How to keep insulin cool when travelling

[RN25]

There has been a post about this but it didn't answer what to do for your spare insulin that is usually kept in the fridge...
My nurse told me to take plenty of spare insulin and kit when travelling.
At home my spare insulin is kept in the fridge and the insulin pen in use is kept at room temperature (uk). I understand it needs to be less than 30 degrees.
I have bought a frio wallet for out and about, for sunny days or the car.
However if I am to take spare unopened insulin I believe this should this be kept at 2-8, so do I need to buy a special 2-8 degree travel bag or will a cool bag with ice pack be sufficient? I am an overthinker so then worry about airport delays for my summer holiday, and I am also camping for 4 days in the summer. What do people recommend to keep the unopened insulin cold?
Also any recommendations for travel bags to keep all of the paraphernalia together?
Also I bought some frio mini sharps containers but the needle/cap off my pen doesn't for through the hole. Anyone got a travel one with a bigger hole?

I am an overplanner at the best of times but also easily overwhelmed so this is causing me some concern

 

[Antje77]

I have bought a frio wallet for out and about, for sunny days or the car.
However if I am to take spare unopened insulin I believe this should this be kept at 2-8, so do I need to buy a special 2-8 degree travel bag or will a cool bag with ice pack be sufficient?

How long are you planning to travel?
Insulin is fine for at least a month at room temperature, so if your travels are shorter a Frio will do just fine.

I am also camping for 4 days in the summer. What do people recommend to keep the unopened insulin cold?

If you're away for 4 days you'll take enough insulin for twice as long, and at least one extra pen in case something happens to the in use pen. And you stick everything in the Frio.
With being an overthinker, you could consider getting a second Frio pouch for your spare insulin. When I'm away I usually keep my insulin and spare glucose meter in two different bags in case I'll lose one.
When flying, keep everything diabetes related in your hand luggage!

Also I bought some frio mini sharps containers but the needle/cap off my pen doesn't for through the hole. Anyone got a travel one with a bigger hole?

Empty water bottle works fine, simply decant in your sharps container when back home.

Enjoy your travels!

 

[SimonP78]

I've never had problems using ice, though if I was going to need the insulin to work for a long time (e.g. when popping home to restock when away on foreign placements for many months, or going to Australia for 3 months, etc.) I did ensure I used lots of ice - imo, as long as there's a reasonable barrier between the insulin and the ice it won't freeze - the losses from the bag are too high (I used to use a piece of cardboard wrapped around the insulin, plus the unused insulin was in its box).

If I were you (and indeed if I needed to do it again myself) I'd buy a mini ice bag (or in my case dig my existing one out) and stick a thermometer in it with a similar setup to that described above and see what result you get over the course of 24h or so.

Let us know what you find

 

[Jaylee]

Hi @RN25 ,

I do camping.
Been all over Europe in a “day van” converts to a sleeper & a side awning..
I use Frio wallets for the insulin. Which do keep the insulin below 28 degrees the hotter it gets.
The trick is to also allow the Frio to breath the water evaporation from the inner sleeve gel keeps the contents stable.

I also use what looks like a cool hamper which plugs into a 12v lighter socket in the back of my van.
It’s a simple heat exchange that runs when the van is running & acts as a secure storage in the awning under shade when caped up from bugs & stuff?
We keep food supplies in there too..

For really hot weather out & about, I carry my pen in a single Frio pouch but use a day pack with mesh pockets to help it breath to do it’s job, if above the 30s?

Enjoy your trip..

 

[SimonP78]

Hi @RN25 ,

I do camping.
Been all over Europe in a “day van” converts to a sleeper & a side awning..
I use Frio wallets for the insulin. Which do keep the insulin below 28 degrees the hotter it gets.
The trick is to also allow the Frio to breath the water evaporation from the inner sleeve gel keeps the contents stable.

I also use what looks like a cool hamper which plugs into a 12v lighter socket in the back of my van.
It’s a simple heat exchange that runs when the van is running & acts as a secure storage in the awning under shade when caped up from bugs & stuff?
We keep food supplies in there too..

For really hot weather out & about, I carry my pen in a single Frio pouch but use a day pack with mesh pockets to help it breath to do it’s job, if above the 30s?

Enjoy your trip..

Do you do this for more than 30 days though?

I think that's the important caveat - wanting to keep the next set(s) of insulin at something close to fridge temperature to ensure they will then last once taken out of the fridge > 1 month later.

 

[Jaylee]

Do you do this for more than 30 days though?

I think that's the important caveat - wanting to keep the next set(s) of insulin at something close to fridge temperature to ensure they will then last once taken out of the fridge > 1 month later.

Hi,

14 or maybe 16 days traveling in my van. But I also have AC front & back on a Japanese import.
We’ve (wife & I.) flown “air B&B” destination style to even hotter climates too. They normally have a reasonable working fridge.
I can usually suss how adequate the fridge is due to some complimentary supplies stocked up?

I’m not sure how long the OP is planning on the big break, but it looks like a long W/E with the camping trip?

To be frank. A box of Lantus for me could stretch to 3 months. (I normally need less basal in the heat? So I’m calculating “winter dose.”) I’d just need 2 boxes to be sure..

 

[SimonP78]

Hi,

14 or maybe 16 days traveling in my van. But I also have AC front & back on a Japanese import.
We’ve (wife & I.) flown “air B&B” destination style to even hotter climates too. They normally have a reasonable working fridge.
I can usually suss how adequate the fridge is due to some complimentary supplies stocked up?

I’m not sure how long the OP is planning on the big break, but it looks like a long W/E with the camping trip?

To be frank. A box of Lantus for me could stretch to 3 months. (I normally need less basal in the heat? So I’m calculating “winter dose.”) I’d just need 2 boxes to be sure..

Apologies I must have confused the OP for someone else who was talking about a 3 month trip away!

 

[Jaylee]

Apologies I must have confused the OP for someone else who was talking about a 3 month trip away!

Don’t worry about it.

I thought your plan was 3 months down under regarding your earlier post..

Copied down here.

I've never had problems using ice, though if I was going to need the insulin to work for a long time (e.g. when popping home to restock when away on foreign placements for many months, or going to Australia for 3 months, etc.) I did ensure I used lots of ice - imo, as long as there's a reasonable barrier between the insulin and the ice it won't freeze - the losses from the bag are too high (I used to use a piece of cardboard wrapped around the insulin, plus the unused insulin was in its box).

If I were you (and indeed if I needed to do it again myself) I'd buy a mini ice bag (or in my case dig my existing one out) and stick a thermometer in it with a similar setup to that described above and see what result you get over the course of 24h or so.

Let us know what you find

I’ve done a fair bit of traveling with insulin including south India & 16 years with a metal band on & off?

Here I am to tell the tale…

 

[SimonP78]

Don’t worry about it.

I thought your plan was 3 months down under regarding your earlier post..

No, that's stuff from the past where travelling with fridge-cold insulin was useful.

I’ve done a fair bit of traveling with insulin including south India & 16 years with a metal band on & off?

Here I am to tell the tale…

My couple of weeks in India was spent in hotels with fridges (work visits) and no metal bands to report!

 

[Jaylee]

My couple of weeks in India was spent in hotels with fridges (work visits) and no metal bands to report!

Funny enough the 2 weeks we had was back packing across the south with an afternoon of corporate handshaking on the east coast in Chennai..

We did do a couple of days in a honeymoon suite in a hotel at Kodaikanal..interesting road trip..

 

[Grandadfatboy]

My wife uses the packaging my insulin used to come in when posted to us by Pharmacy2U. It does take up a bit of room in the car, but I usually find a space in the boot to the side of my mobility scooter.