Today’s prompt is to write about a lesson I learned the hard way.
As a diabetes educator I have spent a lot of time teaching people about packing enough supplies when they travel – at least twice as much as what you’ll use in the time you’re away. I also emphasize the importance of keeping diabetes supplies in your carry-on, and not checking them. For one thing, cargo can get too cold and ruin insulin, but probably more important, nine times out ten your bags will end up in a different place than you.
Keep in mind that not only do I teach this for a living, but I have traveled a lot and I have experienced just about every lost baggage scenario imaginable. I won’t bore you with the details, but let’s just say your bags can end up in a different city than you; your bags can be taken home by a different person; and so on.
My lesson learned the hard way is that I traveled back to the east coast one time, and I packed my pump supplies in my checked bag. I know – what was I thinking? Clearly, I wasn’t. Not only that, but I didn’t get my bag on the other end. I am very fortunate to have connections at my favorite diabetes camp, so I was able to beg a few pump supplies off of them in order to get by.
Believe it or not, I keep extra pump supplies in my office and in our hospital pharmacy for when this happens to people who visit Steamboat – and it has! It may not be so easy, depending on where you are visiting, so please do as I teach and not as I did – keep your diabetes supplies in your carry-on. Happy travels!