My Diabetes Bug-Out Bag: One Bag for Work, Travel and T1D
Rather than carry a work bag and a diabetes bag, I have now combined them into one "Bug-Out Bag". My Bug-Out Bag acts as a day pack when I go to the office, work on site, etc. and as well as my carry-on bag when I fly.
Most of the time, the main reason for leaving the house during the week is work and it is also the main reason why I fly interstate. Previously, this would mean hauling two bags with me: a laptop/work bag and my diabetes bag.
Now everything lives in one place. And it also makes spontaneous travel a lot easier as I simply pick up the bag and I am good to go.
The Anatomy of my Bug-Out Bag
The key elements are:
Large enough to fit all your stuff in but small enough to slide under the seat in front of me when on the plane.
Two sections: one for work and one for diabetes stuff, which makes life a lot easier when finding things.
This is particularly useful if the airline takes exception to the weight of the bag as it is easy to find the ‘medical supplies’ for weight exemption.
Contents of the Bug-Out Bag
I divide the bag into three main areas:
Work area: Laptop, papers, power bank, cables and the usual stuff a tech professional carries around.
Side pouches: Small pockets on the front for the things I want within easy reach while travelling.
Diabetes area: My everyday diabetes supplies, backups and enough extras to keep me going if something doesn't go according to plan.
Side Pouch 1: Travel Essentials
I keep an insulated water bottle with a temperature display in the side pocket. Always useful when at the airport gate and for making cold brew tea in hotel rooms but, in this case, it is also useful as an insulin case, if needed. How? Fill it with fridge water, put your insulin reservoirs/vials in a Ziploc bag and you can store them in there for literally hours in any weather and they will be completely safe.
Hypo treats
Hypo-candy. Always.
Pens and Post-its
At least two pens so if one runs out you have a backup. Black ink is your safest option for the occasional paper immigration or customs form.
Post-its are always useful and you can make origami out of the square ones when bored at the gate to entertain fellow passengers.
Local city map
These can be picked up for free at most hotels and, for me, are super useful. I mark places in the city where I can work between meetings. You could also use it to identify public toilets, chemists/pharmacies, medical centres or anything else you might need.
Not very useful day-to-day but I always wear it at the airport. While it confers no inherent perks or privileges, it does indicate to staff you may take a little longer going through screening (I always request a pat-down as my pump is not certified for the scanners) and may have individual needs when boarding.
Wearing the lanyard has given me access to the priority queue for security and priority boarding in multiple countries. Priority boarding is useful when I have two carry-on items and want them nearby in flight. Sunflower lanyards can be picked up at participating airports/train stations/malls so check online for somewhere near you.
Medical ID bracelet
I do not often wear this but, if travelling in countries where my language skills are not strong, I sometimes put it on. In this case, it has my disease, my allergies and a contact “In Case of Emergencies”.
Side pouch 2: The useful little things
A pack of tissues (always useful for spills, blowing nose etc.)
A notepad
N90/P2 facemasks, which I still wear on flights because people are animals and I enjoy not being sick when travelling.
Chopsticks: emergency cutlery!
USB light: Very handy when changing pump sets in economy with the cabin lights off
Small power bank: Easy to carry in a pocket and useful to keep the phone or the USB light going in emergencies
The Diabetes Section
This is where most of the serious preparation lives. Rather than having dozens of loose items floating around, I divide supplies into smaller kits.
1. Pump & CGM changing kit
This contains everything I might need for a set or sensor change:
Nasonex spray - helpful if skin gets irritated by the adhesives
Pens and notebook
Safety razor - for deforesting a space to attach the cannula or CGM
Opsite patches - used over recently removed cannula sites; it doesn't stop the irritation, but it stops me scratching and damaging the skin while it settles down
Alcohol wipes
CGM patches
Hand sanitising gel
AAA batteries
Other bits for my set such as insulin transfer collar, cannula applicator etc.
2. MDI backup kit
If the pump stops cooperating, I want a backup plan ready to go.
Documentation
Prescriptions
Contact details/business cards of my healthcare team
A letter from my endo stating my pump and CGM cannot go through airport security scanner
Endo letter confirming I carry needles, insulin, juice etc. as a person with type 1 diabetes
Printouts of online web sites stating my devices cannot go through airport security scanners
Hospital admission information (letter advocating I continue to manage my levels in hospital and any saline bags used do not contain glucose or similar)
Sick Day Plan
Pump Failure Plan
Monitoring and backup supplies
Blood glucose meter and strips
Ketone meter and strips
Genteel lancing device
Spare lancets which will never be used
Spare CR2032 (glucose/ketone meters) and AAA batteries (pump)
Novopen 4 for my Fiasp cartridges
Needles and needle clipper
Glucagon pen
And, because apparently lip balm belongs in every emergency kit: lip balm
3. Insulin and temperature management
For insulin and temperature monitoring, I carry:
Insulin Saver Bag and Breezy Pack
A cartridge of rapid insulin which I rotate out as I refill my pump
Dot Cool temperature monitor (I am not sure if they are still available but it is a great little temperature monitor)
InsulinSaver Temperature monitor (a single-use temperature monitor)
The aim is to give myself options depending on how long I'm travelling and what temperatures I'm dealing with.
4. The rest of the diabetes backup
A copy of my latest bloodwork
Spare pump consumables
Spare prescription glasses
A small sharps container (I use an old vitamin bottle)
Spare pump belt
Splenda sweetener tabs
And one very low-tech safety measure:
a piece of paper inside the bag with my name, postal address and phone number in case I ever lose it Is all of this really necessary?
It may seem like a lot to carry. And it is.
But it means I can pick up my bag and go anywhere, and I will not need anything for, say, a week. No stressing, no last-minute packing, and ready for work or when I am heading to the airport.
For me, that's worth carrying a little extra.
