What’s in My Purse, Diabetes Edition

I have been compensated by Glucerna for this post; however, I am sharing my own thoughts. All opinions are my own. Talk with your health care provider about a diabetes management plan that’s right for you. #GlucernaHungerSmart #CollectiveBias

Talking about Glucerna® Hunger Smart™ Shakes and all the supplies that go pretty much everywhere with me now.

Back before SNAP I needed a new bag, so I picked out this fabulous yellow purse that was big enough for a wallet, my phone, and an external charger, a notebook, pens, and extra goodies I might pick up in other classes. With finding out I have diabetes and needing insulin shots and having to check my blood sugar several times a day, it’s amazing the amount of stuff I have to carry around all the time.

Here’s everything I keep in my flamingo bag–which is at least pretty darn cute, even if I wish I didn’t need all this stuff: It was a lot

Glucose meter
Test strips
Lancets
Insulin pens (before I eat I add up how many carbs I’m going to eat and take the corresponding amount of insulin)
Insulin pen needles
A sharps container (just a small plastic container with a lid where I put my used needles while I’m out)
Glucose tablets (pure sugar, so in case I don’t eat quite the number of carbs I took insulin for, or I do more exercise, or my pancreas suddenly makes more insulin that day — not all of my beta cells have been destroyed yet — this could make my blood sugar drop to unsafe levels and I have to bring it up quickly.)
Nuts
Low-carb snack bar

And here’s all the other stuff that a regular person carries in a bag.
Chapstick
Lotion
Notebook
Pens
Mints
Phone
Hair elastic

I’ve been trying these Glucerna® Hunger Smart™ Shakes too. Breakfast is trickiest for me because it’s important that I start the day with some protein. My old standby of cold cereal and milk is loaded with carbs, even if it’s not a sugary cereal. But it’s so fast and easy that it’s been hard to make myself fix a more balanced breakfast–something with eggs, fruit, maybe some bacon or high protein yogurt. The shakes contain 15 grams of protein, 25 vitamins and minerals, plus fiber. They also have CARBSTEADY® which includes slowly digestible carbs, preventing sugar spikes. 

It’s also important for me to remember I have an actual autoimmune disease. My own body is attacking the cells that make insulin, and there’s no cure for that. I will always need insulin shots and need to be under medical supervision. But I also need to be smart about what I eat. It’s been scary, and frustrating, and humbling, but I’m doing my best to learn all I can and manage it to stay healthy.

 

If you know someone else lucky enough to need to carry a flamingo/ diabetes bag like mine, maybe they’ll find this checklist helpful also. It sure is a lot to remember, especially when first starting out. More than once I’ve left the house and had to turn around because I forgot something. 

DOWNLOAD CHECKLIST

 

Now tell me some of the things you carry around in your purse!