Your Guide To Packing For College With T1D

Disclaimer: Beyond Type 1 does not encourage or condone illegal activity, including underage drinking or recreational drug use. We recognize that college students may encounter unfamiliar situations involving sex, drugs and alcohol, and we believe in preparing students with accurate health information for the unexpected. This content is intended for harm reduction and diabetes safety purposes only.

So you’re headed to college for the first time while living with type 1 diabetes (T1D). First of all, congratulations! This is a truly exciting time in life that should be celebrated, but it’s also valid if you’re feeling nervous, especially while managing an unrelenting chronic illness like T1D.

They say nervousness is the opposite side of the excitement coin, and there’s a lot of truth to that. It’s easy to walk that emotional line when you’re navigating a big new chapter in your life!

Remember, you’ve made it this far and you can self-manage while you’re away. Your parent(s) and caretaker(s)—or anyone else who currently supports you—are only a phone call, text or video call away.

Part of nailing your self-management plan at college is making sure you pack everything you need to be successful. In this guide, we share what you should bring with you and why, along with some tips and tricks to start your new chapter on a high note!

How to create your T1D college packing list

A little planning goes a long way in life with diabetes, especially when new opportunities, challenges or big life transitions like heading to college arise. At Beyond Type 1, we know that living with T1D already requires a lot of thinking and we don’t want you to have to overthink it. 

So if you’re feeling like you’re about to spiral, take a step back and a deep breath. This is one thought train you can take off of your to-do list. We’ve organized it for you! Remember, this is a starting point. Because everyone manages T1D slightly differently, your packing list may require a little customization.

Use this as a jumping-off point you can discuss and finalize with your support circle, whether that’s your parent(s) or caregiver(s), friends, other family members or your healthcare team.

First thing’s first: consider transferring your prescriptions

Depending on how far away you’re going to college, you may need to pack backups for your backups. Location is everything! You may need to transfer your prescriptions to a new pharmacy or carefully time your home visits to align with at-home pharmacy pickups. 

If you’re moving across the country or more than a few hours away, this is highly recommended. If it’s something you don’t want to worry about and you want time away from your homestead even if you’ll be close by, that’s also a clear reason to transfer your prescriptions to a pharmacy near campus. Everyone has a different home situation, so be kind to yourself and others if your way or theirs doesn’t align.

If you’re unsure how to transfer your prescriptions, talk to your current pharmacist, explain your situation and involve your parent(s) or caregiver(s) in the conversation if they’re currently paying for and/or picking up your prescriptions. This can also be a good time to discuss prescription prices if you’ll be the one paying for them moving forward. 

Typically, folks stay on their parents’ insurance during college, but may start paying for prescriptions during this time as they take steps toward adulting. In the United States, as of 2026, children can still stay on their parents’ insurance until they are age 27.

If you have any prescriptions being delivered to your home right now, which is common for durable medical equipment (DME) supplies like continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and insulin pumps, remember to update the address to your college location if it’s more convenient for you to have them shipped directly there.

Pack your diabetes supplies and devices

Now that you’ve had some time to mull over your future prescription pickup plan, it’s time to start packing! Get any refills ahead of time so you can pack everything you need.

Add any diabetes devices and supplies you may need, such as:

• Backup insulin (and backup of backup)
• Insulin pump supplies and CGM sensors, with extra on hand
• Syringes or pens as backup insulin delivery methods
• Extra diabetes device chargers and batteries
• Ketone test strips or meter
• Alcohol swabs, lancets, lancing device, extra blood glucose meters (BGM)

Pack low blood sugar supplies

Don’t forget to pack low blood sugar supplies, and make sure you explain to your roommate what that is for, especially if they consider snacks a free-for-all. If you use candy to treat your lows, this is especially important. You don’t want them clearing out your stash and leaving you SOL!

Pack low blood sugar goodies like:

• Fast-acting glucose (sugar) like tablets, gel, gummies or powder
• Alternative treatments for lows that are easy to store in a dorm, such as juice boxes or hard candies
• Emergency glucagon

Teach your roommate and college pals how to use glucagon on you in case an emergency ever arises. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. We know it may feel intimidating or scary to introduce new friends to your diabetes at first, but if they handle it well, they’re worth keeping around. True friends will always accept and embrace your diabetes and want to help however they can!

Pack organization supplies

If you’re more of a “beautiful mess” or “controlled chaos” person, you can probably skip this section, but if you want to get better about organizing your diabetes supplies, whether as a personal goal or as-needed because of the size or setup of your dorm, consider investing in the following supplies and using them throughout your college years.

Add these storage supplies to your college shopping list if you don’t already have them, then pack them up:

• Mini fridge for insulin
• Insulated travel case or bag for supplies
• A designated “diabetes drawer” or bin in your dorm room

Get inspired by professional home organizers like Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin of The Home Edit—their Instagram page is packed with fun and easy startup ideas. And, you can get a lot of organization kits and supplies at stores like Walmart or Target. Pinterest is also a great place to find organization ideas for college dorms! 

Get your roommate involved in the organization process if that’s their thing. Mapping out and moving your room around is a great way to build your relationship and bond!

Don’t forget to pack your medical ID + documentation

Well, kid, you’re an adult now because you have to think about packing things like medical identification (ID) and documentation. It sounds boring—and it kind of is—but it could also save your life in an emergency, so don’t skip this part.

Remember to pack:

• Copies of prescriptions
• Diabetes management plans 
• Doctor’s letter for TSA or travel, if flying to school or planning to study abroad
• Insurance card and info
• Emergency contact list
• Medical ID, such as backpack or shoe tags, watch attachments or jewelry

If medical IDs aren’t your thing but you always have your phone on you, that can work, too. Just remember to set up your emergency contact information so if you’re ever in a tough situation, someone can easily figure out who to contact on your behalf. 

Remember, emergency responders cannot use tattoos as medical ID because they can be memorial tattoos. So even though the new T1D tattoo you got is sick and we know what it means, it’s never okay for medical providers to assume this means you have a diagnosis. It’s actually unlawful to do so.

Try to keep digital and paper versions of each of these if, for any reason, you can’t reach your tech to pull up the documentation you need.

Pack mental health comfort items

Because you’re going through a big change, even if you’re excited, college can bring up some big feelings. Having comforts nearby can go a long way since stress impacts blood sugar significantly. Bring anything along that helps you manage your stress, such as a comfort item or routine from home.

Mental health comfort items may include:

• A familiar blanket from home
• Anxiety, ADHD or depression medications
• Noise-cancelling headphones
• A planner or journal
• Nighttime sound or essential oil machines

If you’re using something that adds noise or smell to your room, explain it to your roommate so they know why. We don’t want you to compromise on something you need, but if it’s a nice-to-have, consider meeting them halfway if they don’t like the scent or sound you’re currently into. Don’t use T1D as an excuse to be a jerk—you know what you need and what’s a nice-to-have.

Stay safe and communicate

We’ve already gone over the importance of investing in a medical ID item and having the glucagon conversation with your roommate. Still, there are a few other things you should do to stay safe. 

First, share your diabetes device data with an on-campus friend or your roommate. While it’s great that your parent(s), caregiver(s), long-distance romantic partner, sibling(s) or friend(s) have access, you should also have someone who’s nearby day-to-day with the same access. 

Second, you should also register with your campus health or disability services department, so they are aware of your condition and can help you more quickly in an emergency. Odds are, you won’t need either of these things, but the peace of mind it will offer you is unmatched.

Finally, expect the unexpected. Such is life with T1D! You’re bound to encounter many situations you haven’t before in college, whether you’re partying, drinking alcohol, trying drugs or having sex for the first time. These unknowns can stir up some interesting diabetes moments. 

Knowing you’ve done all of the work to keep yourself safe can help you stay present and enjoy the craziness of college a little more!

Enjoy your college years with T1D: you’re prepared!

When you’re prepared and organized with diabetes, navigating the day-to-day ups and downs of life can feel a lot more manageable, comfortable and exciting. More than anything, we want you to feel present and enjoy college. It can be the best time of a lot of people’s lives! Lean in, let loose and make it what you’ve envisioned.

Thrive out loud with your T1D! If you’re newly diagnosed or just want a refresher on the ins and outs of T1D management, download the Beyond Diagnosis Guide.