It’s Never a Good Idea to Forget Your Insulin

I realize that I have forgotten my insulin. Trying not to go into a panic in public, I’m internalizing all of my emotions (I’ve been doing it for years so it’s pretty easy) and only freaking out on the inside. It takes a few moments to compose myself and then I get to work.

Traveling to Southern California

Before moving back to the Midwest, I had booked a ticket to a comedy show in Southern California. I was very excited about it! I don’t go to many comedy shows (that’s changing) and the fact that I was going to see two hilarious comedians was getting me all giddy.

When I decided to move back to the Midwest I looked to see if these comedians were coming anywhere close to where I was moving. Alas, they were not. I decided to make a long weekend trip back to Southern California to see some of my friends and see the show.

I had lived in Southern California for over a decade and knew my way around very well. This trip did not worry me at all. And I was only going for a long weekend, so it was also a very quick trip. Not long enough for anything to go wrong… or so I thought. I may have been a bit too comfortable.

Early Morning Airport Run

My flight back to Southern California was early in the morning so I had to get to the airport around 7:00 am. This was an early morning that I don’t think anyone looks forward to, but I was all packed up and ready to go. All I had to do was wake up, brush my teeth, and wait for my ride.

I get to the airport and make my way through security with no issues and slowly make my way to my terminal. At my terminal I stop and get something for breakfast. When I go to inject myself, I quickly notice that I don’t have enough insulin for my trip.

I do NOT Have Enough Insulin

I have enough for a day and a half, but I will be gone for two and a half days. There is no way that I can make it back home to pick up insulin and then come back to the airport and make my flight.

I decided to do this as calmly (on the outside) as possible and finish my breakfast before doing anything about it. Eating gives me enough time to think about my current situation and what all of my options are. (My breakfast wasn’t anything special, typical airport food).

My Game Plan to Get More Insulin

Made my way to my gate and get settled before making any moves to get my insulin. I decided to call the pharmacy I used in Southern California and try to get a refill of my insulin using the automated message. (I didn’t have high hopes).

Like I expected, I could not refill my prescription using the automated message. And I didn’t have my prescription number on me.

Once it got a little later, I called my roommate to find and read me my prescription number. This way I could more easily refill it when I got to Southern California.

Calling the Pharmacist in Southern California

When I get to Southern California, I make my way to my friend’s house and spend some time saying hi to her cats. And then I deal with my insulin. (I have appropriate priorities – cats first then insulin).

I called the pharmacy and asked if they have my insulin in stock as I need to pick it up within 24-hours. My previous pharmacy didn’t have the insulin I needed (because of course). I ended up calling another place close by and they did have my insulin in stock! Success!

I ask them to refill the prescription that’s still in their system and that I need to pick it up by tomorrow morning. They told me that would not be a problem, and they would get started on refilling that prescription.

Picking up my Insulin

I called the pharmacy in the morning to see if my prescription is ready. I’m informed that they don’t have anything in their system that I had asked for a refill. At this point I started to get angry since I was told over the phone that it would be ready this morning.

So… I start the process over again. I ask them to refill my prescription and that I need to come pick it up within the hour.

Luckily, this time they actually refilled my prescription, and I picked it up within the hour.

What Did I Learn?

Since this was a very quick trip to the place where I used to live, I was too comfortable. When I go on longer trips and/or on trips to places I don’t know, I’m better at packing my diabetes supplies.

I’m happy that I was able to refill my prescription where I was. It’s lucky that I recently lived in Southern California and my name and medications were still in the system. I know that even if you’re not in the system, they can still refill prescriptions for you, it usually takes some extra steps (at least in my experience).

Sometimes you forget something important when you travel. The most important thing is to try and stay calm and work through the problem methodically. If only I had followed my own packing list and travel tips I would have been in a much better position.