Kerri’s list of diabetes moving fun got me thinking: I haven’t updated you all on the renovation scene and hotel life yet. So here’s my take.
You know you’re diabetic and moving out for a home remodel when:
- Clearing out your bedroom for construction makes you realize you own more boxes full of medical wipes, test strip vials, expired prescription meds, insulin pump supplies, and various diabetic carry cases than anything else (with the exception of shoes, of course)
- You take up a whole entire drawer in the hotel suite for “Diabetes Supplies” and defend this territory sharply — did I mention a total of 8 drawers available for a family of 5?!
- You pack that little hotel fridge with both diet AND sugary drinks, and you don’t want anyone else to touch either!
- You about have a conniption fit when you realize you can’t access WordPress from the PC in the hotel room, so no way to get “inside” your diabetes world (snafu still being worked out)
- While ordering new countertops, you constantly squint your eyes, and try to envision: how will this work for BG testing?
- The electrician keeps talking about “testing units,” too, and it makes you all jumpy
- You spend countless hours daydreaming about what kind of sconce light in the Master Bath would make night-time BG testing easier and more pleasant
- You spend equal amounts of time scouring the internet for a wall-mounted sharps container that isn’t hospital-issue red plastic. Don’t they come in brushed nickel or something?
- Carpet colors are hard to choose: too light gets too dirty, and “rogue test strips” are hard to spot. But darker is depressing, and makes rogue test strips more embarrassing in front of company
- Planning your spacious new walk-in closet is all about that great new corner
that’s going in for “D-Supplies” (the Closet Factory folks are stumped) - You know which copy of the architect’s renderings are yours because of the small blood stains on the edge
- And: You drive up to the house almost every day not so much to check on building progress, but because you’re paranoid that your latest package of insulin might get dumped there instead of being forwarded to interim living quarters
Diabetes + Home Renovation + Moving = so much fun. I hear you, Kerri!
LOL –
Be careful with the Little fridges in hotel rooms
They REALLY like to freeze stuff – Like insulin
Doug
Most wall-mounted sharps containers come in industrial “putty” — your choice of metal (public rest rooms) or plastic (medical facilities).
Amy,
Your post made me giggle when I read it. I work for a major Home Improvement Company. As I was reading it, you had my head spinning as to what would work for your D needs. Having had D for 39 years I would have the same concerns.
Lighting for the bedside/bath to test your BS. Suggestion: get a dimmer. You won’t have to wake your husband up to test.
Sharps container: Check out major cabinet makers. They have sliders, pull outs cabinets that you could slide in and out from under the cabinet.
I wouldn’t want to clutter up my new pretty countertops either. Find a drawer in your Kitchen that is your D drawer. I have a couple of D Drawers in my house also. Or find some pretty cannisters that you like and just throw your stuff in them.
So next time when I qualify a customer for a kitchen design. I will ask the customer if they need anything special for D needs. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the laugh Amy, I’ll remember this one if I ever decide to do a major remodel. I really like the comment on the electrician.
Seems to me we need more designers with diabetes, to solve all these critical issues.
Great post, Amy. I really enjoyed it!
I’m a diabetic and never seen any humour in it, but this made me smile!
Its amazing how a little thing like renovating your home could cause such inconvenience to your daily schedules. If a bathroom renovation is part of your home improvements then you may want to consider installing some roll out draws in your vanity for easier access of all your diabetic paraphernalia.
Not only did this make me laugh, but it actually gave me some things to think about when I get around to remodeling my kitchen and bath. After all, what colors do go well with diabetes testing strips and the occasional drops of blood on the counter?
I want to thank you for entering your post in the Chronic Babe blog carnival. I never thought of home renovations from that perspective before. I have, mind you, lived in motels and know what you mean about the small fridge! I hope you have a microwave, too.
Good luck with the renovations, and I hope your insulin arrives at the proper destination.