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Insulin Storage when travelling

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sandy13

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
My husband and I will be taking long haul flights to Australia later this year. I wonder if anyone has any advice about keeping spare insulin pens cold during flights.
 
Hi @sandy13 and welcome to the forum 🙂

The best thing to keep insulin cold is a Frio wallet - you can get them here: https://friouk.com/product-category/medical/?product_count=36

It's worth getting a bigger one than you think you will need, and taking plenty of spares. And make sure you keep your all insulin in your hand luggage as well, as the hold of the plane can get too cold, and you don't want frozen insulin!

Sorry if you already know this, but just in case you don't - it might be an idea to ask your doctor (or diabetes nurse) for a letter to say you're an insulin-user, in case you get a jobsworth at customs, and also if you go to the assistance desk when you arrive at the airport you should hopefully be able to get a sunflower lanyard, which identifies you to the airport staff as someone with a medical condition.
 
sandy13 said:
My husband and I will be taking long haul flights to Australia later this year. I wonder if anyone has any advice about keeping spare insulin pens cold during flights.
Click to expand...
It sounds like you have great trip planned.

I also have used a Frio bag before, but more recently I have a stubby flask. I put it in the fridge the night before we leave, Line if with a bit of felt, and then put my insulin in there for the holiday. It kept it cool for us on trip to NZ. I also find it useful if I have to put my insulin in a fridge which is not in our room. I can label it with ‘do not move important medical equipment, and as it is in the flask it protects it if someone moves it In the fridge.

I have got worried when away on longer trips of more than 28 days, as the insulin is in and out of a fridge, but my OH came up with a simple solution of keep holidays to no more than 28 days (Easy for us now as we have already done our longer ones to NZ). I then keep the insulin not in use as cool as I can when moving from place to place, but know that it will be okay for the whole holiday.

The sunflower lanyard is great. I have used it in the smaller airports, but not tried it at Heathrow as yet. Most of the time there are no issues, but it definitely makes the passage through security less of a bother, as there is sometimes a separate channel, and they are expecting issues, so they have someone there to do the pat down as an alternative to the X-ray.

Have a fantastic trip.
 
SB2015 said:
It sounds like you have great trip planned.

I also have used a Frio bag before, but more recently I have a stubby flask. I put it in the fridge the night before we leave, Line if with a bit of felt, and then put my insulin in there for the holiday. It kept it cool for us on trip to NZ. I also find it useful if I have to put my insulin in a fridge which is not in our room. I can label it with ‘do not move important medical equipment, and as it is in the flask it protects it if someone moves it In the fridge.

I have got worried when away on longer trips of more than 28 days, as the insulin is in and out of a fridge, but my OH came up with a simple solution of keep holidays to no more than 28 days (Easy for us now as we have already done our longer ones to NZ). I then keep the insulin not in use as cool as I can when moving from place to place, but know that it will be okay for the whole holiday.

The sunflower lanyard is great. I have used it in the smaller airports, but not tried it at Heathrow as yet. Most of the time there are no issues, but it definitely makes the passage through security less of a bother, as there is sometimes a separate channel, and they are expecting issues, so they have someone there to do the pat down as an alternative to the X-ray.

Have a fantastic trip.
Click to expand...
 
SB2015 said:
It sounds like you have great trip planned.

I also have used a Frio bag before, but more recently I have a stubby flask. I put it in the fridge the night before we leave, Line if with a bit of felt, and then put my insulin in there for the holiday. It kept it cool for us on trip to NZ. I also find it useful if I have to put my insulin in a fridge which is not in our room. I can label it with ‘do not move important medical equipment, and as it is in the flask it protects it if someone moves it In the fridge.

I have got worried when away on longer trips of more than 28 days, as the insulin is in and out of a fridge, but my OH came up with a simple solution of keep holidays to no more than 28 days (Easy for us now as we have already done our longer ones to NZ). I then keep the insulin not in use as cool as I can when moving from place to place, but know that it will be okay for the whole holiday.

The sunflower lanyard is great. I have used it in the smaller airports, but not tried it at Heathrow as yet. Most of the time there are no issues, but it definitely makes the passage through security less of a bother, as there is sometimes a separate channel, and they are expecting issues, so they have someone there to do the pat down as an alternative to the X-ray.

Have a fantastic trip.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for the tips on keeping my insulin cool.
We will be flying to Singapore for 3 days first so will make enquiries on storage at the hotel there.
It shouldn't be a problem when we get to Australia as we will be staying with relatives in Tasmania.
 
TheClockworkDodo said:
Hi @sandy13 and welcome to the forum 🙂

The best thing to keep insulin cold is a Frio wallet - you can get them here: https://friouk.com/product-category/medical/?product_count=36

It's worth getting a bigger one than you think you will need, and taking plenty of spares. And make sure you keep your all insulin in your hand luggage as well, as the hold of the plane can get too cold, and you don't want frozen insulin!

Sorry if you already know this, but just in case you don't - it might be an idea to ask your doctor (or diabetes nurse) for a letter to say you're an insulin-user, in case you get a jobsworth at customs, and also if you go to the assistance desk when you arrive at the airport you should hopefully be able to get a sunflower lanyard, which identifies you to the airport staff as someone with a medical condition.
Click to expand...
 
I have had a look on the Frio website as you suggested and they look ideal for the purpose.
They also have a set with a mini sharps bin which is a good idea.
Normally I don't take much hand luggage, just my medication and a book. Maybe as we're away 3 months I may need a bigger bag.
I have been getting a letter from my surgery, listing all my medication, for a few years now, at a cost of £25 each time. Guess what, no one has asked to see it, but I've been watching Border Force Australia and I know I will definitely need it this year.
Thanks for telling me about the lanyard. I had no idea that they were available.
 
If you have a DSN ask them for a letter instead of the GP as they often don’t charge.
 
Also @sandy13 ask them not to date the letter. I am still using the one from 2008, but with an extra sentence added in for the Libre. It was done my DSN at no charge. I have had to show it once in 12 years, but I am glad that I have it in case I need it.

My hand luggage for longer holidays on the way out is generally laden with cannulas, infusion sets and Libre. Creates loads of space for goodies coming home!! In my case it is usually yarns for weaving that I have purchased.
 
Unfortunately, I have to take a letter listing all my medications and the quantities I am carrying. Australia is very strict on prescription medicines and I don't want to have to pay a fine higher than my GP's charge.
Thanks to everyone for their tips and information. Will keep you posted.
 
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