Greymalkin
Active Member
- Messages
- 27
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
- Treatment type
- Insulin
I searched the forum for this subject but most answers involved very short-term solutions that assume reliable refrigeration is never more than 24 hours away. I was surprised not to find more past and present discussion of the topic.
Granted, it's rarely as hot as it has been this May in the UK. But resilience in terms of insulin cooling is on my mind because our 'new' refrigerator has suddenly become very inconsistent in its temperature control - today I found different shelves at 13°C and another at 16°C at the coldest setting, which is hopeless.
I've placed my insulin-pen packs into a tupperware box surrounded by ice cubes (with a thermometer probe among the packs), and I'm ordering a second fridge for our home immediately to avoid all my stored insulin suddenly needing to be used within a month.
It hasn't occurred to me very often that I cannot risk the fridge failing, or being suddenly without power for an extended period. We travel too and sometimes I need to take more than just my in-use insulin pens.
I realise there are many products that are insulated flasks, cases and evaporative cooling pouches which can maintain a cool space for limited periods of travel between refrigerators. That's not what I want - I mean an electric, continuously chilled, very compact device that could run indefinitely, creating a reliable space at 3°C to 8°C (not just the usual promise of "20°C below ambient", which isn't cold enough when you encounter outdoor temperatures (or in a vehicle or tent) that might easily be well over 30°C. And, it ought to run on 12 volts, such as a large powerbank could provide.
I'm aware that Amazon and AliExpress are loaded with inexpensive solutions which promise a lot; I haven't tried them for the same reason I haven't bought what is sold as a 'ten-million lumen flashlight' - they receive rotten reviews because they cannot do what they claim. I don't really mind what it costs but it has to do the job and it needs to last. I don't doubt they exist, I'm only surprised they aren't better known.
Has anybody got a personal portable fridge?
Thanks!
Granted, it's rarely as hot as it has been this May in the UK. But resilience in terms of insulin cooling is on my mind because our 'new' refrigerator has suddenly become very inconsistent in its temperature control - today I found different shelves at 13°C and another at 16°C at the coldest setting, which is hopeless.
I've placed my insulin-pen packs into a tupperware box surrounded by ice cubes (with a thermometer probe among the packs), and I'm ordering a second fridge for our home immediately to avoid all my stored insulin suddenly needing to be used within a month.
It hasn't occurred to me very often that I cannot risk the fridge failing, or being suddenly without power for an extended period. We travel too and sometimes I need to take more than just my in-use insulin pens.
I realise there are many products that are insulated flasks, cases and evaporative cooling pouches which can maintain a cool space for limited periods of travel between refrigerators. That's not what I want - I mean an electric, continuously chilled, very compact device that could run indefinitely, creating a reliable space at 3°C to 8°C (not just the usual promise of "20°C below ambient", which isn't cold enough when you encounter outdoor temperatures (or in a vehicle or tent) that might easily be well over 30°C. And, it ought to run on 12 volts, such as a large powerbank could provide.
I'm aware that Amazon and AliExpress are loaded with inexpensive solutions which promise a lot; I haven't tried them for the same reason I haven't bought what is sold as a 'ten-million lumen flashlight' - they receive rotten reviews because they cannot do what they claim. I don't really mind what it costs but it has to do the job and it needs to last. I don't doubt they exist, I'm only surprised they aren't better known.
Has anybody got a personal portable fridge?
Thanks!
