Hello everybody,

I just posted a thread about BGM's, but was also wondering how you transported them. My clunky BGM came with a little carrying case, which fit the standard stuff fine, but is nearly bursting with alcahol swabs, hard candies, etc. Does anyone use another kind of bag to transport all the tools of the blood testing trade? Something that doesn't look as if it was designed by an undertaker? Also has anyone come up with cool/helpful ways to modify their carry cases? For instance, a friend of mine cut some gaps into his case so he could do all his testing without having to remove the BGM. Are their other tricks that could make a new diabetics life easier?

Thanks for the help,

Joe

I got a case from medicool to keep everything together and keep the insulin cold.

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i think the carrying case i use right now is from an electric razor,ha!but it's just the right size for me....it seems that a pencil carrying case...the fabric kind..might be about the right size...and we don't keep the insulin cold....just keep it from extreme temperature change

Joe,
It's a lot easier for us ladies, since we carry purses, but there was a carrying case I used to use (before I went on the pump) that held my meter, syringes, swabs, wipes, etc. I think it was called a Diapak. It was advertised in diabetes forecast. I've also used the Medicool waist pack, which comes with a cooler insert for insulin.

By the way, I'll probably get a ton of replies to this, but I don't bother with alcohol wipes. I just wash my hands. If I'm somewhere with no sink, I've usually got a bottle of water with me and then I just pour some over my hand. I've been testing for 15 years and have never got an infection. In fact, somewhere (might have been at the Joslin) I was told NOT to use alcohol wipes because over time they make the skin drier/stiffer, and then it's harder to get blood out.

Ruth

Me again - I posted under BGM thread about ideas for carrying the stuff around, such as keeping it in your briefcase, toiletry/shaving kit, that type of thing. I'm using Novolog 70/30 pens now, and they don't have to be refrigerated once opened. If I was going to travel with them, or insulin vials, I used to use a small "blue ice" thing to keep them cool until I got where I was going.

Ruth, i also do not use the wipes, like you i just wash my hands. I agree sometimes i noticed my fingers were drying out and it was hard drawing blood. I think alot of diabetics don't use the wipes.

Hi Ruth,

I'm with you. I don't use alcohol before testing either. My doc was telling me that he's had patients who either use alcohol or wash their hands before testing, but don't wait until it dries (one washed her hands, but didn't dry them...I guess he forgot to tell her to do that :)). Anyway, there was a huge difference in her numbers because they were diluted. She kept telling him that her BGs were around 130 and he thought this was impossible so he told her to show him how she tests. When they tested without the extra water, her BG was in the 700s. OOPS!

Sharon :)

Good point, Sharon. I had forgotten about that, because my hands are usually dry by the time I test.

Just shows, there's a lot of small details, and no one of us can remember them all. That's why these boards are so great.

Ruth