travel

Copella do a range of apple juice based drinks in 100ml bottles, apple & mango for example is 10.3g carbs so you may still need to take a couple of jelly babys with you as well. Available at Tesco's apparently.

I found that by googling 100ml fruit drinks and it was the first link, theres loads of others

Hope this helps

Why not by the drink once you have passed through security? They are easily available airside.

Brian

Hi

Like yourself, I've also been diabetic for 40+ years but have never been advised to carry fruit juice around with me to treat feeling hypo :roll: I have not flown for a few years now but when I did, I always made sure that I had some sweets/glucose tabs in my pocket and also a bottle of glucogel in my hand luggage. Don't think I ever had any problems getting through airport security. Another alternative if you dont like sweets, is to carry a small tube (toothpaste size) of glucogel. One tube is equivalent to 10g carb and can only be used once as it is not resealable. You can get it on prescription or buy it from chemist or online.

If you want something really really tiny, GlucoseRapid Spray (about the size of a bottle of nail varnish) is extremely good (it can be used whilst awake or asleep). I have been brought back from the dead :lol: by my partner who has used about 8 sprays through my teeth to bring me round. His words - it's fantastic stuff. Unfortunately, its not available in the UK but can be bought online in America. I always get my brother to get me some when he goes to the States (work) for 2 weeks so that may be a possibility for you

Hi...sorry to sound unsympatheic, but why don't you just carry something that you can get through customs? Little can of "Fat" coke? Dextrose tablets? Cereal bars? I know that lquids work quicker....but destrose are pretty fast too?

I would support you 100% is fruit juice was the best solution by far...but there ar many other things that work just as well.

Hi
How do you pack your insulin to keep cool. I want to carry mine in hand luggage and decided on a small flask cooled with ice cubes in packs which I can throw away at customs and hopefully keep the flask cool until i get to my destination. First time i have done this hope it goes ok. Does insulin quickly go off even though it hasnt been opened if it isnt kept refrigerated.

Thanks
pollyr

Hi Polly
That's just what I do, except that ice is TOO cold, so I use cool water which has been in fridge overnight and discard from from thermos flask at security check. Then add cool tap water on other side, if it's available. Some people use Frio packs, but I find a small stainless steel flask is much cheaper, more versatile (can use it for carrying hot drinks once insulin is safe in shade / fridge at destination) and offers more physical defence for insulin against breakage from knocks / squashing etc.
Check you patient information leaflet, but most insulin is OK to be kept at room temp (assumed to be not lower than 0oC, which is colder than fridge, and not higher than 28oC) for 28 days, regardless of whether cartridge has been opened or not.

Hi

Just to add a bit more to what has already been said..... When I have gone abroad I've just put insulin inside a small sandwich plastic bag and wrapped it up with elastic band and then wrapped a wet, cold face flannel around the bag and put that into another plastic band and then wrapped some newspaper around the small bundle to act as insulator and secure with elastic bands. I've never had insulin go off at all. When arriving at holiday destination, insulin gets put in a supermarket carrier bag with a can of beans to weigh it down and then put in bidet filled up with cold water. Insulin stays all ok and no need to worry about fridge. Even when taking bolus insulin out during the day, it will still be all ok wrapped up in a cold flannel.

Frio bags are all ok but they are expensive and all they are really is a glorified swell gell that can be put in plant containers to stop them from drying out quickly.

Hi everyone and thankyou, there are some good tips here and it has given me loads of ideas

Pollyr