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travel and medical supplies

G

ghostmachine

Newbie
im about to travel to america for my first holiday since being diagnosed
i have searched the forum and not found an answer to these questions
what is the best way to travel with insulin ( storage & safty )
with me having to take 5 injections a day would i be able to enuff needles to cover
the total trip will take about 17 days
a ruff calculation on what i need to take is 10 cartridges 2 pens
100 needles 2 bg machines
i have got the gp letter
thanks in advance
 
If you are travelling to the US and need to see anyone at a hospital be sure to mention that the monitors in the UK measure in mmol as the US one use a diferent measurement - so if you go in and give them your numbers they will be very confused.
 
When I travel (well, not just when travelling, I admit) I don't get though 100 needles in a year, let alone 17 days, which makes my kit considerably less bulky. One bit of kit that is useful is a needle chopping device eg BD Safe-Clip. Once disarmed, needles still need to go in a sharps bin (or at least temporary secure container such as 35mm film cannister or medical bottle with child proof lid, which can hold needles / lancets before and after use, at different times. Lancets can't be clipped (sharo bits too thick), but can use types with caps that fit differently to show whether they have been used or not.
 
I regularly travel to India and the Middle-East for up to three months at a time; I take three times as much insulin and needles as you are proposing to take.

I have not once encountered a problem with the airlines or customs. Get yourself a Frio cool bag and put all your insulin in that, do not put it with your luggage in the aircrafts hold, it will freeze!! Just carry your pens and enough needles for use on the flight. If you ask the cabin crew when you board the aircraft the will put your insulin in their fridge to keep it cool during the flight, just ask for your pen when you have your in flight meals.
 
Storage of Insulin.

Insulin should only be stored in a Fridge when it is not in use, unopened. Once it is in use then it should be stored at room temperature (under 25 deg.C.) Make sure it isn't too close to or in the freezer compartment if it is out of your sight.

There are certain Insulin's which may have slightly different storage needs so you should always check the PIL (Patient Information Leaflet) that comes with it.

Keeping your Insulin at room temperature makes it more comfortable to inject. Some find that if it's too cold it stings.
 
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