Sunny holiday overseas, any advice on storing insulin please?

[Jo dawson]

Can anyone give advise please on storing/administering insulin in sunny climates? We're taking my fianc?es newly diagnosed 13 year old to Greece in the summer and working out the logistics of travelling with, storing and then administering the insulin in what will be temperatures of probably 80 degrees plus. We have thought about asking the hotel for a mini fridge in the room but conscious that injecting cold insulin wouldn't be ideal. Anyone who has been there, done that and worn the t-shirt....can you please give any advise to the newly initiated.
Many thanks
Jo

 

[Lauras87]

When I went to oz, I got a frio case which stored 10 cartridges (I wasn't allowed to take anymore as hand luggage even with a doctors note)

It works by submerging the inner case is cold water & I found it stayed cold longer than the 24 hours stated.

You might be able to get one from boots but if not look here http://www.friouk.com/

I kept it my other insulin cold by keeping it in a fridge in the hotel

 

[grainger]

My DSN said that she's always recommended a decent thermos flask - they are designed to keep anything at a constant temperature and doesn't require ice blocks or anything 🙂

 

[Jo dawson]

Thanks for the tip, we'll take a look at this.

 

[pippaandben]

I used a frio bag when going to Egypt where temperature in 80s. Remember to take double amount of pens and insulin in case of accidents.

I had one small bag with all insulin things, meter hypobag Drs letter, needles needle clipper etc. and the frio bag with the spare cartridges. Spare pens went in hold luggage. I managed to snap the plunger on needle when changing cartridges!!

The bag keeps cold for longer than 24 hours and just needs cold water to reactivate. Don't put it in a plastic bag. If you are staying in one hotel perhaps they would be willing to put spare cartridges in a fridge. The ones in the pens should be ok for 28 days but keep out of direct sunlight. I put mine in the safe in my room so doubly insulated against heat, timed basal to be when at hotel so just took the one for bolus with me.

Have a fantastic holiday. There are no problems with airlines - I just told evryone at each check but no-one even wanted to see the letter. You will probably be charged for this letter so ask for an open-ended one that does not specify just this flight

 

[PattiEvans]

Spare pens went in hold luggage.

Please don't ever put insulin in hold luggage. In some planes the holds are not heated and the insulin can freeze, rendering it useless. Also people's hold luggage does get lost on occasion! Keep all insulin in your hand baggage always.

I travelled all over the far east and Australia with all my insulin in a frio bag and it was fine. I took a large one for back up insulin and a small one to carry my "in use" pens in. Also be a little wary of in room fridges. I know one member of another forum discovered that the room fridge had frozen her insulin - you won't want to have to waste precious time on your holiday visiting Drs for prescriptions.

 

[DeusXM]

Keep spare insulin in the fridge. In-use insulin should probably kept in a Frio pack. You can also inject insulin straight out the fridge too, I do it all the time.

If you are on the beach, keep the in-use stuff in a Frio, and then put the Frio in an open bag in the shade. The Frio needs air to work effectively and so by doing this, you reduce the overall heat getting to the bag in the first place and you've got the airflow for the cooling.

 

[Copepod]

I always use a small stainless steel vacuum flask - cheap, hardy, protects against knocks & vibration, as well as hot temperatures. Obviously it will have to be empty of water for flights, but if you fill with cool water and discard this just before security, and don't open it until you can refill with cool water, it will be fine. However, also ensure that the insulin pen(s) in use stay out of direct sunlight - in shade or deep inside a bag, where the other contents will help to insulate. If there's no safe fridge, you can also wrap insulin in damp cloth and leave it in open to evaporate to cool, rewetting at least daily. Most fridges are OK, but ensure that insulin is not in contact with cooling element to reduce chance of freezing.