Storing insulin in freezing temperature (Canada)

[Happy Poncho]

Hey there,

I'm going on a Snowboarding holiday in Canada in February, can anyone advise me on how to store insulin when travelling and when out and about (keeping in mind the very chilly/freezing temperatures) please?

 

[Copepod]

Welcome to the boards, Happy Poncho.

It won't be freezing inside your jacket / under clothing, so just tuck insulin there!

Mountains for Active Diabetics is a good source for advice for snowboarders, among others - there's a Facebook group or a bit of information still at http://diabetic.friendsinhighplaces.org/

Also, see http://www.runsweet.com/Snowboarding.html

 

[Robster65]

Hi Happy Poncho. Welcome 🙂

You could try a Frio pouch. They're designed for keeping insulin, etc at a stable temperature, whether hot or cold. They need to have some free space around them, but a backpack, not too tightly packed would be fine or a pocket, as long as they can evaporate slowly.🙂

Rob

 

[trophywench]

Robster is correct - remember reading years ago someone had been to the Arctic and used a Frio to keep his insulin WARM LOL

 

[Vicsetter]

Hi Happy Poncho. Welcome 🙂

You could try a Frio pouch. They're designed for keeping insulin, etc at a stable temperature, whether hot or cold. They need to have some free space around them, but a backpack, not too tightly packed would be fine or a pocket, as long as they can evaporate slowly.🙂

Rob

Frio pouches are intended for cooling only and Frio do not advertise them for keeping the contents warm, although some people have reported them keeping insulin at 2 degrees in a tent at -1 degrees. They work by evaporation, which produces a reduction in temperature. If it is below freezing I should imagine they just act as an insulator and body heat would be more effective.

 

[Copepod]

Chris Southwell, professional snowboarder, in the Runsweet URL I gave in post #2 reckons that wrapping insulin in a sock or hat in his rucksack is the way to go.... Seems better than Frio which is designed for stopping kit getting too hot. Or, my suggestion of keepin insulin inside clothing - that's what I've done when ski touring well below 0oC in Norway.

 

[Robster65]

It's true that Frio don't advertise their products for cold climates but do have an FAQ question covering it.

Does a FRIO? wallet prevent insulin from freezing?

We cannot advise you on the use of FR?O? travel wallets in cold and freezing or other extreme conditions because tests in these conditions have not been carried out. Any testimonials we have received on the use of FR?O? products in cold and freezing and other extreme temperatures are from individuals who have simply reported back on their use of the wallets in these conditions ? we must point out that we have not recommended the product as safe to use in extreme temperatures or environments.
All we can say, is that the wallets have been used by professional mountaineers in extreme conditions, and they have said the FRIO? wallet prevented the insulin from freezing during their trips, please see the section "What Customers Say".
We would recommend that you consult the manufacturer of your medication for advice on insultaing it against freezing temperatures.

http://www.friouk.com/faqs/

Purely for clarification if anyone was thinking of using one.🙂

Rob

 

[Happy Poncho]

Snowboarding with Diabetes

Thanks for the advice people and thanks for the links Copepod. I think a hat/sock may be the simplist solution to stop the freeze.

This however is only my first query. If I'm snowboarding and take my blood glucose kit and insulin out with me, taking into account I'm an amateur and will probably fall over a lot, where is safest to keep it?

a) Inside pocket
b) Rucksack

I'm concerned on damaging it. Or would it be best to leave it in the cabin and just take sugary snacks...?

 

[Robster65]

Thanks for the advice people and thanks for the links Copepod. I think a hat/sock may be the simplist solution to stop the freeze.

This however is only my first query. If I'm snowboarding and take my blood glucose kit and insulin out with me, taking into account I'm an amateur and will probably fall over a lot, where is safest to keep it?

a) Inside pocket
b) Rucksack

I'm concerned on damaging it. Or would it be best to leave it in the cabin and just take sugary snacks...?

I've never been snow boarding (or any winter sports) but never do anything without having your test kit and I would advise taking your insulin too. I used to rock climb and frequently went high due to stress/grunty moves and had to correct and test more.

You don't know which way your BG may jump, so better to be prepapred IMO. 🙂

I would have thought an inside pocket would provide enough padding to protect it. Also bear in mind meters have a min operating temp of something like 5 or 6c, so will need to be kept a bit warmer too. They give an error code if they drop below it.

Rob