frio pack, insulin, and test strips

[Belle4mygrl]

My little one is Type 1 diabetic. We will be in DW next Friday! woohoo!

I have read that I need to keep the strips cool. my concern is that the moisture will enter the little test strip container. I know I can keep insulin in the frio pack without concern. What should I do with the test strips?

Also, I haven't used the frio pack in so long I don't have a clue of how to use it. Do I submerge in cold water overnight? wring it out? Please help, I can't remember.

 

[lanejudy]

My little one is Type 1 diabetic. We will be in DW next Friday! woohoo!

I have read that I need to keep the strips cool. my concern is that the moisture will enter the little test strip container. I know I can keep insulin in the frio pack without concern. What should I do with the test strips?

Also, I haven't used the frio pack in so long I don't have a clue of how to use it. Do I submerge in cold water overnight? wring it out? Please help, I can't remember.

You soak the Frio in water for up to 5 minutes. Much more and it will oversaturate, over expand, and you may not be able to use it (too tight to fit anything in it). It may also get sticky as the gel oozes out if soaked for too long.

We use individual Frios for a prefilled pen, not sure if there is one big enough to also carry the test strips, but DH has never carried them in a Frio.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[Belle4mygrl]

Thank you for directions! It has been quite some time since we went to disney during the hot months and haven't had to use it.

My frio can fit up to 5 pre-filled pens unsoaked. Of course, I won't take that many at a time. I am guessing once soaked it can fit 3??

 

[buffettgirl]

the test strips will be fine stored 'as is' in a backpack or other carrying case. As long as they're away from the direct sun, they're not going to reach a temperature that is harmful. Putting them in a frio would definitely be harmful, though. Storing them in your car in the parking lot all day would definitely be harmful as well.

Worth noting, we've never had a meter/strips malfunction due to heat, and we generally travel to disney during the summer. We don't even have a/c in our house and they've never gone bad in regular old 90 degree weather. But we have had meters refuse to turn on due to the cold.

 

[Belle4mygrl]

the test strips will be fine stored 'as is' in a backpack or other carrying case. As long as they're away from the direct sun, they're not going to reach a temperature that is harmful. Putting them in a frio would definitely be harmful, though. Storing them in your car in the parking lot all day would definitely be harmful as well.

Worth noting, we've never had a meter/strips malfunction due to heat, and we generally travel to disney during the summer. We don't even have a/c in our house and they've never gone bad in regular old 90 degree weather. But we have had meters refuse to turn on due to the cold.

Thank you!

I read a post where the parents were treating HIs all day long and realized the strips malfunctioned due to the heat when child crashed with a trip to ER.

I am scared to death of my child having seizures. She hasn't had one yet due to crashing.

It's good to know as long as the strips are in the bag they will be fine. I'll just use the Frio for insulin pen.

 

[jcano]

We just have her strips and meter in a regular bag. The only time I've had it indicate it was too hot was at a pool where it had been sitting in direct sunlight for awhile. We took it inside or held it in front of the car AC and it was fine in a few minutes.

FYI We do usually carry 2 meters in the park. We started when she was little so my DH and I both had one in case we split up. She carries her own now but I still take a back up in case a bag gets left somewhere. Whenever a number on the meter is one extreme or the other and doesn't match how she feels, we double check it with meter 2. Lesson learned years ago. We haven't had an issue with her current meter, but occasionally the old one was just whacked.

 

[buffettgirl]

Thank you!

I read a post where the parents were treating HIs all day long and realized the strips malfunctioned due to the heat when child crashed with a trip to ER.

I am scared to death of my child having seizures. She hasn't had one yet due to crashing.

It's good to know as long as the strips are in the bag they will be fine. I'll just use the Frio for insulin pen.

we're 9 years into this and we've never had a hypo seizure either.

 

[jcano]

we're 9 years into this and we've never had a hypo seizure either.

We're 9 years too with no seizures.
(Knock on wood )

 

[Belle4mygrl]

It's nice to know there are fellow Type 1 parents out there who "get it". I usually don't freak out or let Type 1 run our lives. It's the seizures that scare me the most. Highs don't bother me so much. I know I can bring her down slowly with insulin . The lows..... She can crash FAST because you just never know with type 1 diabetes how the body reacts (heat , exercise, PUBERTY lol)

AND we are SIX years in NO hypo seizure.

Thanks for the tip about an extra meter. We now have an extra packed up although we will only take one in the park. I carry a Baggallini (over the shoulder) that never leaves my body except for the occasional picture.

 

[runnergrl]

Just to reassure some of the new(er) T1s and and parents of a T1 on here, dad is 30+ years as a diabetic (early 30's dx --- yes, type 1) and never had a hypo-seizure.

and this is relevant:
"A lot of people worry about heat," he acknowledges. They buy devices to keep their insulin cool and worry excessively. But he believes that practicality is the way to go. "Insulin needs to be above 120 degrees before it's affected by heat. Keep it as close to 70 degrees as possible. Use common sense. Don't store your insulin in the car in the sun. Don't let your insulin freeze-keep it next to your body in the cold." - See more at: http://diabeteshealth.com/read/2001/02/01/2116/keeping-an-eye-on-your-insulin/#sthash.eosFOvp3.dpuf

 

[Talking Hands]

Another 30+ Type 1 and never had a hypo seizure