Ice packs in with insulin…

[CakieJ]

I recently signed up to have my prescriptions delivered to me at home. When the insulin arrived the ice packs were next to the insulin inside the insulated pouch. I was always under the impression that the ice shouldn’t be directly next to the insulin? They obviously do this a lot, but it made me feel a bit uneasy so I wanted to check before using it. Any help is hugely appreciated!

 

[SimonP78]

I always travel (abroad) with insulin in a cool bag with ice packs - I usually separate the ice packs from the insulin with a piece of corrugated cardboard, but on occasion have put the insulin back in the bag on the wrong side and it has still been fine.

I assume the insulin is in a cardboard box and within that in its plastic and foil packaging (and probably with some layers of paper wrapped around that from the instruction leaflet), the surface of the ice packs is around freezing point, but I would be fairly sure that the insulative effect of the cardboard, air, & plastic should be more than enough to keep it above freezing.

I'd be interested to see a picture of how they send it if possible, just out of interest. I can see an experiment in the offing with some thermocouples I have lying around at work

 

[CakieJ]

No photo I’m afraid! The insulin is in a thin card box, no other packaging as it’s vials of insulin. The boxes were inside bubble wrap which I forgot to mention before. So I hope it is ok. I will keep a very close eye on my bloods when I use it for the first time. Thank you for the reassurance!

 

[Jaylee]

No photo I’m afraid! The insulin is in a thin card box, no other packaging as it’s vials of insulin. The boxes were inside bubble wrap which I forgot to mention before. So I hope it is ok. I will keep a very close eye on my bloods when I use it for the first time. Thank you for the reassurance!

Hi,

I seem to remember vials back in the syringe days. If they were directly boxed then bubble wrapped? & haven’t come Into contact to be frozen. I would hazard a guess it’s OK. But by all means keep a close eye on the BGs.

It was probably done to counteract the heat in the payload area of the delivery van.

(Edit for typo.)

 

[Antje77]

The boxes were inside bubble wrap

Bubble wrap between the insulin and the ice packs sounds perfect.