Nutritional Info & Apps

When I go to restaurants, nutritional information is the biggest struggle. I suggest downloading the app or opening an account with MyFitnessPal, which can help you calculate carbs when you're eating outside of your home.  I am always blown away by how many different types of foods and brands they have info for!

One of my favorite restaurant chains, Moe's Southwestern Grill, has nutritional information on its website too so you can always check the website before you go out and just plan for what you're going to eat. 

For example, if you get a burrito, all you have to do is check off what you're adding to your burrito and it will give you the total amount of carbs. 

For anyone who has an iPhone, if you download any specific brand app, it should have nutritional information. On my phone, I have the Taco Bell app, the Moe's app, and Chipotle app (as you can see I really like tacos/burritos). 

All of the apps have the nutritional information, which is really helpful for when I'm on the go in the car or with my friends. 

Hope this was helpful!!

Sharps and Little Ones

Sharps + little ones = DANGER

I have two adorable siblings, a three year old brother and a one year old sister.

With babies in general, having small things around them is a hazard. However, being an organized diabetic isn’t the easiest task. I know I am not the only diabetic who has accidentally left a sharp somewhere.

A good idea is to always have a sharp container in the room/place where you usually test your sugar. For example, your bedroom. I usually restock on sharp containers every few months. Before a sharps container was a main accessory of my room, I threw them everywhere. I recently just emptied out this huge bag of sharps hanging on my bookcase.

Here's a tip: you don’t even need an actual "medical" sharps container. You can use an empty water bottle or empty detergent bottle.

Another annoying thing about sharps is that they are easy to lose but hard to find. Sometimes I’m notified that there’s a new sharp found in my room after I leave my dad’s house.

My advice is not to blame yourself if you misplace a sharp, however try as hard as you can to be responsible with sharps moving forward because you don’t want your little brother or sister to encounter a choking hazard -- especially a sharp one!

Traveling with an Insulin Pen or Pump

Any diabetic whom is on the pen has some challenges when traveling because he or she has to lug a backpack full of supplies and insulin pens. Whether you're on a pump or pen, my doctor recommends that I bring a cooler with ice to keep insulin vials or pens cold (of course you should talk to your own doctor before traveling or to confirm that you need a cooler.)

For the insulin pen, there isn’t a ton of extra preparation because they’re pretty easy to travel with. The only thing I could recommend based on the experience I have had with them is to get a very stylish bag to carry them. For example, Stephanie Johnson, Vera Bradley, etc.

However traveling with a pod or pump can be more difficult.

I had my first experience traveling with my OmniPod this past summer when traveling to Italy. It was easier on the way there because all the airport personnel speak English and understood the situation once explained to them.

I still had to have the boxes of pods, my meter and myself checked for explosives. They basically patted me down instead of me going through the metal detector. For diabetics with pods whom have not traveled with one before, BIG HEADS UP: your OmniPod Meter, pods in the box or on your body can NOT go through metal detectors or there will be a strong possibility of them not working or failing - dangerous situation.

On my way back from Italy, they forced me to go through the metal detector and I got very scared. I was afraid my pod was going to fail while on the plane. But, thank God, it continued to work. I assume it was my lucky day. I think that it would have been helpful if I had someone who spoke the language and could have explained so I didn't have to chance it.

I don’t have a pump with a wire so I don’t know the rules or have a ton of advice for that device, except possibly bringing a cooler.

Hope this comes in handy for my Fellow Diabeauties!

Stephanie Johnson Katie Cosmetic

One of the many benefits that I have found from switching over to the OmniPod insulin pump is that I can carry around less stuff.  I have more room in my bag to fit MY personal products - like makeup, keys, phone, etc. - and can also carry around cuter purses.

Stephanie Johnson makes stylish bags for organizing cosmetics, toiletries and travel. A perfect fit for my diabetes "stuff".  Stephanie Johnson sent me the Katie folding cosmetic clutch in Everglades Coral and I absolutely love it.

One of the best features of all Stephanie Johnson bags is that the bags are very compartmentalized; making it super easy to organize my stuff.  Look at all the stuff that it can carry.

And they're also compact and not bulky so it doesn't look like you're carrying around as much stuff as you are.  

 This is the bag folded up with all my stuff in it. Look at how thin it looks:

Stephanie Johnson bags are available in all different colors and shapes but all of them help you to organize your diabetes gear and accessories in a fashionable way. I highly recommend buying one whether it's for your diabetes stuff, cosmetics, toiletries or whatever. These bags are great for keeping everything neatly placed.

Shirt from Forever 21. Skirt from Urban Outfitters. Coach Watch.  Stella & Dot Soar necklace in bronze.

Organizing Diabetes Supplies Stylishly

Being a diabetic can be very difficult when going out with friends or going to a nice restaurant with my family. When I was on the pen I had to carry around lancets and needles that would often fall out due to lack of space or adequate compartments in the bag I was carrying.

My family got me cute bags that helped me be organized and fashionable. Cute accessories for the insulin pen that I have used include cross body, satchels or mini backpacks. When I was first diagnosed my mom gave me a LeSportsac Kasey Cross body bag (available at Macy's). It has many compartments for me to put pen needles, lancets, meter, etc.

I was really grateful for all the hidden zippers or little compartments in the bags because it made it so much easier to carry all my diabetes accessories around.

Now for mini backpacks, I don’t mean the Dora the Explorer type of mini backpack. For example, my Grandma and Grandpa went on vacation to Germany and got me the cutest leather mini backpack. Do not fly off to Germany just to buy a leather mini backpack just yet - you can go to Forever 21 or Urban Outfitters and get one very similar (one seen here is from Urban Outfitters).

My Step mom got me a Vera Bradley cosmetic case, however instead of using it for makeup, I put needles and lancets together on one side, alcohol swabs on the other side, and put my insulin pens in the middle.

Being a fashionable diabetic is hard when carrying around all these supplies, I hope my advice comes in handy!