What do you carry your pens in?

[DancingStar]

When you go out what do you carry your insulin pen & needles in? Have you bought a special insulated case or do you use something else? For the majority of the time it's not really temperature control I worry about, its more making sure the pen & needles are kept clean and won't get broken. I was thinking of buying a small make-up bag for the purpose - something that will fit easily into my handbag and won't add too much weight.

 

[helli]

Insulin is fine at "room temperature" for at least a month. So unless you live somewhere very hot, there is no need for a dedicated insulated diabetes bag. In fact, it is not recommended to inject insulin direct from the fridge - room temperature is better.
Something like a makeup bag or pencil case is fine. Remember, you don't have to keep the pens or meter in their original bulky cases. The purpose of the makeup bag/pencil case is just to keep everything together. It is all pretty robust kit.

 

[Carlos]

As @helli says, you don't really need an insulated case unless going out in extreme temperatures.

I use this case, which I think came with the reusable pens I got in the early noughties, but I may be misremembering

 

[Lucyr]

I use a pencil case. Insulin is fine without any temperature control up to about 27c. Even if you buy a frio it only keeps the insulin at 18-26c.

 

[mashedupmatt]

I must confess I did buy a dedicated kit bag and although a bit bulky it contains everything I need - including back up meter if my Libre isn't working, test strips, ketone strips, Accu-Chek Fast-Clix finger pricker and cartridges, plus hypo treament(s) (Haribos in the back pocket of it too) - I like to keep it all together (I Obviously have spares too) - If I'm on a night out though I do use the Novo Pen case though too

 

[Inka]

I’ve got a case that looks almost exactly the same as @Carlos ’s. I’ve also got a nice one I bought that has a little more protection and better elastic to hold the pens properly. I can’t remember the brand, but I got it on Amazon. The important things are the size but also how well and conveniently they hold the pens. I had one that was awful - almost impossible to get the pen in and removing the pen led to the lid coming off, barrel coming loose, etc etc. Some don’t seem to be user-friendly at all.

 

[DancingStar]

If you have a Libre do you carry your finger prick equipment with you too? Is it a DVLA requirement to have it with you in the car?

 

[Lucyr]

If you have a Libre do you carry your finger prick equipment with you too? Is it a DVLA requirement to have it with you in the car?

Yes it’s a legal requirement to carry fingerprick monitor for driving if on insulin

 

[digihat]

@DancingStar I bought myself two of these cases from DIAVY I think it was as I wanted to give the pens a little more protection personally, holds 4 needles and 1 pen I really like it. Otherwise I was using the bog standard case that comes with the pens and the standard bag I got with my BG monitor which I take everywhere I go as just incase.

 

[SimonP]

As @helli says, you don't really need an insulated case unless going out in extreme temperatures.

I use this case, which I think came with the reusable pens I got in the early noughties, but I may be misremembering

View attachment 33244
View attachment 33245

They still come with these, I ordered a replacement pen last year (battery went flat in the display) and got an identical (slightly cleaner version of) the case I'd been using.

 

[rebrascora]

I also use my NovoNordisk pen case in my hand bag. It is very robust, however too big to go in my over the shoulder pouch which I now use most days for working, so my pens just go loose in there with my JBs and a spare needle, Libre reader and phone and I keep one BG meter in the car and the other by my bed.