insulin & hot weather

[ch1ps]

Hi

I've only been on insulin since November and we have not had a lot of hot weather. What I wanted to know was I have read that in hot weather you 'metabolise' insulin quicker.

I assume that means that as a consequence I might hypo as my body is processing it faster?

Does anyone have any advise or information on this for me? I am going to Turkey for a week in September so just wanted to be armed with as much information as I can before I go I expect it to be extremely hot when we visit.

Thanks
Pauline

 

[pgcity]

Hiya
As with everything else, I think it varies from person to person. I go low but being dehydrated makes me high so I drink loads.
Be careful with your insulin because it can degenerate in temps above 30c. I have a frio wallet to keep it in and it appears to do the job.
Have a great holiday.

 

[ch1ps]

I have got a frio that can hold 2 pens, might need to get another though.

I think I will have to test more and drink plenty of fluids.

Many thanks.

 

[Copepod]

Hi

I've only been on insulin since November and we have not had a lot of hot weather. What I wanted to know was I have read that in hot weather you 'metabolise' insulin quicker.

I assume that means that as a consequence I might hypo as my body is processing it faster?

Does anyone have any advise or information on this for me? I am going to Turkey for a week in September so just wanted to be armed with as much information as I can before I go I expect it to be extremely hot when we visit.

Thanks
Pauline

Generally, in hot weather (such as today, nearly 30oC and working outdoors all day, not always able to be in shade), I reduce both my basal and bolus doses, even more than I would for the same amount of physical work as in cooler weather.

I never bother with a Frio bag, not even for several trips of 2 weeks to 4 months in remote parts of Latin America or shorter trips of a week or two in Atlas Mountains of Morocco, hiking round Sardinia etc. I just keep insulin with me, out of direct sunlight, and if I have to leave it in a room, I make sure it will remain in shade. For 4 months in Chile, Falklands & South Georgia, I kept insulin not being used (including 50% extra as spares) in a stainless steel vaccuum flask, which gives far better physical protection against knocks, vibration etc than Frio pouches, and can be carried emptied through airport security, then refilled will cool water from tap, assuming the cartridges remain sealed in their blister packs.

 

[ch1ps]

Generally, in hot weather (such as today, nearly 30oC and working outdoors all day, not always able to be in shade), I reduce both my basal and bolus doses, even more than I would for the same amount of physical work as in cooler weather.

I never bother with a Frio bag, not even for several trips of 2 weeks to 4 months in remote parts of Latin America or shorter trips of a week or two in Atlas Mountains of Morocco, hiking round Sardinia etc. I just keep insulin with me, out of direct sunlight, and if I have to leave it in a room, I make sure it will remain in shade. For 4 months in Chile, Falklands & South Georgia, I kept insulin not being used (including 50% extra as spares) in a stainless steel vaccuum flask, which gives far better physical protection against knocks, vibration etc than Frio pouches, and can be carried emptied through airport security, then refilled will cool water from tap, assuming the cartridges remain sealed in their blister packs.

Thank you for the advice. I use prefilled pens, but the literature says not to immerse in water. We have an apartment for our holiday so all my spares can stay in the fridge. Not sure how to keep them cool in transit (air) other than the Frio pack. Is there another way?

 

[Copepod]

You could wrap pens in ziplock plastic bags, then wrap in damp cloth eg flannel, which will cool contents as water evapourates. Basically, that's how Frio works, but a pack of ziplock bags will only cost around ?1, and you've probably got a spare flannel or two in your house?

The ease of cooling cartridges, as well as their smaller weight and bulk, both to carry and dispose of, plus environmental considerations, are the reasons I prefer cartridges in a multi use pen.

At least September in Turkey is cooler than July or August - I visited for a month, travelling right up to Armenian border in June 1988, before diabetes. A great place to travel, but you do need to like flat bread and rice as carbohydrates, along with lots of salad, felafel, meat inland, fish on the coast etc.

 

[ch1ps]

Thanks Copepod

Sounds like a decent cheaper alternative! I use pens as that was what I was given, never thought about using an alternative.

 

[Copepod]

Worth asking if cartridges a re available for your insulin. Sadly, too often, prescribers don't ask users what would suit them best.

Have a great holiday! I can't remember much Turkish, but "su, lutfen" meaning "water, please" was very useful on long distance buses where yardimici (assistant / conductor) gives out free bottles of water (at least that was the case in 1988)
"sade" means Turkish coffee, plain with no sugar; "az" means with a a little sugar; "orta" means with moderate sugar; theres's another word for coffee with lots of sugar, but even pre diabetes, i didn't learn that, as I didn't want extremely sweet coffee. "cay" is tea (squiggle under c, so pronounced chay-ee). "ichmem" = "no thanks" - very useful when declining frequent offers of cigarettes, tea / coffee at bus stops, by workers at a roadside camp we walked past etc; actually, while I always declined cigarettes, being a non smoker, but sometimes accepted offers of tea / coffee / shared table at cafe, and tried to always have some biscuits, fruit etc to offer in exchange.

 

[DeusXM]

Not sure how to keep them cool in transit (air) other than the Frio pack. Is there another way?

You don't need to. Insulin is a LOT tougher than people realise. It can survive at room temp for at least 28 days, so unless you are expecting the world's worst flight delay, it'll be fine.

Take ALL of your diabetes supplies in your hand luggage. NEVER check them into the hold. Otherwise they could freeze (killing the insulin) or if you're flying BA, you'll find that your supplies will take a holiday of their own to Murmansk.

 

[ch1ps]

Thanks Copepod & DuesXM, some good advice for me 🙂

 

[HOBIE]

The weather does have an effect on control. Roll on nice weather. I love the sun 🙂🙂🙂