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Festival help!

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M

miss_sjohnson

New Member
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Type 1
Hi, I'm going to the Leeds Fesitival for 3 days (2 nights camping - not normally my thing but figures it's "an experience" if nothing else!😱)

I'm on fast acting insulin that I normally take before each meal and then long acting before I go to bed but obviously my normal routines not really going to exist for these three days 😱/ Sorry for rambling but I just wondered if anyone has any Diabetic related tips for camping/festivals or if anyones been to them before?

Thanks,

Steph
 
I'm just guessing but I'd say take plenty of testing strips with you so you can keep an eye on things. Keeping your gear in some sort of cool bag is a good idea too, or so I'm told. Oh yeah, wear a medalert thingy and make sure you have your ICE number set up on your moby.

Then set to and have fun.
 
Hi Steph.

I've been to 3 glastos and Leeds once and we're off to Leeds for just the friday this year (cost! 🙄).

I would buy a Frio cooler bag for the pens/insulin for starters. If it's hot, the insulin may become useless.

Try to schedule your day as best you can and find a time slot around teatime to nip off and eat. I've never had a prob with testing/injecting amongst the public. Just find somewhere relatively peaceful.

It might be better to underjab the first night and try to test 2 or 3 times through the evening. If you're a mosher, it can take it out of you. If you prefer standing at the back, it's not so bad.

Food wise, I had a bumbag stuffed full of quick and long acting carbs. I tended to be high more than low, possibly due to the adrenalin, so you may need to pull out halfway through a set to inject. There are St John tens and mobile patrols if you get into bother. Watch out for the heat. It can lower your BGs dramatically. If wet and muddy (it was in 2000), beware of the hygeine side.

Carry your essentials with you. Tents can and do get rummaged through or even stolen in some cases 😱
Wet wipes or soap free sterilising fluid for cleaning hands.

If you're buying food from stalls, it flippin expensive but generally wholesome. Try and read up on carbs for burgers, noodles, etc so you can guesstimate.

Off out now, but will try and think of any other tips.

Might see you there !:D

Rob
 
No aadvice to offer but I hope you have a good time. You're braver han me camping out. I like the comfort of my king sized bed too much
 
Hi Steph

Firstly welcome to the forum. As someone who goes to loads of Festivals for about 12 years, infact I'm sitting in my Sonisphere 2010 T shirt. You are on multi dose insulin do you carb count? If you do it is the best thing to be on but be ready for your carb ratios to change because I find I'm on my feet a lot so your ratios may change but be careful. I would recomend looking after your feet because of the rain good strong boots or wellies.

Frio packs are good esp it is hot but I really like my 'Joe's Small-in-one' to be really useful as it keeps everything I need. The app Carbs & Cals is also useful if you have an Iphone as you can work out most carbs from there. I have found with my Joe's Small-in-one I can find a small space on the condiments table by the burger vans to do my blood test plug the carbs into me Accu Chek Expert and then jab fast acting insulin into me belly. But another way I find is to have a small collapsable stool in my bag to use as well. The number of bands I have watched injecting too is quite a lot.

Hope this all helps.

Marc

PS would love to know how pumpers find Festivals.

I WANT A PUMP!
 
Thanks for all the advice guys! I already have a cool bag thingy (sorry I know that's not the technical term for it!🙂 ) for my insulin so will take that and plenty of testing strips. I have to admit though that I'm not comfortable injecting in public and much prefer to do it in private so that is my biggest worry...I'm sure I'll figure something out though :confused:
 
Others have pretty much covered everything. I haven't bother with a Frio pack in many years of camping and attending festivals and never had any problems.

I always keep a cartridge of long acting with me ay all times, so that around normal bedtime / normal getting up time, I can have my dose, regardless of whether I'm actuually going to sleep / getting up then. Much easier than going back to tent, which might get a bit hot during day or items pilffered.

Easy to inject without anyone noticing, if you pick a good act. Have a great time.
 
Sound advice.🙂

Also, if you inject in yoru stomach or thigh, maybe you could hold a coat/bag in front to hide what you're doing. I've sat out in front of the fod stalls and injected and not got a second glance. It's if you're loitering behind somewhere and trying to hide that it looks suspicious ! :D

Rob
 
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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
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