Portable insulin cooler for use while touring parks?

[mulderxcoltrane]

Hi everyone,

Looking for something to keep my insulin bottle cold while touring the parks.
Ordered a FRIO pouch based on a recommendation and it basically keeps the vials barely colder than room temperature.

Previously, I bought a small case with freezer packs, but the resort "fridges" aren't cold enough to refreeze the ice packs every night.

Any recommendations from experience?

 

[kanerf]

Take the packs to the Bell station. They have freezers for guests food. They can freeze them overnight. You just have to remember to pick them up in the morning.

 

[gap2368]

I use a frio for year with no problems

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Hi everyone,

Looking for something to keep my insulin bottle cold while touring the parks.
Ordered a FRIO pouch based on a recommendation and it basically keeps the vials barely colder than room temperature.

Previously, I bought a small case with freezer packs, but the resort "fridges" aren't cold enough to refreeze the ice packs every night.

Any recommendations from experience?

if you go with case again remember ziplocs to put ice in so the ice is not loose. have not had to do this at Disney but I would ask at First Aid if they would keep in frig for you for the day. have had other parks keep refrig meds for me

 

[mulderxcoltrane]

I use a frio for year with no problems

maybe I’m not using it properly?

I soak the bag, pat it dry on a towel as instructed and it never really gets cold, just a bit better than room temp.

 

[mulderxcoltrane]

if you go with case again remember ziplocs to put ice in so the ice is not loose. have not had to do this at Disney but I would ask at First Aid if they would keep in frig for you for the day. have had other parks keep refrig meds for me

Thought about first aid, but I always want it with me and not have to get to the first aid location. Maybe I’m lazy.

 

[lanejudy]

maybe I’m not using it properly?

I soak the bag, pat it dry on a towel as instructed and it never really gets cold, just a bit better than room temp.

FRIO is designed to keep the insulin at the temperature it was when you put it into the FRIO. The FRIO itself isn't an ice pack and doesn't get cold, but if the insulin is cold out of the fridge FRIO keeps the temp constant. This is done by evaporation -- soaking the FRIO in cold water and pat dry, insert the insulin pen or medication. Do not put it into plastic, make sure the FRIO is allowed to breath, it works by evaporation. And most insulin is ok at room temperature for up to 28 days, assuming you plan to use it within that time. We use FRIOs to keep DH's insulin and other meds cold while camping in August on 90-degree days; it works.

https://www.frioinsulincoolingcase.com/how-a-frio-works/

 

[mulderxcoltrane]

FRIO is designed to keep the insulin at the temperature it was when you put it into the FRIO. The FRIO itself isn't an ice pack and doesn't get cold, but if the insulin is cold out of the fridge FRIO keeps the temp constant. This is done by evaporation -- soaking the FRIO in cold water and pat dry, insert the insulin pen or medication. Do not put it into plastic, make sure the FRIO is allowed to breath, it works by evaporation. And most insulin is ok at room temperature for up to 28 days, assuming you plan to use it within that time. We use FRIOs to keep DH's insulin and other meds cold while camping in August on 90-degree days; it works.

https://www.frioinsulincoolingcase.com/how-a-frio-works/

This is reassuring; thanks. I’ve just been putting the gel pouch in the bag they provided.

 

[Lewisc]

Jane is right the insulin you're using, pen or vial, can be kept at room temperature for around a month (28 -42 days depending on brand).

There is an issue if the temperature gets above 86○. You don't need to keep the insulin cold. You just need to prevent it from getting too hot. Summer in Orlando, you probably want to keep your insulin in some kind of insulated bag. Gel pack, ice in a ziplock bag works.

 

[ttintagel]

This doesn’t always work, depending on where you are in the life cycle of the bottle you’re using, but when I have one that’s nearly empty and one that’s full or almost full, the nearly empty one is the one I carry with me, leaving the full or almost full one in the refrigerator. That way, if something bad does happen to the one I’m carrying on my person, it’s not a whole bottle getting ruined.

 

[mulderxcoltrane]

This doesn’t always work, depending on where you are in the life cycle of the bottle you’re using, but when I have one that’s nearly empty and one that’s full or almost full, the nearly empty one is the one I carry with me, leaving the full or almost full one in the refrigerator. That way, if something bad does happen to the one I’m carrying on my person, it’s not a whole bottle getting ruined.

Yes - I do this too!

 

[Selket]

People who use insulin pumps generally have 200+ units of insulin in the pump and it's in their pocket or stuck to their body (Omnipod) and they don't generally keep it cool while out and about in the parks in the summer. I've rarely had a time that I thought my son's insulin was perhaps affected by the heat so I changed it out. I have a Frio bag but I usually just kept his insulin bottle in my purse. I think usually you're going to be in and out of A/C enough that it is fine. If you're going to ...say a water park ... and it's going to be setting out in the hot sun all day in a bag then I carry a cooler and put ice in a ziplock and put the insulin wrapped up next to it (so not setting directly on ice).

I wouldn't keep it at first aid cause you have to trek over there to get it - or if it was me I'd forget it and leave the park and realize it way too late lol!

Always a good idea to bring extra insulin with you that stays in the room. And be wary of room fridges - sometimes they have spots that are extra cold and you will freeze your insulin bottle/pen.

 

[SueM in MN]

People who use insulin pumps generally have 200+ units of insulin in the pump and it's in their pocket or stuck to their body (Omnipod) and they don't generally keep it cool while out and about in the parks in the summer. I've rarely had a time that I thought my son's insulin was perhaps affected by the heat so I changed it out. I have a Frio bag but I usually just kept his insulin bottle in my purse. I think usually you're going to be in and out of A/C enough that it is fine. If you're going to ...say a water park ... and it's going to be setting out in the hot sun all day in a bag then I carry a cooler and put ice in a ziplock and put the insulin wrapped up next to it (so not setting directly on ice).

I wouldn't keep it at first aid cause you have to trek over there to get it - or if it was me I'd forget it and leave the park and realize it way too late lol!

Always a good idea to bring extra insulin with you that stays in the room. And be wary of room fridges - sometimes they have spots that are extra cold and you will freeze your insulin bottle/pen.

Good points.
There are also people working at WDW every day who are diabetics either carrying insulin with them or using an insulin pump.

I‘m not even sure if First Aid will still keep insulin anymore and since most insulin in use is fine at room temperature, most wouldn’t need to be kept there anyway.

The warning about room refrigerators is important. I’ve read many accounts from people whose insulin bottles/pens got frozen in the room refrigerator. I‘ve also read accounts where people used bags of ice and found their insulin froze.

 

[Lewisc]

People who use insulin pumps generally have 200+ units of insulin in the pump and it's in their pocket or stuck to their body (Omnipod) and they don't generally keep it cool while out and about in the parks in the summer. I

One of the reasons you change your infusion and insulin every few days One of the reasons reservoir limit the capacity....Insulin held against your warm body doesn't last more then a few days.

 

[Bete]

We double insulate. You can put the frio bag in another insulated bag. Periodically you can rewet the frio bag for about 5 minutes at a time at the parks. Bring along a plastic container large enough to hold the frio bag and be able to add cold water and submerge the frio bag into the plastic container. Ice water/cold water is free at the parks. Now fill up your plastic container and let the frio bag soak (without the insulin in it; keep the insulin in your extra insulated bag) for a short while. You can use a cup of ice covered inside the second insulated bag to keep your loose insulin next to it until you are done soaking the frio bag. Do this as often as you feel necessary. When eating a meal at the park is a great time to do this.

if you don't mind taking a break from the park then you can always leave the insulin back at your resort in the refrigerator. Then go back to your resort for a lunch or dinner and do your insulin at the resort. Now, return your insulin into the refrigerator and go back to the park. To me there's enough variety to eat at your resort everyday.

 

[Lewisc]

We double insulate. You can put the frio bag in another insulated bag. Periodically you can rewet the frio bag for about 5 minutes at a time at the parks. Bring along a plastic container large enough to hold the frio bag and be able to add cold water and submerge the frio bag into the plastic container. Ice water/cold water is free at the parks. Now fill up your plastic container and let the frio bag soak (without the insulin in it; keep the insulin in your extra insulated bag) for a short while. You can use a cup of ice covered inside the second insulated bag to keep your lose insulin next to it until you are done soaking the frio bag. Do this as often as you feel necessary. When eating a meal at the park is a great time to do this.

if you don't mind taking a break from the park then you can always leave the insulin back at your resort in the refrigerator. Then go back to your resort for a lunch or dinner and do your insulin at the resort. Now, return your insulin into the refrigerator and go back to the park. To me there's enough variety to eat at your resort everyday.

Remember insulin you're using is OK if the temperature is in the low 80s. Frozen insulin shouldn't be used, even after defrosted. Other drugs may need to be kept cold. Insulin you're currently using doesn't.

 

[Bete]

Remember insulin you're using is OK if the temperature is in the low 80s. Frozen insulin shouldn't be used, even after defrosted. Other drugs may need to be kept cold. Insulin you're currently using doesn't.

Our insulin has never frozen up using the method describe. Periodically, you can always check the insulin to make sure it's okay.

 

[maribee88]

Hi everyone,

Looking for something to keep my insulin bottle cold while touring the parks.
Ordered a FRIO pouch based on a recommendation and it basically keeps the vials barely colder than room temperature.

Previously, I bought a small case with freezer packs, but the resort "fridges" aren't cold enough to refreeze the ice packs every night.

Any recommendations from experience?

I have used the Frio bags for years and love them. For context, I have lived in South Florida and Texas so it gets hot! In the actual park, I take an insulin pen as my back up (pump wearer). Much easier than traveling with the vial. I wrap a blue freezer mat around the pen (wrapped in a washcloth). In 20 years, this method has never failed and my insulin has stayed in the safe zone. Because I take a cooler into the park the blue mat stays cool most of the day.