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Hi all, what do you normally carry your insulin in?

I have a small cross body pouch that I carry my phone, jelly babies, insulin pens, money/bank cards, keys and Libre reader in. The pens are just in that loose (I have NovoPen Echo reusable pens which are pretty robust) I use this arrangement when I am working or walking or even running as it leaves my hands free. If I am going out for the evening then they Novopens go in their case in my handbag and overnight they are in their case under my pillow ready to inject as soon as I wake up (I have a strong Foot On The Floor liver release, so I need to inject my morning insulin before I get out of bed, so having it under the pillow is handy)
 
I have a case that my Omnipod device is supposed to go into, but that’s where ever my phone is coat / bag pocket.

In my little case I have my blood glucose tester, spare Omnipod pump and a little bottle of insulin, but I only take it this if going a certain distance or time from home.
 
I have a small pencil case sized carrier, within which I have both my refillable Novoecho pens, a few needles, spare cartridges for both my NR & Tresiba in a baby bubble wrap bag, enough Creon for a couple of meals in a mini container, spare cassette for my Accuchek meter, one mini bag of haribos, and a label with my name, age and NHS number. Sounds a lot, but the pencil case equivalent will fit into many larger jacket or gilet pockets - as well as only needing modest space in whatever manbag, backpack or luggage I'm using that day.

It needs a periodic clear out and associated tlc, but this works for me rather than having a heavily organised carry system - with slots for each item. Something I once had, then abandoned because it was too prescriptive. I can add other things if needed for a particular outing - eg my quite bulky Accuchek combi lancer and meter - at the expense of making it bulkier and heavier.

My phone is essential for my CGM app, but gets carried elsewhere. I'm lucky enough to have small Dexcom Receiver (equivalent to Abbott's Reader) which is an easy fit into any pocket; this works from bluetooth independently, alongside my phone app. I can easily fit this receiver into my pen carrier, but I like having it close to my skin in a shirt or trouser pocket, so it can vibrate for most alerts and make a strong sound for extremely low or very rapid falling BG. These array of alerts are why Dexcom is more "friendly" than Libre with it's limited available alerts.
 
My stuff lives loose on my bedside table, or the kitchen table when I’m up, and when I go out, it gets stuffed into a pencil case that fits inside my handbag if i’m using one, or inside my bumbag if I'm going for a walk.
 
My pump! But when I take a spare pen out with me, I just keep the pen in its case along with spare needles, and then put it in whatever bag I’m carrying, along with my Dexcom receiver, glucose, snacks, etc.
 
I too keep my insulin in my pump.
But if I am taking a pump break, my unsulin pen just goe sin my bag. I don't bother with the case as it just takes up more space and my bags is quite small.
Before I had a pump, I would use a small Health Back Bag. It is ideal for two pens, a meter (without the case), test strips, dextrose, credit cards and phone with a pocket for needles and lancets. It even has a small caribeener for a house and/or car key.
And it's small enough to put insider a bigger backpack if I want.
 
I use a small frio wallet, which also has a few needles in it. I dont soak it unless it’s hot. I wear a cgm so unless I’m going out for the day, I don’t take my glucose meter. I have a little pot of skittles and a little box of chocolates. I don’t usually allow myself to get so low that I have to eat skittles but they make me feel nauseous as do jelly babies. I just eat a mini egg or piece of chocolate to keep me stable. I always have some sweet stuff because I walk a lot, swim, dance etc but don’t take out insulin unless I’m eating. On holiday, I carry it all in a bum bag
 
Proud to be erratic said:
I have a small pencil case sized carrier,
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This is the best system for me too. Mine is actually a small cross body bag with detachable strap but no bigger than a large thin pencil case. If I’m going out without a bag I just attach the strap. If I’m going out with a backpack I detach the strap and pop it inside.
 
I rarely eat out so I don't usually take my insulin with me, but I do have a little case for the pen that I can bung in my bag.
I have glucose tablets in every jacket and bag, and in the car, just in case I go low when I'm out.
 
Shortly after I was diagnosed someone bought me one of these

1753199502955.png

I don't use it all the time as it is quite bulky (only if I'm going out for an extended period) but fits everything I need easily - if I'm just going out for the evening I just use the much smaller box I got with my Novopen Echo Plus - always have a tube of Glucose Tablets or some sweets with me though
 
Another person with a small tin pencil case which has my rapid insulin which normally goes in my rucksack although if i'm being active then a small cross body pouch as well. Bigger challenge is my phone which as they've got bigger increasingly don't fit in pockets.

Car has a carry case with needles and strips and then there's skittles and glucose stashed everywhere.
 
I have a 1½ litre plastic tupperware-type container which contains my "diabetes kit":
  • fast-acting-insulin pen
  • four pen needles
  • diabetes diary
  • biro
  • blood glucose meter (for backup)
  • unused test strips in their plastic container
  • used test strips in their plastic container
  • Multiclix lancets pen
  • packet of Love Hearts (or whatever their new name is) [anti-hypo]
  • ziplok bag of several Haribo Fangtastics [anti-hypo]
  • a couple of strips of (non-diabetes-related) medications
  • small strip of loperamide capsules
The plastic container goes in the bottom of my shopping bag.
Obviously my smart phone is always in the side pocket of my trousers, to show the results from my Freestyle Libre 2+ sensor.

For short lunchtime events, I just use the case in which Novopens are supplied:
  • fast-acting-insulin pen
  • a couple of pen needles
  • packet of Love Hearts
 
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Lucyr said:
What if you need to correct outside of home? Or if something unexpected happens and you’re away from home longer?
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İf I was going out all day or something then I'd take it, but if I'm taking the dog for a walk or nipping into town I wouldn't bother and would just correct when I got home. I still have some of my own insulin, so unless I eat something carby I don't get sharp rises and don't need rapid.
But you have a point and I should really think about taking it along in case of unexpected issues 🙂
 
Lisa65 said:
İf I was going out all day or something then I'd take it, but if I'm taking the dog for a walk or nipping into town I wouldn't bother and would just correct when I got home. I still have some of my own insulin, so unless I eat something carby I don't get sharp rises and don't need rapid.
But you have a point and I should really think about taking it along in case of unexpected issues 🙂
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What if you fell on the dog walk or in town, broke you leg and ended up with fast rising bg and a day in a&e? Or if whilst in town you got a call saying someone was ill and you went straight to be with them? Know it’s unlikely but things happen.
 
Lucyr said:
What if you fell on the dog walk or in town, broke you leg and ended up with fast rising bg and a day in a&e? Or if whilst in town you got a call saying someone was ill and you went straight to be with them? Know it’s unlikely but things happen.
Click to expand...
OK you convinced me 😉

I've got used to keeping my pens on top of the microwave with my other meds, so I'll need to develop a new habit of scooping them up before I go out.
 
I went out for the first time in absolutely ages today without my pouch with everything in it.. I was just delivering a parcel containing car parts to a neighbour who is a mechanic and is going to be sorting the brakes on my partner's horse trailer. It is only a couple of hundred yards each way and I had my walking shoes on and laced up[ before I realised I had left it in the living room, so I deliberately went without it rather than take my shoes off again and fetch it. I was surprised at how vulnerable I felt even though I was only 5-10 mins from home the whole time, but with no JBs, no insulin and no means of testing/scanning. Also no phone, but that doesn't bother me nearly so much. 🙄
 
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