Diabetic Travel Cold Pack??

[pbharris4]

I was recently put on Lantus Solostar pen. I will need to take one or two pens with me. Once I use one I can keep it at room temp, but I need to keep them cold until then. Can someone recommend a good travel pouch that will keep it cold? ALSO.....we are driving straight down so about a 14-18 hr trip (which includes a few stops, lunch, dinner, gas. Most of the ones I saw will only keep cool for "up to 12 hrs."

 

[buffettgirl]

Frio. They're activated with water, and whatever temp you put something, that's the temp it stays.
http://coolerconcept.com/

 

[firsttimer2007]

Not inexpensive but you could get one of those plug in coolers.

They are $50-$200

Target has a couple for $117

http://www.target.com/Gray-Kargo-Co...8&frombrowse=0&rh=k:car plug in cooler&page=1

 

[Selket]

We use the Frio for our opened bottles of insulin that need to be kept cool in hot weather. For bottles that are unopened and refrigerated I don't think it keeps them cold enough. The Frio site says that in 100 degree temp it will keep what is inside the bag at 79 degrees - fine for our opened bottles but not for the unopened ones. We use a cooler for those.

Unopened lantus it says:
Store new (unopened) vials in a refrigerator, between 36 and 46 degrees F so the Frio is not cold enough. Opened lantus can be stored at temps no higher than 86 so it should work for that - if you need to carry it around with you for some reason. I realize you probably could just leave it in your hotel room generally, unless you do a split dose.

 

[Belle & Ariel]

We bring a small cooler. Keep the Lantus in a sealed Tupperware type container because as the ice melts, it will be messy. I have tried Ziploc bags and water still got in. You can keep it in there all week if you don't have a fridge. Sometimes we do even if we do in case the fridge is too cold and freezes things.
You can dispose of your pen needles and lancets at the first aid centers in each park.

A little OT, but I traveled last week last minute and ran low on pen needles. I get my refills at a local grocery store, but am transferring them to Target because it seems they are everywhere in case I need emergency refills while travelling.

 

[pbharris4]

I use CVS which seems to be everywhere as well. I do one injection per day usually with breakfast. So I don't carry it on me. Hmm...just remembered that we'll be at Pop Century the 1st 2 nights and then SSR the other 4. SSR has a fridge, but PC doesn't. I'll still need a travel pack/cooler, but something for the room. Hmm, I wonder if the car cooler would work in the hotel as well so I don't have to rent a fridge? Thanks for your help everyone. I appreciate it!

 

[firsttimer2007]

I use CVS which seems to be everywhere as well. I do one injection per day usually with breakfast. So I don't carry it on me. Hmm...just remembered that we'll be at Pop Century the 1st 2 nights and then SSR the other 4. SSR has a fridge, but PC doesn't. I'll still need a travel pack/cooler, but something for the room. Hmm, I wonder if the car cooler would work in the hotel as well so I don't have to rent a fridge? Thanks for your help everyone. I appreciate it!

As an insulin dependent diabetic ALL disney hotels will give you a fridge for free.
There is no guarentee that the fridge will not freeze your insulin though. I kept my insulin in a cooler pack in the fridge to make sure it would not freeze.
My TA took care of all this for me but I think you just have to tell them in advance. I brought a drs. note but they did not ask for it.

 

[PatsMom]

I use a small lunch type cooler with ice to keep my unopened Lantus and Byetta cold when I am traveling. I just get ice wherever we happen to be.

I am DVC so I don't have to worry about a refrigerator in my room. I do my Lantus shot in the room and don't carry it around with me. But I use a Frio pack in hot weather to keep my Byetta cool since I have to carry that with me to inject before meals. I don't think the Frio keeps things cold enough for the unopened Lantus and Byetta.

I believe you can also request a sharps disposal container for your room - I've never done it though. I just put the used pen needles in an empty plastic water or soda bottle and bring them home to dispose of. Same thing for used lancets.

 

[pbharris4]

Say I buy one of those plug in Medi Frige and we stop for lunch and turn the car off. The power will go off as will the Medi Frige. Should I get use an cooler packed with ice for that? I didn't even think about this stuff before since I am new to using insulin. Seems like a pain.

 

[Selket]

Say I buy one of those plug in Medi Frige and we stop for lunch and turn the car off. The power will go off as will the Medi Frige. Should I get use an cooler packed with ice for that? I didn't even think about this stuff before since I am new to using insulin. Seems like a pain.

We usually stay where there is a fridge but sometimes we go places where we just have the ice chest with us.

I keep the insulin vials (we carry unopened novolog and lantus) in one of those disposable ziploc tupperware type containers - I wrap the boxes up in a paper towel and put it in there - then I put the container in the ice chest. I don't want the insulin sitting right on the ice as it would get too cold. I try to keep it on top and not underneath (not buried in the ice).

When we stop to eat I just leave it in there if we have a lot of ice and the ice chest is still very cold. If I am concerned I will take it out and put it in a lunchbox and scoop out some ice and put that in a ziploc and put in the lunch box with it.

99% of the time I can just leave it in the ice chest (cooler) in the car - just make sure you have lots of ice and check it when you stop.

We don't have one of those portable car fridges so I don't know how long they keep things cold if you stop the car and go in to eat somewhere and it is 100 degrees outside.

I have the opened vial of insulin in my purse or in his emergency kit and that goes with us everywhere. I leave the opened insulin the hotel room once we get there.

 

[pbharris4]

I have an idea! I think it can be done...2 days before we go..I can use one pen and the next day use another pen... so I'll have 3 pens that can be room temp or not over 86 degrees. I will still need a travel pack to keep them at a decent temp, but then they won't have to be refrigerated to 46 degrees. I also wouldn't have to buy the $100 car/hotel medi fridge. AS long as I use them within 28 days (which they'll be long gone by then) they'll be good. What do you think?

 

[Belle & Ariel]

I have an idea! I think it can be done...2 days before we go..I can use one pen and the next day use another pen... so I'll have 3 pens that can be room temp or not over 86 degrees. I will still need a travel pack to keep them at a decent temp, but then they won't have to be refrigerated to 46 degrees. I also wouldn't have to buy the $100 car/hotel medi fridge. AS long as I use them within 28 days (which they'll be long gone by then) they'll be good. What do you think?

We do that when we cruise. I use the pens until they have one or two uses and save them to take to the beach instead of a fresh pen. That way if they get too hot or are lost are stolen it's not the week's dosage lost.

 

[Selket]

I think if you use multiple pens a month (not sure how the pens work - we use an insulin pump so I keep vials to fill the cartridges) - then I don't see a need to keep them all refrigerated if you know you're going to use them up within 28 days.

The extra vials we carry with us of lantus and novolog we don't plan to use except in an emergency so they need to stay cold.