I posted this in the group Traveling with Diabetes and haven't received a response. Thought I would try this group as well.
My daughter, one year diagnosed type 1 diabetic, will be going on a class trip to Washington D.C. So, of course, I have alot of questions. We don't fly when travel. But, we camp a lot. We have coolers and refrigerator. However, we will be flying and staying at a hotel.
I am researching travel cases and trying to decided the best one. There are 3 that seem interesting. The Medport Organizer, The Deluxe Dia Pack Organizer and the Travel Pouch 2 Compartment from Diabetes and More.com. Two of them use the traditional ice packs, the third uses a new type of dry ice. The concern with the traditional ice packs is freezing them for the return trip. The new dry ice packs are activated with warm water.
Has anyone used these? Do you have additional recommendations?
I travel for work, which means I am in hotels, on the road, and in airports... a lot.
I have never put my insulin in a cooler, a bag, worried about refrigeration, or gel packs - unless I know for sure it's going to be over 100 F, as in a closed bag in a hot car.
Insulin will remain effective at 100F for 3 days.
Insulin will remain effective at 45-85F for 30 days, even in use (needle through the stopper)
Insulin will remain effecive at 40F (refrigerated) until the expiration date on the bottle as long as it's "unopened" - hasn't been stuck through tthe stopper. Once you use it, it's garbage in 30 days, even in the fridge.
In my 33 years of using insulin, I have never, ever had a bottle go bad due to heat. I recommend getting a little organizer or small travel case like a shaving kit bag.
When we traveled to Germany in 2009, I worried that we wouldn't have ways to freeze traditional ice packs. We bought a box of the instant cold packs linked below quite cheaply at Walmart and used those on the days that seemed to warm to risk it.
In my 33 years of using insulin, I have never, ever had a bottle go bad due to heat. I recommend getting a little organizer or small travel case like a shaving kit bag.
[/quote]
My son killed a couple of pens and at least one vial this summer, we believe by not paying enough attention to the heat. All depends on where you live, I suppose. You carry around insulin unprotected (or worse yet, in your pocket) in upper 90 degree heat for several days and it's going to break down pretty quickly. If you pretty much count on vials lasting a month, killing them in the first few days of use is not a smart move. YMMV
you bet, that's why it only is good for 3 days at "skin" temperature. The insulin in my pump is 100 F and it lasts for 3 days, 'cause that's how long it lasts before it cooks, conveniently, that's the size of my reservior so I would have to change sets regardless.
if the air temperature, trunk temperature ot the temperature in your pocket is about a hundred, then count on 3 days. btw, all insulin approved for pump use goes through stability testing (3 days, shaking, and 100F- okay 98.6) before it gets approved for pumps. If it shows no statistical breakdown then there's a 99% relaibilty... or it doesn't get the label from the FDA.
cold insulin simply hurts, and it's a really bad idea to fill a pump with cold insulin, that's why I put my "in use" vials in a med cabinet or in my desk or in a shaving kit as opposed to the fridge. it's been working for me for a long time. I stopped getting anxious about keeping my insulin cold in the 80's.
Thank you Joe and Angie13. I got so wrapped up in keeping things cool. I had forgotten about the durability of the insulin. We, do, however, live in Houston, so the temperature during the summer gets easily in the 90's and 100's. Alexa is on the pump but we always bring the "in use" vial to room temp before using. Then we refrigerate again. Primarily, because our house temp can sometimes get into the mid 80's. This does ease my concerns about the issue of keeping it cold. I am like Angie13, in that I would rather err on the side of caution and keep it refrigerated when not in use. Thanks again.