A Girl's Reflections

There is nothing I love more than to travel and explore. I love getting lost in someone else’s city. It was during one of our travels to London that we decided to hop a cheap flight to Paris for a day.

I was so over joyed I could barely sleep the night before we caught our 6am flight. We were in front of the Champs-Elysees before 9am Parisian time, blending in with commuters and tourist we headed east towards La Place de la Concorde.

I was beyond excited.

The crisp autumn morning slowly began to warm; I took my scarf off and soon after took off my jacket. We walked and talked mapping out our day as we went.

I started to sweat, still smiling ear-to-ear and filled with excitement, I noticed everyone around including my travel companion was still bundled up.

“How come everyone is cold when it is so hot?”

As I asked the question I suddenly realized I was having a low blood sugar episode. My hypoglycemia symptoms were completely masked by my excitement.

A bottle of Orangina and crepe Nutella later I felt, as cold as everyone else, my scarf and jacket were back on and Paris, for that day was our oyster.

That day is my most memorable diabetes day. Today’s prompt is Memories –

“Today we’re going to share our most memorable diabetes day. You can take this anywhere…. your or your loved one’s diagnosis, a bad low, a bad high, a big success, any day that you’d like to share. (Thanks to Jasmine of Silver-Lined for this topic suggestion.)”

I have been back for 4months and I am just now working on my photos.

Views from on top L’arc de Triomphe.

Take double the amount of supplies needed – oh, and have a great trip”

This is the advice I got from my Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) when I stopped by to pick up a doctor’s note, or “diabetes letter” as my CDE calls it.

The diabetes letter simply states that I have type 1 diabetes, I wear an insulin pump and I need to carry stuff with me. Although I have only been asked once for a doctor’s note by airport security I always carry one, just in case.

Double the amount of supplies is not much when you are going away for a weekend, however for two and a half weeks it becomes a mountain for supplies.

The six infusion sets needed becomes twelve, the six cartridges also becomes twelve both items necessary to continue using my insulin pump. I now need two hundred and four blood glucose test strips, spare blood glucose meter, spare batteries, spare lancet and needles.
Double the amount of insulin needed plus an extra bottle just in case I break a bottle. Glucose tablets to treat low blood sugar.

After gathering all of my “double supplies needed” I felt proud and prepared, I will have a great trip – smile.

I will not let my preparation be screwed up by putting any of these in checked baggage. Like a security blanket I carry all of it on.

Seriously, there should be a larger carry-on baggage allowance for people with diabetes.

Do you ever check some of your supplies?

As always, vacation was great but way too short however I am happy to be back home.

I came back with lots of new memories, friends and stories that I can’t wait to share.

I also missed you!