(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best diabetic care products

There are some good tips on computer settings in this thread, but also I would strongly, strongly recommend the keto diet. Keeping carbs below net 50g per day for a solid two weeks will have a dramatic effect on your game. I have had ET since I was 12, I play Overwatch a lot and I try to do keto for about 2 weeks every 6 weeks or so, the more I do it the better things get over time. I got a ketosis blood glucose meter and when measuring in the late afternoon my ketone levels got up to around 3.0 which is where they need to be by the end of the first week. MCT oil on top of this also helped. Granted yes, the keto diet sucks balls, but when you get the reward of higher cognition and less tremor and see your game dramatically improve, it's worth it. Plus you really don't need to do it for longer than a couple weeks to a month. Honestly I can't get past 2 weeks so far but it's still got lasting effects.

Pleasure to meet you both. Might I say that is a wonderful outfit you are wearing. How did you both fit in to it so nicely? :D

C'mon...gimme

I would love to have this [USB glucose monitor.] (http://www.amazon.com/Bayer-7393-Contour-Glucose-Monitoring/dp/B0030HTZII/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3E1F028WOWQDK&coliid=I2CH1ONXATYZT1) I can't find them locally.

This [item] (http://www.amazon.com/Gut-Bustin-Games-4101965-Redneck/dp/B000P69H62/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=HKYTKX3WEJJD&coliid=I166OU9573XMEW) would be a fantastic for my daughter and I.

Try straight razor or safety razor shaving. Not trying to be a pretentious hipster douchebag encouraging you to buy a $200 dangerous straight razor with no experience. I got a $10 pack of 100 blades to use with my $20 safety razor. After I got comfortable, I got a (literally) $8 straight razor that I use with the same blades. A year later, my only expenses are a thing of shave soap, a sharps container for my old blades, a brush, and a brush stand that a folded out of a piece of coathanger that I colored black with a sharpie.

Is it a revolutionary shave, closer and more perfect than any expensive cartridge? Is every shaving session an equivalent sensation to making love with my face? No. It takes easily 1.5x as long, and requires more components, so I have to let my brush sit out and dry. Changing a blade takes a clear 30 seconds compared to the 2 seconds it used to. BUT, I make up ALL of that time and more with how little I have to run my blade under the water, especially if it's been a few days. And, after the initial, what, $60 investment, I shave for like $10 a year now? And a get a fresh blade every 3 shaves. It could be every shave if I wanted, you snap the 10¢ double edged blades in half for the straight razor, that's five cents a blade. Take that, Dollar shave club. I'm in the six cents shave club, assuming a $10 brick of soap only lasts a year, which it's usually a month or so over.

I use something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/ChillMED-Micro-Cooler-Diabetic-Carrying/dp/B077YXVTBY/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1526407233&sr=8-2-fkmr0&keywords=insulin%2Bcooler%2Bhard%2Bplastic%2Bliner&th=1

I keep a zip lock bag with it so that I can take ice from a drink machine if the cool packs aren't cooling any more. Works pretty well. Then I can freshen up the ice every 3 or 4 hours when stopping for lunch or dinner.

Frio packs are great if your in a dry climate too. But if its humid like near the water this is not a bad option.

Depends how flimsy the desk is as to how much vibration gets transferred to the cameras. You could well be OK without doing anything. If not, you can buy very cheap little security camera mounts from amazon and stick them non permanently to the walls with 3M picture hanging velcro strips. Mounting them up high on a wall will be much better for roomscale standing games anyway because the cameras get a better FOV of your play area even when you lie prone on the ground in a shooter for example.

Security Camera mount

3M Picture hanging Velcro

no problem!

i've never done lancing myself, but others have, and it seems like a successful method. diabetic lancets are recommended a lot as they are already sterile, so they'd be a good option! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H8ZTMZY/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Update: I'm actually really enjoying the taste of Ketosoy right now. I ended up with an immersion blender, 9 drops of sucralose and a teaspoon (3g) of matcha green tea.

Question: Is it fine to split it into 6 meals instead of 3? I tend to feel really hungry at night before bed.

Also, are the measurements accurate? The mix says 4 scoops of powder (which end up weighing anywhere from 16g to 22g each because i don't measure them perfectly, but it ends up averaging 70g which is what it says the serving should be. However with the oil, i weighed a cup filled to the top and it came to 32g of oil instead of the 37g listed on the serving guide.

Also i used a keto testing pee stick

I've been testing it everyday since i started Keto and today's the first time it showed ketos, however it's in the 160 mg/dl purple zone, is that normal?

my protein's gone up, my PH used to test around 5.0 but now it's 6.0, and my keto is in the purple zone.

Edit: I've also lost 2lbs, though that might just be water weight, progress is nice :)

Hi all, I am sorry if this is not fit for here, and by no means a replacement. I highly recommend going to the Doctor for actual test results. That being said, there is the idea of a home A1C check at home. I've used this before between doc visits to check how I am doing and see if more fundamental changes are needed and keep myself on track. I got mine at a local big name pharmancy (Shoppers Drug Mart) But, you should be able to find locally or online. as a quick link: https://www.amazon.ca/A1CNOW-SELFCHECK-TEST-DIAGNOSTICS-DIABETES/dp/B004N11OGQ

Again, not a replacement, but can give a measure overall and just how quickly you really should get to a Doctor. Hope it helps :)

AFAIK it's the same. I have a friend also on keto and he recommended

http://www.amazon.com/Precision-Xtra-Advanced-Diabetes-Management/dp/B0000537OO
http://www.universaldrugstore.com/medications/Precision+Xtra+Ketones+Test+Strips/

I haven't decided to try it, since I trust what my macros are telling over the "omg I farted and it smelled sweet I might not be in keto!" feeling from /r/ketocirclejerk/

It's always better to travel with a vial in case you need more than one dose, but they do make syringe carrying cases that will hold one pre-filled syringe to do what you want to do. I'm sure you can carry it in whatever you need to, but the important thing is storing it in a case that doesn't let the syringe move much, because some insulin can be pushed out if the plunger gets pressed.

This item carries a pre-filled syringe. But something like this can help if you want to carry a vial too.

The sharps containers I buy are actually really cheap. A few bucks ($6) and they last for a few months, even when on MDI. We thought disposal was going to be a hassle, but it turns out that our local waste transfer station will take them for free. To save trips, we just saved up 6-8 of them before dropping them off. They much preferred to get proper containers as the risk to them is greatly mitigated. When we dropped ours off, they went straight into a 55 gallon barrel, which I assume they later took to an incinerator.

These containers are only $6 on Amazon, but I have seen them cheaper in my local big box store:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SOP4UY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1

np!

This one gets pretty good reviews:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JIK6CIW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Dont forget you need ketone strips as well which are sold separately:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B010MPEOOK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I also bought a less invasive lancer to take blood:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013PT257I/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s01?ie=UTF8&th=1

It works, but I try to avoid things that look like food or candy as well as things that can be easily opened. Ideally a lid is permanently attached and a slot cut big enough to fit a blade.


I would not want to have a child find this thinking there may be candy in there. Here is what I use.

The only real product that you can purchase is a blood ketone monitor; something like this.

That being said; they're expensive, and it's certainly worth asking the question "do I really need to be that aware of my blood ketone levels?". For most people, the answer is no because there are other metrics you can use to track your progress towards your personal health goals:

• Athletic performance
  
• Tape measure (take measurements)
  
• Caliper readings
  
• Energy levels
  
• etc

For some reason, this subreddit really likes to downvote stuff pertaining to actually testing if you're in nutritional ketosis. I, myself, find it helpful to ensure I'm not getting carb creep from surprising areas.

I bought this meter: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00JIK6CIW/

And these strips: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B010MPEOOK/

Those Next Link meters are great, (I've got one that I use for my main meter even though I don't use the medtronic pump anymore.) BUT, the way it works is via a proprietary RF that gets picked up by those Medtronic pumps. So there isn't anything that will translate that to a smart phone, normally.

People have finagled closed loop systems with an android phone/Dexcom, a carelink USB dongle, a raspberry pi and a medtronic pump though. (The smartphone has the blood sugar number on it and it has an app that translates it to the pump to give insulin or not via the carelink.) So, its probably possible to reverse engineer a carelink USB thing and hook it up to a smart phone, then write your own custom app to grab the data, but that's a lot of work when there are already bluetooth meters that exist that accomplish the same thing.

UTI test strips: http://www.amazon.com/Areta-Parameter-Urinalysis-Reagent-Strips/dp/B00D5UZMDC/

bulk pregnancy test strips: http://www.amazon.com/ClinicalGuard-Pregnancy-Test-Strips-25-count/dp/B007VT30C8/ They have other amounts available as well. $10 for 2 years worth seems like a small price for peace of mind.

Insulin is pretty heat stable nowadays... I would not leave in in the car at 110 degrees, but I would not worry too much about it. If it is a comfortable temperature for you to sit in, it is alright for your insulin.

If you are really worried about it, I use one of THESE when I use to worry about it. You can keep one ice pack in a cooler and the other in the pack and then switch them out from time to time. But to be honest, I travel to tropical climates all the time and never use the cooler packs.

I have struggled a lot with this. It got to the point where I thought I could definitely tell the difference between a UTI and a flare, but I would go to the doc for a urinalysis just to be told that there was no sign of infection.

This product saved me many a time. Super cheap and way cheaper than what I thought was the only similar product on the market.

Insulin cases work quite well, especially since most of them have spaces for 15-30ml bottles. Something like this would do the job.

Even generic use cases like this would be adequate.

Electronics cases can be useful because they'll have slots for batteries.

Yes, but also no.

Promethease pegged my general blood group as "probably" group A, but there wasn't enough info in my 23andme raw data for them to tell definitively.

My blood is actually A+, which I know because it was tested while I was pregnant.

It's a pretty simple test, easy to do yourself.

https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Type-Eldoncard-Typing-Test/dp/B00O2SRL12

I don't think DE blades have any real way of being recycled. I personally feel they should be regarded as medical waste, particularly any blades that have come into contact with blood. I bought a sharps container on Amazon for $7 that will hold literally hundreds of blades and last me for years. I produce no real waste a negligible amount of this way, considering nothing gets thrown out in my trash can to sit in a landfill, and I will be disposing of it at a drop-off site years from now (the major hospital in my city has one).

EDIT: For the record, I admire your commitment to ecologically friendly practices, definitely not trying to attack you there. Also, that sharps container is mad cheap now: [liiiiiink](Medline Sharps Container Biohazard Needle Disposal Container - 1 Quart https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001B9W78W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_7ekQzbZGVCCSY)

Wow. I think he really needs an A1c test done. Perhaps showing him how poorly he's doing will have some effect. You can even buy an instant home A1c meter and force him to take it.

Does he even see an endocrinologist? Has he had a thorough vision exam?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019QUYTFG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I got this, legit?

Oh and thank you :)

I highly recommend buying a Frio pack : link I have Type 1 diabetes and store my insulin in these for travel. I generally only take what I need with me for the day to the parks: blood testing monitor, glucose tabs, insulin pen and pen needles. I've never had any trouble at security or anything.

I got my case from staples. It was called a "tech case" and it was very inexpensive. Less than $10, I think. If you take your time, you can get it in all sorts of colors to match your outfit.

I carry a vial, six syringes, test strips, glucometer, alcohol swabs, packet of honey, and my lancet thing. Sometimes I stick a little baggie (like a dime bag size) of lancets in there too.

My insurance doesn't cover pens, so the vial and syringes. And I use the dexcom now so I don't typically have to check it manually. But I keep the stuff handy just in case.

Also: for testing I use this. It's called the genteel lancing device. It's fantastic and it hurts less. And, more importantly for me, it doesn't mess up my fingertips. It is kind of pricey but it was worth it for me.

To make my life easier, when I got a box of lancets, I stuck ten in each baggie so that I just have to grab a bag and off I go.

I'm guessing it's a rental so you can't use any nails, screws, or anything which will mark the walls?

If so, I'm in the same boat. I've been using some picture hanging strips which are basically like a velcro that goes on the wall. So far it's held my frames up for months in my last place and in this one. When it came time to leave the last one the frame pops off the wall easily, and then you stretch the sticky part of the hanging strip to make it release (there are fully instructions on the pack). I can highly recommend them.

I love my Frio bag!. I was in Italy at the beach all summer and kept my pens in there with no problems. I use the Novolog pens as well and could fit three tightly.

Do the meters have a list of strips that they support?

This meter tests with Ketone results as well. I was thinking of getting this one.

http://www.amazon.com/Precision-Xtra-Advanced-Diabetes-Management/dp/B0000537OO/ref=sr_1_8?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1368818874&sr=1-8

I'm not sure what kind of medicine you are talking about but I traveled with my girlfriend around Asia for a long time just using FRIO packs for her insulin. They are designed for that exact purpose. Check them out on Amazon. They come in different sizes and colors and are easy to use!

Agreed! Few products have earned my loyalty as much as these - I use them for paintings and pictures and even after several years, they come off with no issue

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Command-Picture-Hanging-Strips-Removable/dp/B00OI6F67O

I use those 3M Velcro things. More than strong enough for movie posters at least.

https://i.imgur.com/j9TeWke.jpg

These things : https://www.amazon.co.uk/Command-Medium-Picture-Hanging-Strips/dp/B00OI6F67O/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1521979783&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=3m+picture+hanging+strips&psc=1

I am getting back to low carb/keto and could use these to help me see that my efforts are not in vain. They'd give me motivation to keep going and not cheat :)

I have this meter. Has a USB port built in for charging and data transfer. No extra cables to keep track of, and you don't have to install the software if you want, but it makes it loads easier to manipulate the data.

Looks like you can still get the Bayer on Amazon, at least for a while. One example:
http://www.amazon.com/A1CNOW-SELFCHECK-BAYER-HEALTHCARE-DIABETES/dp/B004N11OGQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412785333&sr=8-1&keywords=bayer+a1c+tes

EDIT to add more information about why A1CNow is still available:
http://ptsdiagnostics.com/a1cnow.html/uploads/2/6/2/8/26289179/lit_001650_r0_press_release_pts_taking_a1cnow_orders.pdf

Well, they are probably in stock at your local pharmacy.
If you want to order from amazon here's one.

I use the FreeStyle Lite Glucometer, and it's relatively affordable because of my insurance. I'm guessing if I didn't have insurance, i'd be looking at other options like the ones you've mentioned. I'm also considering several of the iPhone glucometers, like this one sold on Amazon for $30: https://www.amazon.com/iHealth-Wireless-Gluco-Monitoring-System-Android/dp/B00N1IRZTW/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1504487939&sr=8-1&keywords=iphone+glucose+monitor

But it's important to consider the cost of the test strips, which for this model are about $11 for 50.

I've considered this, but since I have decent insurance - I'm not actively looking.

I don't know much about epipen, but I have type 1 diabetes and hike with insulin. I use one of these too keep it cool. http://www.amazon.com/FRIO-Individual-Insulin-Cooling-Wallet/dp/B0002262BC/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1410669987&sr=8-5&keywords=frio

You sound like you're in america. Do you have a Walmart or drug store nearby so that you can grab one of these just to have on hand? $9 is cheaper than an ER visit, but at this point it sounds like you need to go in.

Medical debt is just that, medical debt. If you're already in it, some more isn't going to make it worse. They're not going to send you away because you owe them money. They're going to treat you and add another bill to the mix, but all it is, is a bill. Go get help before you do something to yourself that will cost you even more.

Yes there are at home tests... here's one on amazon

You have to give your body time to get into Ketois.

You should purchase Ketois Strips to tell if your body is actually in Ketois. It's an excellent way to keep yourself in check.

I want to say, when I started, my body fell into Ketois in about four days, but my boyfriend took about 2.5 weeks.

Well, for your Ketosticks this is a great deal.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000537YG/ref=oh_o05_s00_i00_details

Order them online? Amazon has the same ones i bought for 15.

These are even cheaper.

http://www.amazon.com/URS-Urinalysis-Strips-Ketone-100/dp/B0000537YG/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1321028685&sr=8-4

or the kinds that everyone is famaliar with.
http://www.amazon.com/KETOSTIX-STRIPS-2880-50-EACH/dp/B0019SNZEA/ref=pd_sim_sbs_hpc_1

I was just googling. Is it worth getting this?https://www.amazon.com/ChillMED-Micro-Cooler-Diabetic-Carrying/dp/B077YXVTBY#aw-udpv3-customer-reviews_feature_div

For used needles, I use two things when I'm out and about: a BD needle clipper and a sharps shaft. First I clip the needle from the pen needle; then I use the plastic piece that the pen needle comes packaged in to unscrew it from my pen; then I drop it into the sharps shaft. Once I get home, I put it in my usual sharps container (I've also included a link for that below in case you're looking for a good sharps container for home, too.)

​

Needle clipper: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VE6KB8/

Sharps shaft: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006AZZQG2

Home sharps container: https://www.amazon.com/BD-4332398307-Home-Sharps-Container/dp/B000SOP4UY/

What jerks. I get these, they're a good deal and you don't have to deal with anyone.

I second Amazon, BP medical supply sells it, $100 for ~$8 USD.

Get it here.

practicality! diabetes monitor http://www.amazon.com/Precision-Xtra-Advanced-Diabetes-Management/dp/B0000537OO/ref=wl_it_dp_v_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=SCQVDN2IW6N9&coliid=I3DRNF9DEK7X0

Here are the Azo ones: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00854L57U/ref=pd_aw_vtph_121_bs_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=8WAE3AK20KNKQZST925Z

But you can use any dipstick that shows leukocytes and nitrites.

Real talk you can buy [sharps containers on amazon](Medline Sharps Container Biohazard Needle Disposal Container - 1 Quart https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001B9W78W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_g7CsDbN25B65J ) for cheap. Check with your local municipal laws about the disposal of sharps containers, but usually you then put the container in a brown paper bag, label that bag “biohazard-sharps”, fold and staple it closed, then toss with your normal trash

Here is what I went with. 100 for $7.78, versus about $23 for the name brand "Ketostix."

> They dont sell sharps containers at Walmart so you cant get one unless you pull one off clinic wall and sneak out with it

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001B9W78W/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_s_it/142-3567966-7006315?ie=UTF8&qid=1498011848&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Sharps-Container-Biohazard-Needle-Disposal/dp/B001B9W78W/ref=sr_1_3?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1412780809&sr=1-3

http://www.amazon.com/A1CNOW-SELFCHECK-TEST-DIAGNOSTICS-DIABETES/dp/B004N11OGQ

Also sold at most pharmacies.

Less than $10 to find out..

https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Type-Eldoncard-Typing-Test/dp/B00O2SRL12

https://www.amazon.com/Precision-Testing-Monitoring-Glucose-Included/dp/B01N9NRDVI

http://www.amazon.com/URS-Urinalysis-Strips-For-Ketone/dp/B0000537YG/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1332365833&sr=1-1

I don't think the display is OLED, I think it's just an LCD. Could be wrong though.

USB makes so much damn sense

I love that it wirelessly tells my pump what the reading was.

As for cost, this one is the same thing minus wireless communication, and it's less than $10. Insurance covers the strips, for me anyway.

This isn't true. The blood meters test for Beta Hydroxbutyrate. Zoom in on the picture of the strips and notice it says B-Ketones? Guess what that means? https://www.amazon.com/Precision-Xtra-Blood-Ketone-Strips/dp/B010MPEOOK

I picked up one of these Biohazard Sharps Containers from a drug store in Canada, there was no charge for it and when it’s full you can return it to them for disposal. I use it for all my razor and utility knife blades. They are also available on Amazon. Also some public washrooms have these containers mounted on the wall, you could dispose of your blades there.

No

Chillpack Double Bag Diabetic Travel Organizer Cooler Bag for Insulin, Supply Kits with 2 x ice Pack Included, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019QUYTFG?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

You could just test it yourself if you're really desperate. This looks similar to the strips we use at the doctor's office. http://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B00D5UZMDC/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1453622996&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=urine+test+strips+blood&dpPl=1&dpID=41In6Am8x4L&ref=plSrch Of course, if it does show blood, then you'd probably have to see a doctor anyway.

No finger prick.

https://www.amazon.com/Precision-Testing-Monitoring-Glucose-Included/dp/B01N9NRDVI/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1506125068&sr=8-1&keywords=ketone+blood+meter

i had the exact opposite experience. i bought the A1CNOW from amazon and had absolutely no issues with it. both tests (since it comes with 2 in the pack) were within .2 of eachother (5.6 and 5.4) and averaged out to the 5.5 i got from the lab a month prior.

• i extracted as much blood as i do for normal blood tests.
  
• note, too much will invalidate the test. anyone saying they need 5 times more than what a normal blod sugar test requires did not read the instructions or watch the video tutorial
  
  
• mixing it and being on a time limit is no bug deal. you have plenty of time assuming you know what youre doing and read the instructions first.
  
• the packaging warns you repeatedly that you are on a time limit. trying to figure it out as you go along is foolish.
  
  
• yes, the meter only works with the included sample holder. had you read the instructions, you'd know that.
  
  
• results take about 5 minutes to process. theres a timer so its not a big deal. set it on a table and leave it alone for 5 minutes.
  
  tldr: yes, this is a bit more complex than a blood sugar test. but assuming you read the instructions, you should have no problem with it at all. if you dont read the instructions, you have noone to blame but yourself.