Type 1 Diabetes and carrying supplies in the park, trying not to be a pack mule

[DumboDash2006]

DD is fourteen and has been type 1 since age five. We went to WDW a few months after diagnosis. It went well, she rode in a stroller to avoid lows from exercise in the heat (we went in Aug) and the stroller also helped me carry all those supplies.

This time a stroller is obviously not an option so I'm trying to make sure we don't carry so many supplies that we are bogged down, but of course we want to have enough. I tend to be an overpacker when it comes to D (well and everything really).

My main concerns are meters and glucagon. Do you all carry two in the parks in case of an issue with the other, or does one suffice? Last time she wore a small fanny pack with meter kit, glucagon and glucose tabs. That was so if she went on a ride or off somewhere with another family member without me they had the basics. I carried the same and many other supplies in my GIANT fanny pack that I ended up having to take off and put in the stroller as it had so much stuff in it. I'm pretty sure she could have survived a few weeks or more with all I had in there lol.

So basically my question is if one meter kit and one glucagon kit is enough for in the parks (obviously we will have more at the condo we are staying at) or should we bring two in the parks? She will have her main supplies in her purse but I will carry the extras in mine. Oh and she uses a pump and CGM.

 

[Gracie09]

You can keep extra supplies at first aid. Not always the most convenient but can keep you from being a pack mule

 

[dragonfly57005]

Only 1 meter in the park, one glucagon, one sugar tablets. Also have 1 set of fruit snacks. My DD uses a pump so we bring a site change as well.

 

[disnerella]

We carry one meter, glucagon, a few fast acting carb snacks and the supplies for an extra set change for my DS pump (just in case).

I try to slim it down each visit but yet still feel like a pack mule too!

 

[ttintagel]

I meter, 1 glucagon, dextrose gel or glucose tablets, 1 pump pod change,and snacks. I tried to skimp last time and not carry a pod change, and ended up having to miss my scheduled Behind the Seeds tour at Epcot to go back to the hotel when my site went bad, so I won't do that again.

 

[DumboDash2006]

Hmm...ok. It seems like carrying double of those things along with a bunch of other things nobody else mentioned might be over kill.

I think we'll do one meter kit, glucagon, site change, glucose tabs/snacks and then for my peace of mind, one more vial of test strips (I can SO see my dd being in a hurry and spilling them all out, it has happened) and a Novolog pen just in case.

 

[buffettgirl]

In the parks, usually just one meter, one glucagon and glucose tabs & something like granola bars. I generally have a site change with me. But I don't even bother to take an extra vial of insulin anymore. chances are that we'd do more harm carrying it than if we leave it in the room. I don't even take extra test strips into the park. In almost 9 years, we've never spilled. We stay onsite, so it's usually not a huge issue to get back to the room. Obviously, we keep duplicates in the room - we always travel with with an extra meter, plenty of strips, etc.

And yes, I think we ALL can relate to sometimes feeling like pack mules.

And good reminder, pack extra batteries for your room. Those suckers are not easy to find if you need them.

 

[acebatonfan]

I was wondering the exact same thing. I was diagnosed as a T1 roughly six months ago, and I will be going to Disney in mid-August.

I have given up and will be the pack mule for the entire family. My purse right now is filled with a makeup bag filled with my diabetes supplies, a makeup bag filled with drugstore items (pain relievers, deodorant, perfume, etc.), low-carb meal replacement bars, granola bars to use after treating a low, glucose tablets, and at least one bottle of water. My younger sister even took the time to weigh my purse at Walmarts and was shocked that it weighed over five pounds.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that I will be switched over to the pump by my vacation (just submitted the request to my CDE this morning), so that might help with the need to bring millions of pen needles with me in my purse.

Otherwise, I am planning on bringing one meter to the park (I will have a backup meter in the hotel), one or two infusion site changes, glucose tablets, a few post-low snacks, and lots of water. Even if my pump begins to fail, I will have up to four hours to get back to the hotel (on-site) and troubleshoot before it becomes a huge problem.

 

[buffettgirl]

I was wondering the exact same thing. I was diagnosed as a T1 roughly six months ago, and I will be going to Disney in mid-August.

I have given up and will be the pack mule for the entire family. My purse right now is filled with a makeup bag filled with my diabetes supplies, a makeup bag filled with drugstore items (pain relievers, deodorant, perfume, etc.), low-carb meal replacement bars, granola bars to use after treating a low, glucose tablets, and at least one bottle of water. My younger sister even took the time to weigh my purse at Walmarts and was shocked that it weighed over five pounds.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that I will be switched over to the pump by my vacation (just submitted the request to my CDE this morning), so that might help with the need to bring millions of pen needles with me in my purse.

Otherwise, I am planning on bringing one meter to the park (I will have a backup meter in the hotel), one or two infusion site changes, glucose tablets, a few post-low snacks, and lots of water. Even if my pump begins to fail, I will have up to four hours to get back to the hotel (on-site) and troubleshoot before it becomes a huge problem.

water is free. Don't waste space carrying it.

 

[lphillip459]

Have you ever seen a Diabetic SPIbelt? Very handy for T1 with pump in WDW. "It lies completely flat when empty and expands to 6" x 3" x 2" and fits waist size of 25"-50" to accomodate essential supplies:

Blood Glucose Meters
Test Strips
Insulin Pumps
Identification
Syringes
Insulin Vials or Pens
Fast-Acting Glucose"

 

[buffettgirl]

my son uses a double pocket spi belt. One for the pump, one for the sensor (you can actually read the sensor through the fabric )