A Recipe for Safety: How to Make a Diabetes Bag

Hi there! My name is Hyeunjoo, and I’m a Type-one Diabetic!

One of the hardest parts about being a diabetic(though there are many) is not knowing what could go wrong just by going about your day. A lot of us can’t exactly lug around an entire hospital’s worth of medical equipment, so even mundane things like going to work, going out to eat, or heading out with friends can turn into a dangerous situation.

That’s why having a diabetes bag is a good idea! A diabetes bag is a small bag, something like a satchel or purse, that carries all the essentials that you might need to go about your day free of stress.

For me, my diabetes bag is-you guessed it-a small satchel full of the essentials. I carry:

• A few packs of candy and juice boxes-these come in handy if your blood sugar is running a bit low, and you need that pick-me-up.
• Insulin! Even if you have an insulin pump, it’s always handy to carry around some spare insulin, just in case you need to refill a new pump cartridge or give an injection.
• Syringes! This is a must for anyone who doesn’t have an insulin pump, and is still very useful even if you do use one, because of the possibility of pump errors, like mechanical failure/low batteries.
• A glucose meter. Even if you have a blood sugar monitor like a Dexcom, a glucose meter is extremely handy just in case the monitor runs out of battery or you can’t access it for whatever reason.
• A ketone meter! These come in handy if you’re trending on the high blood sugar end and need to stay safe. For those who don’t know, ketones form when your body breaks down fat as a result of a lack of insulin; this causes your blood to become acidic, and is definitely NOT a fun thing to experience.
• An extra infusion set and insulin pump cartridge! This is specifically for if you use an insulin pump-I personally use a Tandem-and if you use one, you know how annoying/terrifying it can be if you run out of insulin while out and about, or if you get an occlusion on your infusion site. Carrying spares is a must!
• Baqsimi! If you don’t know what this is, it’s a nasal spray that can be used as a treatment for low blood sugar. This is especially handy if you are unresponsive and there’s someone who can administer it for you; it’s not a likely scenario, but you should definitely be prepared!
  

So there you go, now you know how to make a diabetes bag! I hope this information was in some way helpful, even if you don’t plan on actually making a bag to lug around.

Signing off,
Hyeunjoo