Diabetes supplies and uses

Whether you are getting a new prescription of Type One Diabetes supplies or are new to T1D, this list may be helpful to you. Not only are the supplies listed, but also the importance of the item. The items underlined should be kept in your diabetes bag at all times. The other items should be on hand whether you are on a trip or at home.

Mandatory

• Test strips– Test strips are used for manually checking your blood glucose levels using a finger prick; used with lancets and a glucose meter.
• Glucose meter– The device that gives you your blood sugars after using the lancet and admitting blood onto the test strip, the glucose meter will inform you of your blood glucose.
• Lancets– The minuscule needle that you insert into a glucometer which goes into your finger, getting the blood to check your sugars.
• Alcohol wipes– You use alcohol wipes to clean off areas of your skin before doing an insulin injection or inserting a pump or CGM.
• Insulin vials/pens– Depending on which form of insulin you are prescribed, you can use the vial or pen to inject insulin. An insulin pen needs pen needles, whereas if you use a vial you will need syringes.
• Syringes– Can be used with either a vial or pen of insulin to give an injection.
• Pen needles– A small packaged needle used with a prefilled insulin pen, the most effective way to use an insulin pen.
• Sharps container– A container used to safely store used diabetes supplies that may be hazardous, such as needles, syringes, lancets, etc.
• Ketone strips– Used to check the amount of ketones in the bloodstream.
• Low snacks– Fast acting snacks that bring the blood sugar up quickly and efficiently.
• Glucagon– A hormone created by the pancreas to lower blood sugars. Most commonly known as a device for Type One Diabetics in hypoglycemia. See this post for more information.

Insulin pump and/or CGM supplies

• Skin-Tac– Used to keep CGMs and insulin pumps firmly secure to the body.
• Insulin pump/CGM overlays– Patches that can be used to enforce the durability of T1D devices, or even to add personalization to them.
• Sensors– The part of a continuous glucose monitor/ insulin pump that goes onto your body.
• Transmitters– An additional part of select CGMs.
• Receiver– A device that your CGM and/or insulin pump communicate with.