witha'K'quilting Posted May 31, 2010 Report Share Posted May 31, 2010 for those of you inflicted with diabetes or know someone who is...do you have any suggestions for a backpack for sven? school is almost out...but he will still need to be able to carry his supplies with him when riding a ride or playing baseball. i am looking for something not too large...and definitely not girly! i have been researching and may try to design something myself...but thought i would ask here. sven is doing great. he hasn't gotten sick since his diagnosis so he is on very little insulin now. he loves that! he is very active and outgoing. he wants to help me design something for other boys...as he feels that the guys are sort of left out when it comes to the cool stuff for diabetes. most everything we see is girly! have a great memorial day...hope everyone has said a prayer for our military personnel...those who gave their lives..and those serving now. we thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shar Schmutz Posted May 31, 2010 Report Share Posted May 31, 2010 Hey how about a fanny pack? would that be big enough? Not as cumberson as a back pack??? I've got one made out of leather and it's not girly looking... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltingshirley Posted May 31, 2010 Report Share Posted May 31, 2010 Kristina, He really won't need anything very big. Once a bottle of Insulin is opened it's good for 28 days but I'd use one of those water activated pkgs. The smaller size will easily hold a bottle. I often slip in a syringe or 2 with the a couple of individual pks of alcohol swaps between the water saturated bag and the outter one. It's so much easier than trying to take the pks with the ice or cool stuff. IF he's using the meter that uses the foil wrapped strips there is no need to take a vial. Just take the meter and the sticks. You can also take the calibrating strip but all that will fit in a pocket or a regular back pack. I think the name of the water pkg is FRIO and the name of some other bags with compartments for meter, syringes, ice, etc is MedPort. There are some black ones in 2 sizes that you can just stick in the backpack with all the other stuff yet be able to see it to pull out what you need. If the bag doesn't have a bag for disposable stuff you can do what I do and pack a small zip lock bag. Does that make sense? There's lots of stuff out there but you don't need to spend the top dollars to get what works well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjtinkle Posted May 31, 2010 Report Share Posted May 31, 2010 I'm glad to hear Sven is doing well Kristina. My son used to carry a small camera bag clipped on to his belt, you know the little ones made for pocket cameras. It's big enough to hold syringes and supplies, and the other boys didn't tease him about wearing a fanny pack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Mitchell Posted May 31, 2010 Report Share Posted May 31, 2010 They make special cool packs for insulin (Google it). I am an Insulin dependent Diabetic. I use a flex pen but most times a syringe. I just load the syringe and put it in a flex pen carrier. It fits in my pocket. I can load several if I like but at most usually just 2. No special carrier required. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisae Posted June 1, 2010 Report Share Posted June 1, 2010 Hi, Kristina, My nephew is diabetic as well. He has one of those little under seat pouches on his bike that he carries his supplies in. Easy, hands free bike riding! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witha'K'quilting Posted June 1, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2010 thanks everyone. he uses a pouch now made my medport...but it is hard to find when in his backpack (black and falls to bottom of pack)...and he has to have a backpack for school and also for his baseball. it is too difficult to find something too small in the dugout if there is any problem. i am going to try to design something...but was hoping for some other ideas. he doesn't like a fanny pack either. he definitely needs something that he can keep books/folders in and wear on his back...or at least across his chest. whatever he uses...it has to fit on the back of his chair at school...that or live on his person...but since he prefers all his stuff in one place...a backpack seemed the best! i have looked for the ice packaging as well...and think this is something we will use. thanks for the suggestion. we are trying to come up some cool uses for all the test strip containers..i think we have that problem figured out. i just can't seem to throw them out. they seem so handy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisae Posted June 1, 2010 Report Share Posted June 1, 2010 Kristina, could he use a carbiner to clip the pouch inside his backpack? You'd just have to sew a tab on the pouch and a tab inside the backpack...no more falling to the bottom of the backpack! Just a thought... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witha'K'quilting Posted June 1, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2010 that is a thought. thanks lisa! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmwife Darlene Posted June 1, 2010 Report Share Posted June 1, 2010 Kristina, Here is a cool design that you could adapt. http://www.couragebag.com/Product.html My DS didn't want to carry much - the less the better for him. I did pick up a bag that was portable and he just stuffed it in his locker. His 504 plan allowed him free access to the locker and the office where he kept his food/and insulin + notebook that the school required him to log his BS readings every day at lunch plus when he was either high or low. He got to be big buddies with the staff in the office and cafeteria b/c they would let him have extra goodies just in case he would go low. Good luck with finding something he'll like. Glad he's doing so well! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmwife Darlene Posted June 1, 2010 Report Share Posted June 1, 2010 http://childrenwithdiabetes.com/gifs/products/DiaPak2005.jpg This is the picture of the one DS uses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltingshirley Posted June 1, 2010 Report Share Posted June 1, 2010 Now I understand what you're looking for. If you were to design something to carry I'll tell you what I'd like. (Of course it's been ages since I was a kid and things were different then) 1. Small, I like to hike, camp, etc. and don't want to be carrying around so much. 2. If I were using a cold pack, I'd like something to absorb the moisture that they give off as they melt. (That's why I use the cold water things -- I often have no acess to electricty and they stay cool for about 3 days before I need to "redo" with more cold water) 3. A place for my meter, lancets, strips, syringes, alcohol swabs 4. The meters have back lights so that you can see the numbers but syringes don't. A lightweight light type device that you could shine on the syringe lines would be great. You often need to take an injection in not so great conditions. 5. Maybe some velcro to attach the bag to the inside of my back pack so I don't need to dig thru things. 6. And of course an elastic circle or 2 to hold glucose tabs where I can find them if I'm getting low If I really think I'm sure there's more but those are the things about the "bags" that I'd like most. I figure all bags will have a place for Insulin and syringe disposal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witha'K'quilting Posted June 1, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2010 Originally posted by Farmwife Kristina, Here is a cool design that you could adapt. http://www.couragebag.com/Product.html My DS didn't want to carry much - the less the better for him. I did pick up a bag that was portable and he just stuffed it in his locker. His 504 plan allowed him free access to the locker and the office where he kept his food/and insulin + notebook that the school required him to log his BS readings every day at lunch plus when he was either high or low. He got to be big buddies with the staff in the office and cafeteria b/c they would let him have extra goodies just in case he would go low. Good luck with finding something he'll like. Glad he's doing so well! hi darlene...boy do i wish he could keep his supplies in a locker...but the schools pulled all lockers! go figure. also...he has to keep all supplies on his person. he is not allowed to store anything with another party at the school. i hate to go with a 504 just yet...but might need to for these reasons! the courage bag is the one i keep looking at too! i like it the best so far...but wonder if it won't be too big for him. i am going to keep looking at it though. thanks. shirley...we are going to get the frio packs. they seem like a fabulous idea. thanks for the suggestions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busy Quilting Posted June 1, 2010 Report Share Posted June 1, 2010 Kristina, I drill holes in the top of my husbands strip containers then give them to the LQS for storing used machine needles in. I wonder if they had them at the Quilt classes they held off premises last month? Lyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollyc Posted June 1, 2010 Report Share Posted June 1, 2010 Used to be an endocrine nurse. Most likely if he is out and about playing, he would more likely run in to problems with low glucose. Would recommend 1. That his friends know what to do if he should lose consciousness 2. snack like graham cracker 3. glucagon if he is unconscious 4. cell phone so someone can call for help if needed. 5. juice box 6. if out and about in the summer would need insulin for carbs if he eats. REgular insulin is OK for 1 month after being opened. 7. glucose meter/strips- sometimes docs want kids to check their glucoses prior to activity to make sure they won't get too low. If their glucose is a bit low, can maybe have a snack prior to activity. 8. lancets 9. cotton balls put in a baggie Unforturnately, in any school setting anywhere all medications (glucagon)will be in the nurse's office. I don't know if he is on a pump or takes insulin. Good discussion to have with the endocrinologist is if he knows he will be having an active day, would he need to adjust basal insulin in any way. Kids with pump sometimes even turn it off for a short time because they will be exercising/swimming/basketball etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustSewSimple Posted June 1, 2010 Report Share Posted June 1, 2010 Kristina, when school starts back here is something you might want to think about. When I taught someone who was diabetic the counselor would bring me a "kit" to keep in my desk drawer for the student just in case something happened in my class. They did this for every teacher who had a dependent child. Perhaps you did this as well but I though it was worth saying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witha'K'quilting Posted June 1, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2010 holly...thanks for all the info...however, his glucagon is carried in his backpack...not kept in a nurses office. he carries syringes, insulin, glucagon, test strips...you name it on him all the time! his snack box is kept in the office so he can access it anytime he needs. sylvia...his teacher was just trained in what to do for emergencies...yet when she saw hos glucagon...she asked him and me if he knew how to administer it! i nearly fainted. i told her to call me if he goes unconscious...i would take care of him! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmwife Darlene Posted June 2, 2010 Report Share Posted June 2, 2010 Our school nurse was great - she fixed up small baggies w/candy and glucose tablets in case Dan went low in class and she distributed it to all of his teachers. Also the 504 told the teachers exactly what he was allowed to do and what they could do to help in case he was high or low. I didn't think he needed it but we're glad he had it. He didn't use it much but a couple of times he was low and the teacher had a friend escort him to the office. Dan didn't want to be different and so the less he carried the better for him. He had 7 different classes so 7 different teachers. We had the small cans of coke, peanut butter crackers + glucose tablets in the office for him. He rarely needed it but it was there. I can't believe his teacher said that about his glucagon!! Dan's teachers actually had to 'administer' the glucagon to an orange so they would know exactly how to do it. Of course it was just plain water but they got hands on experience!! Plus it's only good for about a year and I gave the expired ones back to the school nurse to use for more education - she loved it!! Dan's glucagon was kept in the office with his box of supplies. The school even had to buy a fridge just to keep his insulin in because he wasn't allowed to carry it on his person in the school building. (school rules - not mine) But that was fine since he had his pump on his body anyway! Has he considered the pump yet?? Dan will take his off when he is participating in the big games at school now. It made a huge difference in how we looked at diabetes and life. Dan was the first diabetic at his middle and high school - so we 'broke' ground for the others to follow. We're a small rural school and I think that helped also. The 504 put us all on the same page. I'll try to find Dan's and email it to you. It's wasn't long or fancy - but covered the basics. It protected Dan and the school!! Lyn - I love the idea about the used strip bottles! I think I'll do some and distribute them to my guild! Thanks for the idea. Hopefully Sven will have a different teacher next year and things will improve for him. Dan is at home now if Sven wants to 'chat' with him. He starts back to college the first part of August. Hang in there Kristina, keeping you and your family in our prayers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witha'K'quilting Posted June 2, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2010 Thanks Darlene. Sven and I were thinking about drilling a small hole in his used canisters too and painting something cutesy on the side to use for used needles too! Either that...or making really small sewing kits to keep in the car or purse! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoeMoe Posted June 2, 2010 Report Share Posted June 2, 2010 Hi Kristina, I designed a backpack and believe it or not... even my grandson's love them (the oldest will be 15 in a few weeks). They have side pockets for a water bottle and cell phone/sunglasses, a good sized outer pocket and full circle of pockets inside which can be made to size to hold everything your little one needs to have with him. They are easy to make, are lightweight and washable and the straps are adjustable for a nice comfortable fit. If this sounds like something that would work, I will be happy to try to put together some basic dimensions and instructions for you...I kind of wing each one (size/design) specific to who I am making it for therefore have never put the pattern into an instructional format...or better yet, just let me know Sven's favorite colors &/or characters/theme. I would love to make one for him and mail it to you. My older brother was recently dx with adult onset diabetes... what a great idea to make him one for his upcoming birthday! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witha'K'quilting Posted June 2, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2010 maureen...sent you a u2u. thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmwife Darlene Posted June 2, 2010 Report Share Posted June 2, 2010 Maureen, I'd love to see a picture of one of your pacs! And get directions to make them! Dan went to Pigeon Forge TN w/his GF, sister, aunt and fiancee'. He rode some water rides in the park and his pump quit working after it got soaked. He called the company and they overnighted a replacement to him! But in the meantime he did not carry any syringes with him.:mad: Needless to say it was a great learning experience for his fiancee'. So a new pac is in order for her to carry his 'stuff' in their future. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoeMoe Posted June 2, 2010 Report Share Posted June 2, 2010 Hi Darlene, So sorry to hear of Dan's soggy experience... I am glad they were able to get a replacement pump to him so quickly! I will try to get a backpack made later this week and will make a note of the dimensions and instructions and get some pictures. I never really thought about how useful it would be for diabetics or others needing to carry medical necessities until Kristina's suggestion for ideas. As I noted earlier, I plan to make one for my brother who also has diabetes. And they also make lovely ladies backpacks. I hope your son enjoyed his time in Pigeon Forge! I lived in TN for several years...It is a lovely area! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phyllis Posted June 2, 2010 Report Share Posted June 2, 2010 Kristina, try www.diybaglover.blogspot.com for a couple of backpack patterns that might fit his needs. You could modify it with an insulated lining. Just a thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmwife Darlene Posted June 2, 2010 Report Share Posted June 2, 2010 Maureen, They had a blast! His pump was over 3.5 years old which doesn't sound like much but when it runs 24/7 and gets the wear & tear of an active college kid who likes to play soldier - well - enough said. It was a mini-med and they've been the best company to deal with over the past 8 years! Thanks in advance for the pics, etc!! I love this forum - you are all the bestest!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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