Day 15-

The things we carry. You might carry some chap stick, or maybe your wallet. You might carry you car keys, or some Kleenex. You probably most definitely carry your cell phone, and a credit card or 2. Me, I carry A LOT of shit. As a T1D I carry; my glucose meter, test strips, a tester, and extra lancet for said tester, a Glucagon kit, (yes all of the time), extra AA lithium batteries for my pump, and extra infusion set, another extra infusion set for my pump just incase my other one pulls out or the first one doesn’t insert correctly, extra iv prep pads, extra alcohol pads, a card in my wallet stating that “I am not intoxicated, I have Type 1 Diabetes” (this is actually very important incase I have a bad low and seem like I am drunk), a card in my wallet that states that I have T1D and am wearing an insulin pump and DO NOT TOUCH MY PUMP (this is also very important just in case I pass out or am in an accident and someone doesn’t remove my pump with all my programmed rates and insulin levels because if you are in an accident no one tries to take your pancreas out AND my pump can’t go through any sort of x-ray because that will kill it), my receiver for my CGM, my cell phone for incase I have a low BG and need to call for help, food to treat my low BGs like some sort of gels, more food to eat before I exercise, and more food for just incase because if I don’t have enough with me and I have a low BG I will pass out. So, now you all know why I carry a backpack. I carry all these things in addition to my wallet, keys, Chap Stick, and everything else. Now you all know why I ALWAYS have my backpack with me. If my BG is going low quickly and I have to walk somewhere to get something to treat it, depending on how low my BG is and how far I have to go I might not make it. I have tried carrying a purse of sorts, well it was a big one, but it hurts my shoulder, so a backpack works just fine for me. Yes, that means when I go for a bike ride I have to wear a backpack, or on a walk, or doing anything. Backpack, backpack, backpack! If you ever need any reviews on backpacks I may have a few. Now you know why I am so short… When I fly or go on trips I have to carry all things above plus; insulin, and extra bottle just incase I drop a bottle or grab the wrong bottle that only has a little left (this has happened), 2-3 times the amount of infusion sets I will need for my trip because I can’t just go to the store to buy more, 2 times the number of reservoirs for my insulin for my pump, iv prep pads for the trip, and extra sensor and insertion device, alcohol pads, extra test strips for the trip, and extra battery and reservoir cap for my pump because my pump needs these to function and I can’t just go out to the store and buy them. My husband and I always joke that I can forget my clothes but not my insulin. When I fly I have to carry all of those items with me on the plane so that it can’t get “lost” in transit, also insulin is temperature sensitive because it is alive. Insulin can be refrigerated and kept for a long period of time, but once it is room temperature it is only good for 30 days and once it warms up you can’ t stick it back in the fridge. The cold will kill it. Not good, not good at all and we all know the belly of a plane is not heated. Flying with me is super fun with all my needles, fun, and TSA, but that is a topic for another day. So I am a carrier of sorts. Don’t worry, it is not so bad and one thing is for sure; if you are with me you will never go hungry.