Cars and hot weather

[Spiral]

What will happen if you leave your meter and test strips in the car on a hot day?

This isn't a joke, I'm curious. I left my meter in the car earlier this week, fortunatly, it wasn't on a hot day, but it did get me wondering about the welfare of my strips and my meter if it had been.

 

[cugila]

Hi Spiral.

Here is the storage instructions for meters and strips from Accu-Chek. I would imagine other manufacturers are pretty similar ?

Storage
How Should I Store My Blood Glucose Meter?
Ensure that your meter is kept at temperatures between –40°C and 70°C to avoid damage. Relative humidity must be below 85%, and avoid storing your meter near electromagnetic fields (near mobile phones, microwave ovens, etc.).

How Should I Store My Strips?
Test strips should be kept out of very cold or hot conditions. The test strip container should be kept closed at all times since it contains a drying agent that will not work if exposed to the air.

Hope that helps.

Ken.

 

[Spiral]

Thanks Ken, I had read the storage instructions and usually keep my meter in my handbag and my stockpile of strips in a cool cupboard. It fell out of my bag earlier this week when I braked suddenly and we were seperated!

I have experience of going outside the manufacturers recommendations sometimes with no impact at all, sometimes with disastrous consequences :shock: While I'm obviously not planning to superheat my strips and meter, I was curious, just in case I ever manage to do it on a hot day :roll:

Have you done this? What happenend? Did your strips work afterwards? Did you just have to give your meter a bit of TLC (if so, what?) or is a new one needed?

 

[cugila]

Hi Spiral.

What I would suggest if you think there may be a problem is to use the control solutions and test your meter and a couple of strips. If they are both within tolerances then you should be OK to continue using the meter and strips.

I do know what you mean about the superheating inside your car, I posted elsewhere about leaving a can of Coke in my car which was parked in France with the sun roof open. The can exploded in the heat. I am still cleaning up after several weeks back here. So the temperature can be really high.

Ken.

 

[Spiral]

I do know what you mean about the superheating inside your car, I posted elsewhere about leaving a can of Coke in my car which was parked in France with the sun roof open. The can exploded in the heat. I am still cleaning up after several weeks back here.

:shock: :shock: :shock:

I will make sure I take the test solutions away with me when I go on holiday, I think, and try not to brake suddenly again.

 

[Dennis]

Hi Spiral,

I think your meter and strips will probably be ok. I have had mine in temperatures of 130°F (55°C) in Arizona and New Mexico and it didn't seem to have any affect. I think that humidity has a bigger impact than temperature and can stop test strips from giving correct readings.

 

[suzyl100]

Just reading the forum and came across this. I keep my meter in my handbag as I do with my mobile phone. I do and try and separate them but it isn't always possible but I do keep them both in cases - mainly for protection against bumps. Just wondered how other people manage. Not had any problems so far.

 

[scottydog]

Not a problem for me i live in Scotland lol :lol:

Andrene

 

[sugarless sue]

Know the feeling Andrene!! hot weather mmmmmm not often.

 

[lionrampant]

Right now it's sunny and about 25+ in London.

Right now in Glasgow, it's 18 and raining. Continually.

We need to move the UK south. Parallel to the Canary islands would suit me just fine.