Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Storage

For 15 months now, I've struggled with where to store all the supplies that a D child needs. There are meters (ketone and regular), test strips (ketone and regular), syringes, lancets, infusion sets, reservoirs, biohazard box for the needles and the many other miscellaneous things that tend to accumulate. In the past, we've stored everything in the closet (in the hall - I don't store medicines in the bathroom due to the moisture) but it's a pain to pull it all out to change a site - all those boxes are just awkward to pull out all at once. This is my solution for the time being.

I asked for a bread box for my birthday. I can leave this on the counter - easy to access - and Logan doesn't mind because no one can see what's in it (he doesn't like to bring attention to his 'difference').

In this box, I have put one month's worth of site change supplies separated into Ziplock baggies for individual site changes. There's also his "inserter" that we call R2D2 and extra lancets and test strips so they're easy to access when he/we need them. The rest of his supplies are in the adjacent room in a cabinet in case we need them.


In each baggie, there is one infusion set, one reservoir and one IV Prep wipe. If Logan grabs the insulin on his way to the counter, he's all set to change his site (he's a pretty independent kid and likes to do it himself).



When the site change is over, we've been putting the baggie inside the bread box inside just one baggie so they're not a mess and we can reuse them when we get ready to load the box for the next month. Granted, it's only been a few weeks but this seems to work very well for us so far.

10 comments:

  1. Love the bread box idea! I have a little stacking shelf organizer thing on the counter, but you can see into it. I might have to get a bread box! It would sure confuse some guests!

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  2. I LOVE that idea! I have things shoved into a drawer which gets messy really fast!

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  3. I love that! I have been eyeing that same bread box and this would give me a great reason to get it. We use a three drawer thing that used to sit on the counter but has been moved to my closet while we are selling the house. This would surely be convienient!

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  4. What a great idea. We use a basket that we stick on top of the fridge when we have parties or whatever. Our extras have their own cabinet :)

    I might look into the bread box though... I could just leave it out :)

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  5. AWESOME idea Hannah. I think when Joe gets a little older and does his own site changes, I am definitely gonna use that baggie idea...so clever and easy. THANKS!

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  6. WOW!!!! That's awesome!!! What a great idea...thank you for sharing!!!!!!

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  7. What a great idea to put the individual baggies together. I am so copying this idea! Thanks for helping my kitchen medicine cabinet get a little organized.
    (we used to have a bath meds cabinet, but sadly some family members used to raid it to support habits, so we moved it to the kitchen where there was always someone around) :(

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  8. Genius!!! Unfortunately...I have 3 diabetics...so our supplies take up a whole closet. :( That bread box makes me happy though. I love things like that. It's the little things that make a big difference. Great idea!!

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  9. Great idea!!!! I have a similar box (posted on my blog under a visual...) for my hubby and it helps to keeps everything organized and we can grab things when we need them. Good for you! Glad to find your blog :)

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