Bags

[CarlyD]

Hello!

I was wondering if anyone knew a good travel case to use with supplies. I have tried many of the ones available, but they always seem too small :(

They used to work well while I was on Lantus, but with each year it seems like I have more things to carry (or maybe I'm getting more paranoid :p )

Now I'm using a Minimed Paradigm and CGM, and my supplies won't fit in the case any more! At first I just brought a spare meter in a different case, but now I'm using 2 different cases. I guess it doesn't help that I usually go out of town for a week or 2...

Any suggestions on cases that can accommodate so many supplies???


Thanks,
Carly

[poodlebone]

I keep my meter (UltraSmart) in its case and pack extra pump stuff in a rectangular plastic food container. It holds two sets, a reservoir, two AAA batteries, two syringes, my current vial of HUmalog, the reservoir plunger & blue transfer cap from my in-use reservoir, several vials of strips, a tube of antibiiotic ointment, some odds & ends like Band Aids, a few Tegaderm, IV Prep and alcohol wipes. Oh, and a coin in case I need to open the battery cap. The container is about 5" x 7" x 2" and I just toss it in my bag.

[sable_032592]

i've been looking for a purse or a bag for years... i can't find any that gives me everything i need... one that would hold a wallet, insulin pens, meter and accessories... there are places online that sell them but i can't find out either...

[owlyn]

i've been looking for a purse or a bag for years... i can't find any that gives me everything i need... one that would hold a wallet, insulin pens, meter and accessories... there are places online that sell them but i can't find out either...

I've been using this for years. It holds an amazing amount of stuff and folds up to a very reasonable size: Diabetic Supply – Dia-Pak – Dia Pak Deluxe (http://www.medicool.com/diabetes/diabetes_travel_dipakdel.php)

[poodlebone]

There's a place called Adorn (http://www.adorndesigns.com/index.php) that sells bags designed for people with diabetes. Since I commute (NYC) and carry a lot of stuff with me on a daily basis (Lunch, book, camera etc) I use a backpack and toss in the plastic storage container described in my earlier post. For people who drive and don't have to worry about hauling around a ton of stuff, a specil handbag would be a good idea and the Adorn bags do look nice, but pricey.

[butterflykisses]

I have a Healthy Back baglet by Ameribag (AmeriBag.com (http://www.ameribag.com/catalog/product/54)) The inside is full of pockets to organize supplies and is small enough to fit inside another bag for travel.

[rkicklighter]

Like others I searched years looking for that perfect travel bag as I travel a lot with work, up to 85% of the time. That travel is split anout 50/50 flying and driving.

No matter what I bought and tried, nothing seemed to really work the way I wanted it to. Until one day I was in the sporting goods section of Walmart and spotted a small soft-sided tackle box. Huh! Interesting! Small enough, (lunch box size) and with plenty of inside room and bunches of outside pockets. At $25 the price was right also. The drawback.....no cooler. That I need for keepin insulin cool when I'm heading out for long trips, 4 to 8 weeks.

Always the one looking for a project, I bought one then found some material at Hobby Lobby that's used to line the inside of softsided coolers. Cheap too and washable. I combined that with some washable microfiber cloth and made a cooler insert for the tackle bag. WahLah, an insulin travel bag with plenty of room for everything and a washable cooler insert that can be thrown into the washing machine after each trip.

So far it has worked well, with 2 freeze packs it will keep cool in the direct SE Georgia sun for over 10 hours. All for an investment of $35 and an hour of work.

This works for me, YMMV. Should anyone want to try, the bag is made by Flambeau and I got it from the local Walmart. One thing with the freeze packs, mine sweat a lot so I took an old towel and made pockets for them to fit in so the cooler wouldn't get wet.

RK

[CarlyD]

Thanks for all the great ideas! I was looking for something to travel with (I'm in college and travel for a week or two 4 times a year). I love the tackel box idea! That sounds perfect for flying. Do you happen to know what the material for the coolers is called?

I know with purses there never seems to be one with the right amount of pockets. I just use a large one with 2 sections - one for me and one for my diabetes.

Thanks so much for the great ideas!

[Mich]

Hi Carly,

In my purse or backpack, I carry my tiny test kit that came with the 1/2 size poker. I use the tiniest strip bottle I can--not even from the type of stips I use, but they fit in there. I keep an extra set in the inside pocket, also a band aid and a half if a rolled-up paper towel for blotting blood drops.

When traveling, I got some flexible clear plastic cosmetic bags at Target. They weren't expensive and came in the exact sizes need for all of my diabetic stuff. The airport security people love them and so do I. They can easily check my stuff if necessary without touching it. (That used to give me the creeps.) The bags clean up well between trips, and are easy to carry in my carry-on.

I always bring my frio bag for insulin when traveling. I sewed a mesh zipper pocket on the outside of my backpack to hold it so it can evaporate and keep my insulin cool. I have a pump-sized one for hot climates.

Mich

[rkicklighter]

Thanks for all the great ideas! I was looking for something to travel with (I'm in college and travel for a week or two 4 times a year). I love the tackel box idea! That sounds perfect for flying. Do you happen to know what the material for the coolers is called?

I know with purses there never seems to be one with the right amount of pockets. I just use a large one with 2 sections - one for me and one for my diabetes.

Thanks so much for the great ideas!

Carly, I do not remember the name and I have tossed the bag it came in. The material is in the needlework section of Hobby Lobby and is commonly sold for making Oven Mitts. It works equally well for hot and cold. You will need to cover it with something.

The bag I got is a Flambeau model AZ4.

RK