Fridge for medical reasons

[gardendame]

Lisa,
5.5??? 5.5??? I am bowing down to you as I type. That is fantastic. Until we started the Lantus/Novulog, the A1C for both kids were double digits! Hence, the new protocol. It has only been about 3 weeks, but we are seeing readings from 100-200 now and we are all so excited. Before, if one of them had a reading below 200, I would nervously wait for the NPH to kick in and drop them to the 50's or 60's. Now, with the Lantus not "peaking", it has been quite an adjustment, realizing that they won't drop so drastically. The first two weeks we had to do the 2:00 a.m. checks and call the numbers into the doctor. At one of these times (I laugh at it now) I freaked out at a 118 reading and woke my poor, sleeping DD up to drink some juice! I knew for sure she would be in the 30's that morning if I didn't!

They take the Lantus at bedtime (8:30) so at supper I take it out to sit at room temperature. I have forgoten a couple of times, but then I roll it in my hands to warm it up.

I always welcome advise from you seasoned insulin users. I have only been dealing with it for 5 years, but for the last 1-1/2 years I have had to do it times 2 (middle DS diagnosed at 6). Things get easier every year. Lantus is great. We love the pens (Novulog Junior) because they allow for 1/2 unit dosing PLUS the kids can do it all themselves. I just tell them how much they need for that particular meal, and they do the rest themselves. Don't know if I could have done that at their age (6&7).

Again, I welcome advise from those of you handling this for a while. I would especially be interested in tips/tricks/treats you found helpful at WDW.

 

[Talking Hands]

At Disney always have your meter with you! Crucial.
In the Florida heat carry your insulin of any kind in a cooled bag. In a pinch, if I forget my special one I use a blue ice in a Tupperware lunch sack and wrap the vial in a face cloth to make sure it doesn't touch the blue ice.

Don't under any circumstances leave insulin in a car. Store it at first aid if you need to or leave it in the a/c room or carry with you. Since I use a wheelchair I put the luch bag with my vials in a backpack hung over the back of my chair.

If you have a problem let a castmember know! They will get help immediately. I remember one time when I was with my daughters and went hypo. The girls were trying to get me OJ and there was a long line. My oldest told a castmember the problem and was immediately helped. Given OJ for me and then the castmember came back with her to make sure all was ok and I didn't need more.

Use your lows to enjoy the real treats like a Mickey bar! If I'm 60 I can have a Mickey Bar and not shot any insulin and later keep to my regular dosage.

 

[BCV23]

Well, I just pulled my son's vial of Lantus out of the frig. to doublecheck about the temp. requirements. The pharmacy placed a refrig. but don't freeze type sticker on it. On the box itself the manufacturer printed "Lantus should be stored in a refrigerator, 36-46 F. (2-8C). It should not be stored in the freezer and it should not be allowed to freeze."

We have always been advised to keep our son's insulin cold until he recently switched to a Humalog pen. Now we keep the current pen at room temp., the rest of the pens and the lantus in the refrig.. I've talked to pharmacists about it too and remember questioning ours may years ago about why they let filled prescriptions sit out. After some more checking this store which is a part of a very large chain started refrigerating R and N until pickup. They still do to this day except for Humalog pens.

It is easy to keep insulin cold without fussing with a plug-in cooler. With R or N (NPH) there are medicool containers that do a great job with little space. They use a chilled container with slots for insulin bottles. Lantus bottles are too long for this product. Someone posted here a few months back about another insulin cooler but I didn't have time for delivery before our last trip. I just used a freezer block thingie inside an insulated lunch bag. Works great. Use it all the time now even for a trip out to dinner as Humalog must not be injected "until the food is in front of him" according to my son's CDE.

Cheshire Figment's warning is right on. Portable frigs at WDW vary widely in our experience (15 years with a type I juvenile onset diabetic). We've never had insulin freeze but pop has started to so check a pop can or water bottle or something after a few hours. I think if you keep the insulin in the door of the refrig you're safer.

We've never been charged for a refrigerator I don't think, but Sue is right that a while back they stopped promising no charge. Ours was waived in those days because when we checked in early and asked them to keep the insulin behind the front desk they could tell we weren't lying about needing a refrig. The last few years it seems to have become a nonissue again.

Over many years with a diabetic...and for six or seven years two as my DH who travels for a living developed type II and is now also insulin dependent... we've been at few hotels that won't provide a refrig. If they don't they will keep it "behind the desk." As in a kitchen somewhere. MY DH has even kept his in an ice bucket! Not a good idea but I'm not his mother!

As for an injection of cold insulin, we were taught that it might sting so to warm it by rolling the bottle in your hands for a few seconds. I also sometimes just roll the syringe or let it sit out for a few minutes. Doesn't take long to warm up at all.

I think it's great that we can all learn from each other. Also think it's important to not assume we know all just because we've been dealing with it longer than others. Diabetes comes in more than one form and does vary soooo widely from one patient to another. For one instance a Mickey bar wouldn't work nearly quickly enough for my son's lows but would also be way overkill.

 

[Talking Hands]

I wouldn't use a Mickey bar for something under 60. Probablty is a bit of overkill but I am still trucking at that point and can afford the extra carbs. Can't use it late in the day but early when I anm still trucking.
I go as low as the 30s and that's when I go for pure sugar. Coke or hard candy. That was Saturday! Very scary feeling when your hands won't work. I was so glad that there were friends there who knew what to do when I said I was crashing! Don't usually do that.

 

[don8life]

Just wondering, has anyone left there meds at a first aid station? My daughter's transplant meds are very expensive. As I'm sure you know how expensive meds are! We are not staying at a WDW resort. So I will have to bring them along in a cooler bag, which I have done many times for just a day trip. But I'm not sure doing that for 6 days(actually 10 if you count the drive) in a row is such a great idea. I'll ask the pharmacist. I think I would feel like I was missing an arm by leaving them with someone else. HMMM!?
Don't know what to do.
Thoughts?
Thanks!
Irene

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I have only once used one of the First Aid stations. They will have you fill out a form, place the medications in a paper bag, close the bag, and staple it shut while attaching the form to the bag. Then they will store the set in a refrigerator. When you come back for the mediction, they will get it out of the refrigerator. I forget if they ask you for identification, but I think they do and also have you sign the form.

Since there is no pressure situation it is EXTREMELY UNLIKELY that you would receive the wrong bag back. Even if you accidently were given the incorrect bag, you would realize immediately that it was not the correct medication.

 

[Figaro]

Cheshire Figment describes the process very well. They did ask us for ID when we got the medication back from the fridge and then asked us to open it and make sure that everything was okay. The people at the First Aid Stations are absolutely wonderful!

I would also repeat my suggestion that I made earlier in this thread to pick up one of the little car fridge/heaters. They plug into the cigarette lighter and have an adaptor to use in the room. For people in southern states, you might not ever need the heated part(smile), but for those of us in the frozen north it has been very helpful to have that option (just a switch on the unit to move it to either heat or cool). And of course, this way there is no worry about whether or not a fridge is available.

Hope you have a wonderful trip!

 

[don8life]

Thanks folks you have been very helpful and I feel more comfortable leaving meds at the first aid station now. this is a great web site!

I was looking at those car fridges at target last night. I think we may get one. It takes us 2 days to drive cause we stop overnight. With the fridge I wouldn't have to worry about refreezing my ice paks at a motel on 95.
Thanks again!
Leaving in 3 days!!!!

 

[cyndibelle]

we just made our reservations last week and was pleasantly surprised that we got our fridge for free due to my inner ear problem..i am on a low sodium diet and therefore cant eat much so i have to have lots of my own food and water....lots of water...they were so accomodating..