Pumping: setups and rituals

[Subby]

I find that the better I can organise my gear and supplies, and do certain tasks at the right time, the less that pumping has an annoying, niggling effect on my life. I have to admit that I am not the most organised or orderly person at the best of times, which means I need to go to the effort with pumping or it really is a pain in the.... appendage.

I was wondering if anyone has a setup for how they organise their pump supplies, so that when the time comes to locate items or do a task like put on a new set, things are as smooth as possible.

What I have going, are these things. I have a box of each supply in open boxes in the top two drawers of a dresser, a good height for me. I leave the supplies open, or put them into some plastic containers for easy access. There is no real order, and they do tend to get messy because I stockpile excess bits like lines I don't use, set caps etc. But I never worked out a way to contain them (I know there are only so many spare lines that are useful, and I prefer them to be fresher rather than older, but can't work out how to keep my stockpile moving but contained!) It's silly, but I will find that these spares fall out of their containers and make the whole thing messy. I need to learn to just chuck them out at some stage.

The next draw down the rest of my supplies go, extra boxes etc.

The only ritual I have gotten going lately is I sit and cut up about 20 tegarderm HP halves, with a hole, for my "Tegaderm sandwich" per set. Because doing one of these every few days is extremely tiresome.

I've been toying with the idea of making like a suitcase of supplies, or maybe using a large hardware box. There is just something about the drawers that doesn't work for me. Maybe they are just not big enough.

Any interesting setups or ways of doing things?

[sarahspins]

I have 2 sets of clear plastic drawers set up in the vanity area of the master bathroom... I keep general toiletries in one drawer for easy access (toothpaste, extra toothbrushes, deodorant, etc) and make-up in another drawer, and the other 4 all hold D supplies (we also have two tiny drawers under the sink, those generally contain extra soap, hairbrushes, hair ties, etc).

One drawer holds lancet disks (renew), tape, "spot" bandaids, the extra vials from my open box of test strips, skin preps, alcohol wipes, cartidges, and my "open" bottle of insulin (on MDI it held my Lantus pen too). Right now there is an orange pen in there too - I'm not sure why. I use this drawer the most.. it seems like almost daily I need something out of it :)

One drawer holds all the unopened boxes of test strips. I order more when I can fit another 9 boxes in there.. works pretty well for me.

One drawer holds the contents of my open box of infusion sets.

The last drawer is mostly empty, but it holds a few sample infusion sets as well as my extra pen needles and 3 syringes I still have.

Extra boxes of infusion sets and cartridges go in the cabinet under the sink.

It works for me.. I also keep 2 extra infusion sets and tubing in my purse as well as an extra vial of test strips (i've left home with 1 test strip in my meter case before.. whoops!). I don't generally take insulin with me unless I either know I'll be eating (just in case of pump failure) or I will be gone more than 2-3 hours. If it's just a quick trip to the store or something I don't bother.

[Gordonm]

I keep the major lump of supplies on my office closet at home. Somewhat organized. I have a small space in one of the upper kitchen cabinets tha tI usually keep a set or two in a few wipes and 1 box of test strips. When they are gone I resupply fro mthe office closet. Not real organized but it works for me.

[lark 27]

darn it Subby. AFter reading your post, I"m now thinking about how unorganized I am and thinkng I should improve. That will be a goal for after we move, if and when we sell our house. Actually this is a good thread because I might learn some tips. This is my current organizational (or lack thereof) scheme.

1) Large drawer in hall closet by bedroom/bathroom is where I keep the non-pump supplies. Lancets, test strips, wipes, some extra glucotabs. This is nice because test strips is what I need to get the most and often will grab a new vial prior to bedtime.

2) Insulin in the fridge.

3) All pump supplies just remain in the boxes they're shipped to me in and reside on an old shelf in the storage room of the basement. This way everything stayes cool (for the sensors I use) and since some of the pumping stuff takes up a good deal of space I don't have to cram it into a drawer. Admittedly there's not much organization to this, but it's an improvement from when I first tried to take a few items from the pump supplies and put them up with the other D supplies.

4) I try to tote with me a fanny pack full of a single supply of all D supplies I'll need. I won't wear this, but will bring it to work or on trips where I'll be away from home for a meal/several hours. I'll leave this in the car (in a cooler) if we're going someplace where I don't want to carry it around.
The drawback is that sometimes I have to go to the basement and then back upstairs and then to the kitchen when I'm getting supplies I'll need for a weekend trip or such.

[MoCoke]

I keep all of my D supplies in a big plastic tote in the bedroom. I've somewhat organized everything within the tote.

Boxes of sets are on their side with the expiration dates facing upwards. Same with the cartridge boxes. Test strips and lancets are on the other side of the box. When I get new supplies, I first check to make sure their expiration date is further along than the ones i'm currently using (usually are) and put those with their dates facing down. When I'm done with the boxes facing upwards, I switch the downward facing ones up. That way I'm not left with a box of expired sets or cartridges.

The "open" boxes of sets, cartridges, IV3000 and IV Prep all have the tops ripped off their boxes so I can just reach into each box and grab one of each out without having to turn the lights on in the bedroom. It seems that most of my site changes come after my husband has gone to sleep so I'm usually changing out the site & filling the cartridge by TV light.

I keep all of my insulin (except for the vial currently in use) in the mini-fridge I have in my bedroom. We bought the mini-fridge years ago when our kids were teens and I didn't want to take a chance on either of them or their friends messing with the insulin.

I also keep the extra batteries, battery cap, and battery key taped to the inside side of the tote. On the one package of batteries, I write the date of when I put a new battery into my meter. So far, that kind of gives me a heads up as to when to expect I'll be needing the next battery.

On the underside of the tote's lid, I have an information sheet. This is where I have a list of my current basal settings and their times. Also, all the important phone numbers relating to my diabetes; Endo, CDE, pharmacy, and DME person. There's even a list of all of my current medications and dosages in case my husband needs them for some emergency involving me (he also carries a card in his wallet as do I).

[networkguy]

I have a "misc" drawer in the dresser (small one) with stuff like extra glasses, keys I dont need often, etc. In there I keep lancets, test strips, insulin (opened) and IV prep pads. On a shelf in my closet I keep my boxes of pods. Thats all I got.

[telizas]

I keep all my supplies that are not "in use" on the shelf outside the bathroom (sets, strips, cartridges, expendables). One box of infusion sets, handful of IV prep pads, Unisolve and a box of cartridges is in my bedroom on a shelf where I keep my deodorant. I have two "kits" with a set, cartridge, Glucotabs, batteries, IV Prep and Unisolve and some hand sanitizer. One also carries an insulin pen and pen needles. One kit (the one with insulin) is always with me. I have another on campus in my rented locker, which includes a back-up meter.

Since I don't usually have to change a cartridge when I change a set, and vice versa, I always seem to have an extra line. I use it the next time I change the cartridge, so its always being recycled out. I tuck it in the box with the other supplies in the bedroom, so I'm sure to use it the next time.

All my supplies are visible. My husband has serious ADD issues and if he can't see it, it doesn't exist. So if I ask for a vial of strips, he'd better be able to see it without opening a drawer! :D

[Joeprep4820]

My coffee table in my living room has 2 large drawers facing my sofa. I place all of my supplies there since I mainly do my site change while sitting on the couch. I just grab it and do it. When on the road, which is 75% of the time, I keep them in my suitcase.

[poodlebone]

My supplies are in the bedroom & the kitchen. The majority of them are kept in the armoire in my bedroom. The armoire is like my stockroom. I usually don't go to it on a daily basis.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3489/3943278630_c0779b2e5c.jpg

In the kitchen I keep a small stock of supplies and this is where I usually go to grab an infusion set or reservoir or battery. The wooden storage drawers are great and I've been using them since I was on MDI. I keep about 2 weeks of sets & reservoirs in one drawer, alcohol swabs and some Tegaderm are in another, 9 lives worth of lancets in another, there's still one small drawer full of pen needles & syringes, Band Aids are in another...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2588/3942501659_6bc116f49b.jpg

Also in the kitchen is my "tape bucket". It's a plastic storage container with different dressings & tapes plus a few odds & ends. Lately I've just been using the Hypafix to tape down my sensors. I've lost too many sensors this summer because other dressings have peeled up and the sensor popped out of my skin.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2568/3943279530_6b0062f91c.jpg

[notme]

Actually this is a very helpful thread! I am not a particularly organized person. But I do keep a pretty good organization of supplies. Not as good as you poodlebone.

My excess supplies are on the top shelf of my closet. I can see at any given time how much I have and I know how long it will last. I have two clear plastic drawers in my walk in closet that have my day to day supplies like open boxes of sets and reservoirs. Those are the boxes I am currently using.

I have a small carry bag that I can grab at any time that has everything I need for a set change. It usually has two to four reservoirs, canulas and the inserter and IV3000. The only thing I have to add is insulin from the fridge for a set change.

[fairyblood]

Wow liz. Do you want to come over to my place and organize my diabetes stuff for me? ;)

That looks so prepared and put together. I wish I was so organized.

[poodlebone]

Wow liz. Do you want to come over to my place and organize my diabetes stuff for me? ;)

That looks so prepared and put together. I wish I was so organized.

I really hated having to use my armoire space but it was the best option. I have two tiny closets in my apartment and the shelves are hard to get to. I thought of getting one of those carts with lots of drawers but then I'd need someplace to put it. I had supplies in boxes in my closet, kitchen & bedroom and finally gave up and put everything together. It's nice being able to see exactly what I have.

[JJM335]

Good grief Liz: If the Medtronic warehouse burned to the ground, you would have enough stuff stockpiled to keep this entire forum supplied for a month!

Joel

[AngelKitty]

Hi Subby, good thread!

About six months ago, we went shopping at Bunnings and bought a small bathroom cabinet that matched our bathroom decor and fixed it to the wall in our ensuite. This cabinet is ONLY for my diabetes/pump supplies so I have everything in order on the shelves and just grap all the bits that I need from the cabinet and use the vanity/basin in the bathroom for all my set changes. So I have everything in "my cabinet" that I need for set changes, emergency correction bolus' etc including (infusion sets, reserviors, syringes, testing strips, swabs, bandaids etc), and a large pump container of De-Bug for disinfecting my hands sitting on top of it

Extra stock is kept in a large clear storage container in our walk in robe and of course extra insulin is kept in a special compartment in our fridge which has a childproof lock on it.

When my cabinet stocks are low, I replenish from the storage container.

Hope you find this helpful :)

[AngelKitty]

Hey Subby, here's a pic of my supply cabinet that I keep in my ensuite.

3997

[poodlebone]

Good grief Liz: If the Medtronic warehouse burned to the ground, you would have enough stuff stockpiled to keep this entire forum supplied for a month!

Joel

It's a good thing, too! My last shipment of supplies was close to 4 months ago and they told me I wouldn't get any more for another 2-3 weeks (that was when I called last week). I have plenty of Silhouettes but I'm down to my last box of Sure-Ts and I really like those. I meant to ask MM to switch my order to all Sure-Ts for awhile so I don't keep running out. Since it's doubtful they'll be sending sets anytime soon (thanks, Quick-Set recall!) I may call them back today and change my order.

I think I've gotten only one shipment of reservoirs in the past 2 years since I use one until it's empty (300 units) and not every 3 days. I didn't even want that shipment last year but it came automatically with my new pump.

[poodlebone]

Hey Subby, here's a pic of my supply cabinet that I keep in my ensuite.


Where do you keep your major stock of supplies? Your cabinet seems to be like my kitchen supplies, the place I go to for the daily stuff and then refill every couple of weeks or so.

[kgm0612]

OMG Liz........you have enough stock to supply us all! LOL

I keep all (4-6 mo.) my supplies in a box in my bedroom closet. I take out 6 sets & reservoirs at a time and keep them in a small plastic tote in my kitchen. I also keep my opened insulin and alcohol pads in there. When it's time to change my site, I do it right there in the kitchen.

Karen

[lark 27]

Hey Subby, here's a pic of my supply cabinet that I keep in my ensuite.

3997

That is a great idea to get an additional small cabinet to mount on the wall just for D supplies. I might just do that.

[Subby]

Very interesting, thanks for sharing your setups... lots of food for thought.

[AngelKitty]

Where do you keep your major stock of supplies? Your cabinet seems to be like my kitchen supplies, the place I go to for the daily stuff and then refill every couple of weeks or so.


Extra stock is kept in a large clear storage container in our walk in robe and of course extra insulin is kept in a special compartment in our fridge which has a childproof lock on it.

When my cabinet stocks are low, I replenish from the storage container.
:)

That is a great idea to get an additional small cabinet to mount on the wall just for D supplies. I might just do that.

Hi Lark - buying this cabinet just for my D supplies and mounting it on the wall out of reach from our young pre-schoolers has really made my life so much easier (and organised!) Hope it helps you and others as well :)

[lark 27]

:)



Hi Lark - buying this cabinet just for my D supplies and mounting it on the wall out of reach from our young pre-schoolers has really made my life so much easier (and organised!) Hope it helps you and others as well :)

I didn't even think about the added benefit of it being out of reach of my pre-schooler (almost 3). She does have a bit of fascination with Diabetes (often wants me to test her BG--which I've done a couple times because I'm paranoid if she seems to go to the bathroom often), so I should better secure my stuff. I am currently not using my CGMS because I had the transmitter on my bedside table for a couple days and now it's gone! I swear I"ll find it in a dollhouse or toybox the day after I pay for my replacement!

On a side note, I notice that several people have commented on securing the insulin in the fridge, and I'd never thought of that as well. I guess I don't see the risk if syringes aren't accessible, but it wouldn't hurt to have a small locked tackle box.

Anyway, a couple tangents there, but that's what I love about reading the various posts is that there is always a new tip to learn.

[poodlebone]

I didn't even think about the added benefit of it being out of reach of my pre-schooler (almost 3)

When I was first diagnosed my oldest sister was living upstairs from us and she had 3 small children that were always in my apartment. My father put a lock on my closet door so I could keep all of my supplies away from curious kids. My nieces were great and never played with anything. My oldest niece was 7 at the time and was pretty interested in what I was doing at first, and then it just became normal to her.

On a side note, I notice that several people have commented on securing the insulin in the fridge, and I'd never thought of that as well. I guess I don't see the risk if syringes aren't accessible, but it wouldn't hurt to have a small locked tackle box.

I've never worried about my insulin in the fridge but I could see how it might be a problem with small, curious kids around. Those vials might be fun to play with!

[SCC]

My office is just around the corner from the "guest bathroom" (MY bathroom!) and I had a shelving company come in several years ago to install shelves in the office closet. So everything except stored insulin (fridge) is in there on one dedicated shelf. I'd take a photo, but you'd see the D supplies are in great organizational shape, but the REST of that closet is a mess!

[AngelKitty]

my pre-schooler (almost 3). She does have a bit of fascination with Diabetes (often wants me to test her BG--which I've done a couple times because I'm paranoid if she seems to go to the bathroom often),


LoL! You sound like me! :)


On a side note, I notice that several people have commented on securing the insulin in the fridge, and I'd never thought of that as well.

I learnt this one the hard way, glass vials being dropped on a tiled floor, make for a very big mess!

[GrammaBear]

Lots of great ideas here. Maybe there is hope for me yet to become better organized. I almost detest changing pods and CGMS sensors because it always seems like I'm running around looking for stuff. Must try harder.......

[Gary_W]

I have a cool-bag intended for sandwiches... It's enough for 3 or 4 sets, cartridges, test strips, the current bottle of insulin, spare batteries, pain killers etc. I keep this filled up from a cupboard in the study that is my wine cupboard - pleasure and pain in one place seems appropriate :) The bag lives in the study too which is where I spend my working life if I'm at home.

The reason behind the cool bag is that I'm often on the road through work. Having to get all of the **** that we have to travel with together is quite a major undertaking. Having a bag that has enough for a couple of days away with a couple of problem sets is a good idea and it saves me lots of times. It's just grab and go.

If it's a really hot day, I put an ice pack in the bag as it lives in the car if I'm out and about. However, as I live in England the ice pack hasn't come out of the fridge since WW2 ended....

[Dogen]

I have a wooden bench that has a hinged seat. It opens to a drawer that fits my 90 days of infusion sets, cartridges, lancets (hundreds and hundreds...) and test strips. The current boxes have their lids torn off to make access from the top easier. In my kitchen I have a peninsula (an island that connects to the wall on one side) that has alcohol swabs, unisolve and a box of tissues for bleeders lined up against the wall. Since I usually change sites after a shower, when I come out of the bathroom I grab a set and cartridge, head into the kitchen and fix myself up under the big skylight.

My extra insulin is in the fridge, of course, but my open vial tends to live several places... I haven't lost it yet (in 16 years), but now that I'm pumping I should probably find a permanent spot for it.

Some of you guys are incredibly organized... I was impressed with myself when I put my insets and cartridges in the same place.