Hey mama, we both know life with T1D is a constant balancing act. There is a lot to think about and manage, and as the champion of your family – it often falls on your shoulders. But I know you’re up for the task and you’re doing an amazing job!

Between the blood sugar checks, supply runs, and late-night alarms, you’re carrying a lot. That’s why I want to share three easy ways to organize your diabetes supplies so you can save time, lower stress, and feel more in control.

Let’s make organizing supplies one less thing to worry about—are you ready to dive in? Let’s go!

1. Create a Dedicated Diabetes Supply Station

When it comes to organizing diabetes supplies, keeping everything in one place is a total game-changer. Find a spot in your home (it doesn’t have to be fancy!) where all the essentials live—think test strips, lancets, extra CGMs, and backup snacks.

Where possible, be sure to use labeled bins or baskets to keep things neat, easy to grab and visible!

In our T1D family, we’ve found the most success storing all of my husband’s supplies in a designated drawer in our bedroom closet. Every few weeks, we restock it—extra batteries for pump changes, low blood sugar snacks, you name it!

Having his supplies in the bedroom takes the hassle out of late-night needs. No more wandering around trying to gather supplies in the middle of the night (because who likes that?!).

Everything is now in one neat place (minus his insulin, which we store in the fridge), making it so much easier to stay organized and address concerns quickly.

Action Step

Now it’s your turn! Choose a space today and gather your supplies there. Even a small shelf or drawer works wonders!

2. Prep a Grab-and-Go Diabetes Kit for Outings

You know that “oh no!” (or more like “oh *&%!”) moment when you realize you’ve left something behind? Let’s avoid that altogether by being proactive to think of supplies for on the go!

A grab-and-go kit is your portable solution for school, errands, or road trips. Fill a small pouch or bag with key items like glucose tablets, snacks, and a backup glucose meter or CGM, and keep it stocked and ready to go.

In our T1D family, we use a dedicated diabetes travel kit stored in its own small backpack. Between trips, we make sure the backpack is always stocked so we’re ready for any spontaneous outings. That way, when a fun opportunity comes up, we’re already organized—just grab your backpack and go!

Action Step

Assemble your kit now and stash it by the door or in your favorite bag. Trust me, future you will thank me!

3. Rotate and Check Supplies Regularly

Expired supplies? Missing test strips? It happens! Setting a monthly reminder to check expiration dates, refill essentials, and toss anything no longer needed can save you from those last-minute panics.

Our family recently went through this exercise and realized we were way overdue! My husband found test strips that were six years old—oops! While it’s tempting to hold onto things “just in case,” it’s so important to pause and reflect. Expired supplies won’t help in a pinch, so we rotated them out.

These small changes really do add up. The next time my husband needed test strips, there was no chance of grabbing expired ones—a total win-win.

Action Step

Starting today, pick one day a month (maybe the first or last) to do a quick diabetes supply check. Can you add a little fun to the process?

In our family, we like to play upbeat music or brew a favorite cup of coffee and tackle it first thing in the morning—it makes the task feel much more enjoyable! Find what works best for you, and don’t forget to add it to your calendar now so it becomes a regular habit.

Start Small and Stay Focused

When it comes to organizing diabetes supplies, remember it doesn’t have to be super complicated! Start small and focus on one area or category at a time—maybe gather all low blood sugar snacks in one spot or clear out expired supplies.

Also, be sure to pick a time when you can truly focus. There’s nothing worse than starting a project and not having enough time to finish it. Try to realistically estimate how much time organizing will take.

Then choose the moment when you can give it your full attention. For me, that’s during my daughter’s nap windows—it’s a bit of a dance, but it works!

Celebrate Small Wins!

Small changes add up to big wins. These three steps for organizing diabetes supplies can make caregiving smoother and your days easier. Start with one tip, have fun experimenting, and give yourself grace along the way.

Ready to get started? I’d love to hear how you’ve organized your supplies! Share your ideas in the comments or drop me a note through my website. Let’s make this journey a little lighter, together. 💕

Until next time, sending you and your family tons of love!

Allee

This blog is made for informational and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice. The information in this blog is not intended to (1) replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified licensed healthcare provider, (2) create or establish a provider-patient relationship, or (3) create a duty for us to follow up with you.