Other Essential and Helpful Information and Tools
We’ve been there—facing a hospital stay, a health scare, or just the worry of “what if.”
That’s why this section is packed with tools we’ve found helpful ourselves: how to safely switch from a pump to injections, a sick day checklist, a step-by-step guide to creating your own Personal Medical Resume, and a Life Planning Worksheet that gently walks through the stages of health, from thriving to end-of-life.
You’ll also find tips for organizing healthcare directives, estate documents, and building a team of advocates who truly understand your wishes.
Because planning ahead isn’t about fear—it’s about dignity, strength, and peace of mind.
Additional Resources
Extended Emergency Go Bag for Insulin-Using Diabetics
Guide on how to put together a larger go bag for T1Ds who require insulin.
Preparedness Resources
Additional preparation resources.
Essential Packing List for Traveling with Type 1 Diabetes
Supplies and documentations to carry for people traveling with T1D.
Medical IDs
Reviews of medical bracelets and other IDs and their advantages and disadvantages.
Instructions for Emergency Contacts in Android Smartphones
Step-by-step instructions of how to add emergency contacts in Android phones.
Instructions for Emergency Contacts in iOS (iPhone) Smartphones
Step-by-step instructions of how to add emergency contacts in iPhones.
Taking a Pumpcation or Pump Failure
How to temporarily switch from an insulin pump to injections (and back again).
Switching from Pump to Multiple Daily Injections
Guide on how to transition from an insulin pump to multiple daily injections
Sick Day Checklist
Printable checklist for how to survive a sick day.
Planning Ahead: Advance Directives & Estate Organizers
How to plan for medical situations so your loved ones don’t have to make these difficult decisions for you.
Last updated 07/22/2025.
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Interview – Hearts Afire: Surviving the 2025 Altadena Wildfire
She saw it coming closer on social media and the TV News, she heard the howling winds, but she couldn’t imagine that it could reach all the way to her house. So many previous fires had stayed in the foothills and not ventured into the neighborhoods of Altadena, CA. But as a T1D of 61 years, Dorothy Noe smelled, and then saw, the approaching danger. Over a period of hours on January 7 and 8, 2025, she and her husband had to take action. When she evacuated her house that dark, early morning, she never imagined that she’d never return.
Webinar: Senior Planet From AARP Presents Wellness Wednesday: Emergency Readiness for Diabetes and Beyond
A wellness lunch series from AARP highlighting seniors with diabetes.
What happens to your health management when the power goes out, an earthquake hits, or your luggage goes missing? For anyone living with a medical condition, preparation is a survival strategy. Watch to learn how to build a reliable emergency plan.
Webinar: Proactive Care Planning: Having a Strong Voice in the Future of Your Care — with Wendy Norman, Dr. George Birchfield, and Hilary Walker
Join Dr. George Birchfield and advance care planning specialist Hilary Walker of Known Wishes to learn how planning ahead lets you stay in charge of all your care — including your diabetes — during an emergency, a hospital stay, or at end of life. You’ll walk away with practical tools to make sure your wishes are known, documented, and honored.