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Discovering a considerate present for a buddy or member of the family who lives with diabetes might be arduous. That’s why I created this information!
Diabetes presents was once much less thrilling than getting socks for Christmas, however now there are such a lot of stunning, helpful, or simply plain cool diabetes merchandise obtainable that I actually need to share them with you!
How I picked the diabetes present concepts to incorporate
All of the gadgets on this information are issues that I both already personal or that I’d be excited to unwrap myself.
We take care of diabetes 24/7, so why not add somewhat colour, know-how, info, and enjoyable to make our on a regular basis diabetes administration rather less scientific and somewhat extra tolerable?
I replace this information at any time when I discover a new product that deserves to be on it, so it’s at all times the Final Information to Items for Diabetics, regardless of whenever you’re studying it.
For those who use a product that you just assume I ought to embody, please depart a hyperlink within the feedback beneath in order that I can test it out.
Suppose before you purchase: Life with diabetes might be overwhelming typically, and never everybody will respect getting a diabetes-related present on a day that ought to be all about enjoyable, household, and buddies. If unsure, I counsel you purchase a present that’s helpful for individuals with diabetes with out being made particularly for individuals with diabetes (just like the foot massager or Apple watch).
Diabetes equipment from Myabetic
We take a look at our testing provides, insulin pens, and CGMs day-after-day, faithfully carrying them round wherever we go.
The ladies at Myabetic determined to make that have rather less medical and ugly trying by creating stunning high-quality (vegan leather-based) diabetes provides carrying purses and instances in a wide range of colours.
Here’s a 10-second video of me with my Myabetic bag:
They even have choices for males (who might desire instances which can be rather less female) and youngsters, so that they have us all coated. I really like my Myabetic purse and Dexcom case and use them day-after-day!
You should utilize the code DIABETESSTRONG to get 15% off all of your Myabetic merchandise!
Diabetes purses and instances from Sugar Medical
Sugar Medical is one other firm that has got down to make diabetes instances and purses fashionable equipment.
Most of their merchandise are made of cloth, which signifies that they’re pretty inexpensive however the high quality remains to be excessive (try my favorites, the Diabetes Triple Zip Purse and the Insulated Journey Bag).
You’ll be able to see how I take advantage of my Sugar Medical bag when touring on this brief video:
Loads of the instances and purses have an insulated pocket for insulin and include a singular function which is the Sugar Medical Check Strip Garbage can.
It’s a small slit within the case or purse the place you set your used check strips so that they find yourself in a small separate compartment. Meaning no extra check strip graveyard within the backside of your instances or purses.
You should utilize the code DIABETESSTRONG to get 10% off all Sugar Medical merchandise!
Diabetes accent belt from Spibelt
Spibelt (Small Private Merchandise Belt) is a fanny pack particularly made for individuals residing with diabetes. It’s nice for storing your diabetes necessities when working, understanding, or simply leaping round. Their medical line belts even have holes for pump tubing!
I don’t put on an insulin pump however that is my go-to belt once I go for a run or hit the gymnasium and don’t have any pockets.
The belt doesn’t transfer or bounce round whenever you run as another belts do. After I run (which isn’t usually) I take advantage of this and convey alongside my cellphone, blood glucose meter, ID, glucose tabs, and keys.
You should purchase the Spibelt on Amazon.
Medical ID jewellery from Lauren’s Hope
I actually like jewellery (who doesn’t?), so why not mix a fairly necklace or bracelet with a doubtlessly lifesaving medical ID tag? That’s what the creator of Lauren’s Hope got down to do and the outcomes are superb!
Carrying some form of medical alert identification is clearly a wise selection for individuals residing with diabetes (or anyone who may find yourself in a scenario the place they want medical assist), and if you need a good looking and discreet solution to do it, jewellery from Lauren’s Hope is the right possibility.
It is a nice present thought for a particular individual in your life!
You’ll be able to see my Lauren’s Hope medical ID bracelet (and my Myabetic bag) within the picture beneath:
Medical ID equipment from MyID
MyID takes medical IDs to a complete new degree as most of their merchandise function a wearable QR code (Fast Response code, similar to a bar code) making it simple to entry your medical info in a digital format.
You determine what info to incorporate in your profile and when your code is scanned, that info shall be shared with EMT or hospital personnel.
MyID has plenty of totally different choices together with watch sleeves, bracelets, ID tags, pockets playing cards, and stickers.
Probably the most primary wearable MyID is a medical ID sleeve which you could put on in your watch. That’s my favourite as I can put on it with my favourite watch.
You’ll be able to go to the MyID retailer to see all their merchandise.
Here’s a video of how I put on my MyID watch sleeve:
A smartwatch that works with steady glucose screens (CGMs)
For those who put on a Dexcom CGM like me, having the ability to see your blood sugar readings straight in your wrist is completely sensible, and each Apple Watch, Fitbit, and Garmin supply that answer.
Solely Apple and Garmin have official Dexcom apps however you may obtain an unofficial clockface to FitBit (see how on this YouTube video) and that works simply as nicely.
The individual carrying the Dexcom nonetheless has to deliver their iPhone with them they usually should be not more than 6 ft from the cellphone for this to work.
You’ll be able to learn my overview of the very best smartwatches for individuals with diabetes to study extra or purchase one in all my really useful smartwatches right here:
I take advantage of a Fitbit with the Dexcom app displayed on the house display, as you may see right here:
Most individuals take pleasure in a foot therapeutic massage, and for individuals with kind 1 or kind 2 diabetes, getting a foot therapeutic massage may even profit blood sugar ranges, improve blood circulation, and alleviate a number of the signs of diabetic neuropathy.
So why not add a foot massager machine to your wishlist? A lot of the foot massagers obtainable are sufficiently small to simply be saved away in a closet whenever you don’t use them and all of the set up required is that you just plug it into {an electrical} outlet.
After which all you must do is sit again and revel in a therapeutic massage. That appears like a beautiful present to me.
Yow will discover the right mannequin on your current in my overview of the very best foot massagers for individuals with diabetes (or simply purchase the Shiatsu Foot & Calf Massager that I ranked as no 1 in my overview.)
Lily’s chocolate
It has been a long-standing joke that diabetes chocolate, aka sugar-free chocolate, is so dangerous that you just solely present it to individuals you don’t like.
However that has modified in recent times and I believe that Lily’s chocolate is the gold commonplace in relation to sugar-free chocolate.
Lily’s now gives chocolate bars, baking chocolate, chocolate-covered nuts, peanut butter cups (that can make you fully overlook the full-sugared ones), and different sweet choices.
Totally different sweeteners are used within the number of Lily’s merchandise however they don’t comprise maltitol, maltodextrin, or dextrose.
You should purchase Lily’s chocolate on Amazon.
4AllFamily Insulin cooling case
A 4AllFamily cooler is the right answer for preserving insulin cool whereas touring or in sizzling locations (just like the seashore). It was my best choice once I reviewed the very best insulin coolers and journey instances.
I additionally did a full overview and demonstration of the 4AllFamily cooler on YouTube.
They’ve plenty of totally different sizes, starting from one-pen coolers all the way in which as much as coolers that may simply match 7 insulin pens.
I like this smaller one for shorter journeys as it’s tremendous mild and can preserve my insulin beneath 79F (26C) for as much as 16 hours. The temperature and the way lengthy it’ll preserve it chilly will depend on the skin temperature.
However what makes 4AllFamily distinctive is the coolers that include a USB lid.
For those who get the transportable medical fridge lid, it’ll convert your cooler right into a mini fridge so long as it’s plugged into an influence supply. Meaning that it’ll preserve your insulin 36-46F (2-8C) endlessly when plugged in.
You should purchase the 4AllFamily coolers on Amazon.
Frio cooling instances
Frio cooling instances are sensible for preserving insulin on the proper temperature when you’re touring or simply out within the solar. With a Frio case, you might be on the street for longer durations with out having to consider entry to a fridge.
The way in which that is totally different from different cooling instances is that there aren’t any ice packs or fridges concerned, you merely submerge the pouch in water and it’ll preserve your insulin on the proper temperature for no less than 2 days.
And after the two days are up, you may simply resubmerge the pouch in water and you’ve got one other 2 days of cooling, and so forth.
You should purchase Frio cooling instances on Amazon.
Shimmer for a Remedy Jewellery
What I really like in regards to the Shimmer for a Remedy assortment is that it’s a mix of fairly jewellery and diabetes consciousness.
The designer behind the gathering lives with diabetes and collaborates with JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Analysis Basis).
The Skyline Royale Assortment is designed “to empower and educate, bringing forth a message of energy and resilience to these residing with diabetes” and consists of necklaces, rings, earrings, scented candles, t-shirts, and way more.
My favourite items of the Skyline Royale Assortment are the tennis bracelet and hoop earrings, however there are many different choices, they usually’re inexpensive too.
You’ll be able to try the gathering on their web site.
Diabetes books
Data is all the things in relation to diabetes, and increasing your information will solely make life simpler.
All of those books are written by individuals residing with diabetes that I extremely respect and provides you with extra insights into the complexity of diabetes, train, yoga, and psychological well being.
- Suppose Like a Pancreas by Gary Scheiner
- The Diabetic Muscle and Health Information by Phil Graham
- Shiny Spots & Landmines by Adam Brown
- The Athlete’s Information to Diabetes by Sheri Colberg
- Your Diabetes Science Experiment by Ginger Vieira
- Yoga For Diabetes: The right way to Handle Your Well being with Yoga and Ayurveda by Rachel Zinman
You too can check out this checklist of the 21 finest diabetes books for extra concepts.
Donate to a diabetes group
If in case you have all of the stuff you want and simply need to assist different individuals with diabetes, possibly asking for a donation in your identify may very well be an possibility.
I’ve listed 3 organizations that every one work arduous to assist individuals residing with diabetes, whether or not it’s by means of analysis, community-building, or elevating consciousness and combating injustice.
If you’re exterior the US and would favor to maintain the donations inside your house nation, most international locations have a nationwide diabetes affiliation you may contact and donate to as a substitute.
- Past Kind 1 (BT1) – Based in 2015, Past Kind 1 is the brand new child on the block. They’ve constructed a neighborhood for individuals with diabetes (try their app), present schooling, and lift consciousness about diabetes. All donations go straight to those applications. Additionally they have actually good details about diabetes-related topics on their web site. You’ll be able to even discover health recommendation written by yours really.
- Juvenile Diabetes Analysis Basis (JDRF) – The JDRF is a worldwide group funding diabetes analysis. Native branches have in depth neighborhood actions, schooling, and advocacy applications. I’m personally concerned with JDRFs Los Angeles Younger Management Committee (YLC), a small fundraising and community-building group.
- American Diabetes Affiliation (ADA) – The American Diabetes Affiliation is the most important of the diabetes organizations. Their mission is to stop and remedy diabetes and to enhance the lives of all individuals affected by diabetes. You’ll discover a ton of assets concerning all the things diabetes-related on their web site in addition to native help.
As you may see, there are plenty of nice diabetes-related presents to place in your want checklist. If I missed something, let me know within the feedback beneath and I’ll add it to my Final Information to Items for Diabetics!
Joyful Holidays!
