Posted on by Lorraine

Insulin Ornaments

We made OmniPod ornaments the year Caleb was diagnosed and began pumping.

OmniPod Ornaments - Christmas 2007

This year, inspired by these and these, we made insulin vial ormanents.

We made one for each Christmas Caleb has had diabetes – each from a different type of insulin…

NPH, Lantus, Diluted Humalog (notes on the back of the year tag to explain each insulin's use).

or in this case, glucagon.

Glucagon

Then we made several more to give to people who support him including his school nurse, his teacher and family members.

For Caleb's Support Team

Happy holidays!

30 Replies to “Insulin Ornaments”

  2. How cute! What a fun idea. This might be a stupid question, but how do you get the tops off the insulin vials? I’ve never tried before…

    1. Joanne – I just pry them off with needle-nose pliers (is that what they are called?). The metal is soft and pliable, so it’s not hard at all. đŸ™‚

  4. @JaimieH gave George, Cherise, and I Humalog ornaments last year (?) at our Christmas dinner. If we’ve got to be diabetic, at least let’s be creative diabetics, right?! đŸ™‚

  5. OK, between you and Laura Houston and Mike Hoskins I am getting in a D-Christmas mood over here! I am gonna get out some supplies and let the kids go CRAZY with them. Thanks for the inspiration Lo!

    P.S. I still need to show Joe Caleb’s video…busy day after school yesterday…I am hoping to do it today.

    (((HUGS)))

  10. LOVE! Love the idea, love that you give them a gift, love that you mark Caleb’s Christmases. Just all-around fabulousness. I think I’m going to have to start saving my insulin bottles….

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  12. Those are so neat!!! I’m totally making one – I’m now really hoping the site change I do this morning will drain my current bottle of insulin!! đŸ™‚ I had the same question as Joanne about getting the tops off – thanks for the instruction!

    1. Post a pic! I love to see the different interpretations people have. Drain that vial baby! đŸ™‚

  13. You guys are SO creative!! Those came out so good đŸ™‚
    I should have been doing something like this all these years since Christmas + diabetes has significant meaning to me – my diagnosis date! Unfortunately I work in investment banking for a reason đŸ˜‰

  14. Oh my! What a great idea!!! I wish mom and I had come up with that idea to mark the years.. This year I’d be making my 22nd! I think 22 is a good year to start. đŸ™‚ Thanks for the inspiration!

  15. Alright, I need to stop disposing of our medical waste so quickly!

    Our tree is decorated with pod ornaments and I guess I’ll start saving insulin vials for next year.

    Didn’t you do a string of lights w insulin vials once?

    Did you ever find out about the tiny corks? I bet Michael’s would have them.

  16. Hi! My daughter was diagnosed at age 4 w/ Type I diabetes and she is now 26. I saw you had a bottle of diluted insulin. How interesting- do they make that now? When Lauren was newly diagnosed we had terrible times measuring her regular insulin. Often, half a unit was too much, and 0 was too little. We could not find a way to measure 1/4 unit of insulin! I would imagine diluted insulin would be the answer!!
    Good luck with your little one. I was promised a cure by JDRF in the 1990’s (back when they were still JDF) and I’m still waiting. I was the chairperson of the 1st black tie gala San Antonio had for JDF in 1990. We raised all of $29,000. Today, our local chapter makes over $1 million every year with their annual gala!
    I love JDRF but hate diabetes!! Again, good luck and God bless your family.

  19. I LOVE your ornaments! We should open up a D Art store or website! Between our 6 kids we could get pretty creative! How do you keep the decorations in the vials? Do you put the lid back on? Help a mom out?

    1. Let’s do it friend! đŸ™‚ I picked mostly things that didn’t need to be sealed in but I’m getting me some corks for next year! I love all the pics of your OrnaPods you’ve shared with the DOC. Soooooo pretty!

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