I was lucky there was a place(ramp) to pull off to. It took me about 1/2 hour to get myself back together. Good thing I always try to 'listen' to my body…
Those of us wearing Continuous Glucose Monitors also need to add the supplies to change them. And Insulin Pump wearers need supplies to change cartridges and insets. People often comment, "you travel heavy."
You are so right. Thank you for responding.
I carry 2 bags to work…one is a regular purse and the other one for work stuff, such as laptop and folders…I've been dumping snacks in there… The carry bag, we need to carry this wherever we go? And the glucagon kit,I had to look that up, do I need this even if I don't take insulin? …
Hello All Newbie here, new to diabeties and new to the site. I have not been educated much just yet. I am getting my carry bag ready but don't know what #3 is ( Glucagon Emergency Kit) can someone help please. Thanks and Happy Turkey Day to All
Howdy Misfit!
Here's a recent video on it:~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdCsERsYPo0&am...
And this from Everyday Health about a glucagon kit: ~ http://www.everydayhealth.com/drugs/glucagon-...
May you and yours have a blessed Thanksgiving day also
James Baker
how about your meter
The question that people always ask me is why is your bag so big? I now will produce this list as a response
Thank you for responding, yes our bags are big, we have alot to carry.
One thing that EVERYONE should carry with them, not just diabetics, is a list of any and ALL medications they are taking, along with the dosage and the regularity with which they take them. Not only will it help immensely when you go to a doctors office, if anything should happen to you where you loose consiousness and are unable to relate to the EMT or ER doctor what you are taking, this simple list will go a long way in being treated quickly and safely. Be sure to include OTC meds, vitamins, etc in the list. I can't stress the need for this. It could save your life one day. OH, one other thing…I've been reading in the responses to carry orange juice. While that may be a little difficult and may go bad on you, a friend of mine in HS was hypoglycemic and would ALWAYS, in her car, hanging from her rear view mirror, have one of those childrens candy necklaces. I don't even know if they sell them anymore, but they worked like a charm for her whenever her levels got too low.
Yes, I agree a medical list of all medicines should be carried with you at all times. Some of the medical alert bracelets and necklaces now have ways to include all the information on them. Thanks for responding.
I am amazed at how many diabetics have never heard of a glucagon kit. We teach classes on how we beat diabetes and make it a point to feature a glucagon kit. About 85% to 95% of every class raises their hands when asked if they have NEVER heard of a glucagon kit!
Doctors, what are you thinking? When you put someone on a medication like insulin that could very easily cause hypoglycemia, why aren't you educating your patients and prescribing glucagon? I know it's expensive but so are funerals!
I guess i do know about the glucagon kit.. Sorry loll
I have the one time shot. It is one syringe, 1small vial of powder/med inside. When needed, u mix it then inject it. Been in the 30's 4 ams in a row but i wake up and eat. I haven' had to use the shot as yet. My ins covered most of it, but I still had to pay 40.00 out of pocket, and it is a one tme use. You also need a script for it.
I also have insurance but mine cost me $65.00
maclover1524.. I have never heard of a glucagon kit…
Thanks for responding. As an insulin diabetic, this was the first thing I was taught by my CDE.
I keep my stuff in a backpack so it's always there ready to go
Awesome dide. Very informative. I always carry most of tjese items but u listed sum that i dnt but will add tp my backpaclj
I also include what I take each med for and dosage on my list of meds.
Tom
Another u should add 2 the list is orange juice especially if ur blood sugar drops extremely low ur spouse,girlfiend,boyfriend or friend or even a family member can easily quickly raise the sugar by giving the diabetic the juice if they r about 2 have a diabetic seizure. It quickly raises the sugar. Also put in ur bag canned fruit, and allergies 2 meds. & foods. Especially if u both r involved in an accident & a list of all of ur medications that u r currently taking incuding over the counter & vitamins or herbal remedies.
I had not thought about food allergies, but that is a great point.
another major important thing i forgot 2 mention that u should also add 2 ur list is allergies 2 medications as my husband is allergic 2 tylenol with codein and 2 percocets and for me im allergic 2 oranges and orange juice.
Also add 2 ur list any other serious health issues u might have just in case ur out of town or out of state. For instance if u have hep c aids hiv etc. So that way they know how 2 access u if they run into any problems.
On our recent trip we went to my husband's pain management doctor and got all the information on his internal pump so that if we ran into trouble, doctors knew what was inside of him.
thats good. so how r u and ur husband doing. today my husband and i are sooo excited bcuz we r moving out of our one bdrm apt into a two bdrm house that has a storage shed a garage and a washer and dryer that comes with the place as well as a fridge. no more saving quarters and carrying our laundry back and forth out in the rain or snow as we can get up to six feet of snow here in mccloud thats an hour away from medford oregon so we are on the very top of california. where do you live. i was wondering doesnt diabetes also cause bad circulation bcuz my husbands feet r always very cold and he has 2 wear socks all the time even in the summer. the other thing he really hates about having diabetes is having 2 eat all the time. another thing he experiences is that he gets very hungry but when i make him something he takes a couple of bites and he all of a sudden gets a full feeling and feels bloated. do u know what that means should i ask his doctor about that to see if that maybe something more serious is wrong.
When I was diagnosed I went out and bought a large purse because my dr. told me to carry all of the above with me everywhere except she didn't mention #3. I also got a medical alert bracelet. My husband thought I was nuts until on vacation my blood sugar dropped suddenly and I ended up passed out in the middle of Epcot. He was VERY glad I had my big old purse with supplies then.
thank you so much. My husband and I got diagnosed within 3 days of each other. I have a bag for each of us. I got little pill holders and wrote the med, dose and when taken with a sharpy right on the container. I also put baby asprin in both kits. Something that our doctors told us to have. and a pack of tissues.
I put in jiff to go peanut butter they are easy to carry and we were told it is a good snack to have. loving this site you are all so great . :) heather
oh we have other snacks too not just peanut butter. I got us each a true to go meter .
i think you gota covered well thanks for information
I have personally never heard of a Glucogan Emergency Kit per se. But this is what I found thru Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glucagon_rescue
Now I dont know if this is for any diabetic or just Type 1 or Type 2. Yet I am all for being prepared like they taught us in Scouts. So if anyone can please answer this questions I'd appreciate it as well as those who may be wondering the same as I.
We never travel without a glucagon kit. I have been on insulin for my 35+years as a Type 1. The glucagon kit has been a lifesaver for me more than once when I became unconscious due to low BG (upper 20's and low 30's). My husband learned how to give me the glucagon injections. The last time was in July when we were on vacation in Maine. My incidence of lows has greatly diminished since I've been on the pump (mid-August). Glucagon is a hormone which your liver normally releases when your insulin levels get too low.
So do Type 2 need a Glucogan Emergency Kit or no?
If a t2 has a tendency to go hypo and if one is on a glucose lowering medication there may be a need for one.
Thank you for your help James
Thank you jayabee52! Hugs
Great list have all, the one thing extra I have is on my cell phone, it is a program called In Case Of Emergency, nice program and it let's you list all of you medications and how much you take of each, list you Doctor and phone number, and you can list up to 3 emergency contacts.
It will show up on the lock screen and states for emergency personal to check the I.C.E. Program
I have found out that paramedics are being trained to check cell phones for this kind of info.
im new to this day 5 . i need all the help I can get. thanks a bunch.
I suppose pharmacies carry glucagon kits ? I don't have one but I need one as my sugars can really get low. Any hints on the best and cheapest way to go?
You have to get a prescription from your dr and then if you have insurance it would fall under brand name(not gineric) co-pay. Very expensive if paying cash!! Your dr will know by your bg numbers and meds if you are in need of having it.
Thanks red flower lady!
Your welcome. It is for emergencies only! Usually a one time use with an experation and you as well as others because most likely you won't be aware enough to do it, need to know how to prepare it BEFORE you need it. I get mine two kits for the co-pay price, they come in a red hard long case. If you know that your bg is too low, then eat glucose tabs. I actually passed out in a restaurant parking lot and woke up in the ambulance. I did eat before going there and didn't take my insulin for lunch yet. We were told it was due to the altitude, time and weather changes as we were driving through several states due to a move. I didn't know that would happen and we were sleeping in hotels at night and eating breakfast before heading out and I had a snack.
Ask your dr what your bg should be if you need to use the kit. If it's 60 don't need to use it, but I have been at 21 before, and was also givien a 24 unit overdose by a nurse not fun at all!
OMg did it make you throw up? i hope that nurse wrote herself up. Thanx for the info.
Not that they said, and she didn't admit to it until later. When I told them I didn't feel good it still took them awhile to do anything. When I said my family ran out to car to get my kit they checked bg and it was at 40, by the time they were kicking into gear I remember hearing them say it was at 30 then I was out, thankfully it was at the hospital. The point is, that it can drop fast so have to be aware of the symptoms and try to catch it before needing the kit.
Your welcome, and it never hurts to be prepared.
I believe the so called ER is not quick enough in cases like yours. What a shame. I have had many experiences in the hospital that could,
but won't sue for. I can take better care of myself at home and I can tell when my glucose is off. However when I was unconscious ( the day i walked into the ER,sat down in a wheel chair and woke up 3 days later) BG inhigh700s,they really did their job. I've had times when my BG is 24-27 and I just start putting food into myself and have been okay but one of these days who knows?. Do you wear a diabetic bracelet or necklace? That is something I have to get and havent done .It's a priority.
You are so right about the ER, but I was actually having a procedure done. I make it a point to take my own insulin and meter as well as snacks when at the hospital now. I never go without my husband who stays the entire time and my kids take turns staying as well. Pity the people who set my 29 yr old daughter off! She wasn't there yet when the low happened, but made them jump and also filed all the complaints and had the bill cleared when she got there. She works for a medical research center that people all over the world come to and her boss sits on the board for Emory, so she has pull with people behind her for advice. It was weird how I didn't feel it drop until very low, but it was probably due to the meds they had me on.
I do have ID, and someone is always with me thankfully.
Great thought provoking topic!! I am really lacking in so many…will be sure to be more prepared for an emergency. Really like the idea of the phone #s, and med/supplements lists. I also am careful to keep a juice box in my fridge at home, but lotta good that does me when I am in the car!! Will add that to my emergency pack,
What about a list of other meds you may take each day? :)
I've seen several people listing their meds. Don't forget to include any supplements, herbal teas (sometimes they have added vitamins/minerals), and over the counter meds. Some herbal/ homeopathic remedies react badly with certain drugs.
I really should get better at this. I carry my insurance cards, glucose tablets, ID, Three out of 12 is like 1/4 can I get a badge for that? :-{
Yes, you get 1/4 of the badge…and as you improve your pack, you get the rest. It is all a learning curve. I still don't carry emergency snacks. I just have glucose tabs. I have never had a low yet. so it is often not on my mind. But it should be.
I had never had a low either until they switched me to Junevia, well I can't say never but since I received the diagnosis. I was scared of the Actos I had been taking for over a year, due to the new bladder cancer scare, so they switched me to Junevia. The first week I hit several lows then over compensated for them. So I was on the roller coaster for a week. Now I have it nailed… YEA!!! ME!!! { takes congratulatory bow } Ok now for in my purse.. I have my meds, meter, roll of life savers, peanut butter and crackers, I carry water where ever I go, all of my ID, phone list on the bottom of my meds list, I will think about the cell phone, and my purse counts as a bag right? So I get a 95 now right?
I always carry a card with my Doctors name, address, phone # & Diabetic Doctor written on it, Glucose tabs & a juice box.
I'm a little late posting to this subject, but, don't forget your insurance information… these hospitals have become the 21st century version of the Gestapo.
That's good advice for those people who actually HAVE health insurance, one of which I am not. However NO HOSPITAL IN THE COUNTRY can turn anyone away who doesn't have their insurance cards or who doesn't have INSURANCE. Hill Burton Act of 197? or 198? something saw to that.
Thank you, you are so right.
I carry instructions on what to do if I have a diabetic problem like low or high sugar. I also keep on hand my emergency medical information and wear a medic alert bracelet. Hope this helps.
Thank you.
You're welcome.