Travelling with insulin

June 25, 2011 21:34

richard.arkle DAFNE Graduate
NHS Grampian 16 posts

GXK949 said:
Hi, im hoping someone can give me some advice, i am moving to Australia for a year to study and stopping in Dubai for a short holiday on the way! I have to take a considerable amount (6 months worth) of insulin with me as it will be expensive for me to get insulin in Australia! Does anyone have any advice as to how i transport such a large amount of insulin or have any experience with taking insulin on long haul flights?
Thanks

I make a 2 month trip to the Australian outback every year in Dec and Jan and yes it is hot. My inslin supplies go in my main luggage apart from my own immediate needs. I like to split up my supplies to my hand baggage or my suitcase in case either gets lost. When available in hotels or friends houses I stick the lot in the nearest fridge but I have twice forgotten to pick them up. The security at the airport never seem phased by insulin or even the CGM I wear, too much for them to take in.

The small print on insulin information says it will lsat 30 days out of refigeration and I have certainly tested that with my kit sitting in the glove compartment of my "Troopie" in Birdsville when the temperature has been 40 deg C, it worked well enough after that but I wouldnt recommend it. Drug companies and doctors are always very conservative and take the safe approach which is probably right but I wouldnt just ditch my whole 6 month supplies because it had been out of the fridge for a week.

The Aus Diabetic Assn is very good and you can get discounted prices if you join. For a six month trip it may be worth while.

Dont worry too much, insulin is readily available in every small town but they dont have One Touch strips there and I had to buy a different meter.

Enjoy Aus but avoid the cities and the whole of the east coast, get out into the bush. Spend at least a week based in Alice Springs and then at least 4 weeks in the North of WA and in particular the Kimberly.

Cheers R

June 26, 2011 15:03

Alan 49 DAFNE Graduate
Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust 284 posts

Richard
I think the recommendation is not to put insulin into luggage that goes in the hold, because it may freeze and become unusable. I always keep my supplies in Frio pouches (as mentioned in earler postings on this topic) - in my hand luggage. These pouches keep the insulin cool for 24 hours or more, so are fine for flights to Os.

June 26, 2011 22:17

HelenP DAFNE Graduate
Queensland Diabetes Centre, Brisbane, QLD 218 posts

Alan,
You can always ask for extra bread, fruit or a second main course. Omelette with sausage, egg and tomato is a good breakfast but I stay away from the sauces and rice/pasta dishes. My experience is that airlines carry extra meals routinely.

I'm with you I carry insulin with me in a frio pack in cabin luggage, too many bad stories of lost/delayed luggage. My ex-husband flew Brisbane-Heathrow. They lost his luggage on the way over. Fought to have stuff replaced quickly so he could get on with what he had to do. Replaced most of it then when he flew back that was delayed by a week or so. The original luggage turned up 5 weeks after he returned home!
Helen

June 27, 2011 21:03

AllanR DAFNE Graduate
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust 15 posts

Actually on the discussion about "diabetic meals" on planes, sheesh. DO NOT GO THERE! My boss was sending me to the US for a few weeks and decided to help out by putting me down for a diabetic meal. I got a lettuce leaf and some carrots. As you might expect quickly followed by a hypo on the plane. Was very fortunate to have a great attendant who's hubby it turned out was diabetic (and as I found out later in a nice chat with her had recently had an islet transplant off his US insurance company...lucky guy) and she noticed and actually got me a first class meal out of it complete with proper metal knives, forks and glass bowls (the loathing off other luggage class punters was great). But this was years before my DAFNE training so doubt it would occur now even with it. But either way, keep away from diabetic meals.

General travel wise, always good to have the GP letter (have forgotten it a few times to no problems yet). And your dog tag up to date. I tend to also tell the usual muppet at check-in also when they ask if you have anything sharp (they don't expect someone to say yes so worth giving them a minute to wonder what to do). But yeah, always carry all my kit in hand luggage. After notifying check-in staff I tend to find a member of the customs bag search section look out for you, but haven't been anywhere yet which hasn't understood what all my kit was. Although did have once who ask me to demonstrate and use it...Blood test sufficed but they can be daft at times. Always wanted to take food with me, but the don't carry food/liquid on flight ban thing was a big no no to all that. But did always find enough goodies available in the airport itself to hold with me.

Have a good trip Smile sounds a nice outing. Has made me think though, these Frio pack things sound interesting, but was curious as to what folks would consider on a 6 month ramble/camping trip for insulin? it's early stage planning at the moment but was considering a monthly drop off somewhere to various FedEx or UPS station somewhere? any thoughts?

June 28, 2011 08:01

novorapidboi26 DAFNE Graduate
NHS Lanarkshire 1,819 posts

I can just imagine you sitting with your fancy meal and cutlery, you must of felt like a King..........
Laughing
To me there is no such thing as Diabetic meals...............being on the DAFNE forum, no one should be thinking like this.......we can all eat anything we like, at whatever time we chose to do so, that's the beauty of it.........

I suppose these airline companies and others who supply food need to cater for as many circumstances as possible......

June 28, 2011 08:56

AllanR DAFNE Graduate
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust 15 posts

Very true, but guess he was trying to be helpful when he decided to book it for me hehe. Told him otherwise for the return trip though luckily. Was also amusing how in the height of all the air scare silliness, the higher classes get metal knives and forks and glass bowls etc, while cattle class gets flimsy plastic stuff (including the food Razz ). Guess the old joke is that terrorists don't fly first class Laughing

June 28, 2011 09:01

Alan 49 DAFNE Graduate
Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust 284 posts

Allan

The good thing about the Frio packs is that you only need a bowl or basin with cold water in it to get them working. The inner pouch contains special crystals - you soak the pouch in the cold water for 10 to 15 minutes, until the crystals soften and then they will stay cool for around 24 hours. So if you've got a couple of Frio pouches and access to cold water, they will keep your insulin supplies cool.

Gosh! I sound like a Frio rep.

Alan

June 28, 2011 22:48

AllanR DAFNE Graduate
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust 15 posts

Cheers for that Alan. Seem quiet an interesting product which am sure will become quiet useful. Noticed they also sell smaller ones to fit a pen in, always wondered how a pen really lasts sitting trundling around in a jacket pocket all the time etc. Seems one of them might be quiet good, although for normal use maybe a tad overkill for how long a cartridge tends to last.
Thanks again for the suggestion Smile

June 25, 2011 21:34 richard.arkle DAFNE Graduate NHS Grampian 16 posts	GXK949 said: Hi, im hoping someone can give me some advice, i am moving to Australia for a year to study and stopping in Dubai for a short holiday on the way! I have to take a considerable amount (6 months worth) of insulin with me as it will be expensive for me to get insulin in Australia! Does anyone have any advice as to how i transport such a large amount of insulin or have any experience with taking insulin on long haul flights? Thanks I make a 2 month trip to the Australian outback every year in Dec and Jan and yes it is hot. My inslin supplies go in my main luggage apart from my own immediate needs. I like to split up my supplies to my hand baggage or my suitcase in case either gets lost. When available in hotels or friends houses I stick the lot in the nearest fridge but I have twice forgotten to pick them up. The security at the airport never seem phased by insulin or even the CGM I wear, too much for them to take in. The small print on insulin information says it will lsat 30 days out of refigeration and I have certainly tested that with my kit sitting in the glove compartment of my "Troopie" in Birdsville when the temperature has been 40 deg C, it worked well enough after that but I wouldnt recommend it. Drug companies and doctors are always very conservative and take the safe approach which is probably right but I wouldnt just ditch my whole 6 month supplies because it had been out of the fridge for a week. The Aus Diabetic Assn is very good and you can get discounted prices if you join. For a six month trip it may be worth while. Dont worry too much, insulin is readily available in every small town but they dont have One Touch strips there and I had to buy a different meter. Enjoy Aus but avoid the cities and the whole of the east coast, get out into the bush. Spend at least a week based in Alice Springs and then at least 4 weeks in the North of WA and in particular the Kimberly. Cheers R
June 26, 2011 15:03 Alan 49 DAFNE Graduate Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust 284 posts	Richard I think the recommendation is not to put insulin into luggage that goes in the hold, because it may freeze and become unusable. I always keep my supplies in Frio pouches (as mentioned in earler postings on this topic) - in my hand luggage. These pouches keep the insulin cool for 24 hours or more, so are fine for flights to Os.
June 26, 2011 22:17 HelenP DAFNE Graduate Queensland Diabetes Centre, Brisbane, QLD 218 posts	Alan, You can always ask for extra bread, fruit or a second main course. Omelette with sausage, egg and tomato is a good breakfast but I stay away from the sauces and rice/pasta dishes. My experience is that airlines carry extra meals routinely. I'm with you I carry insulin with me in a frio pack in cabin luggage, too many bad stories of lost/delayed luggage. My ex-husband flew Brisbane-Heathrow. They lost his luggage on the way over. Fought to have stuff replaced quickly so he could get on with what he had to do. Replaced most of it then when he flew back that was delayed by a week or so. The original luggage turned up 5 weeks after he returned home! Helen
June 27, 2011 21:03 AllanR DAFNE Graduate North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust 15 posts	Actually on the discussion about "diabetic meals" on planes, sheesh. DO NOT GO THERE! My boss was sending me to the US for a few weeks and decided to help out by putting me down for a diabetic meal. I got a lettuce leaf and some carrots. As you might expect quickly followed by a hypo on the plane. Was very fortunate to have a great attendant who's hubby it turned out was diabetic (and as I found out later in a nice chat with her had recently had an islet transplant off his US insurance company...lucky guy) and she noticed and actually got me a first class meal out of it complete with proper metal knives, forks and glass bowls (the loathing off other luggage class punters was great). But this was years before my DAFNE training so doubt it would occur now even with it. But either way, keep away from diabetic meals. General travel wise, always good to have the GP letter (have forgotten it a few times to no problems yet). And your dog tag up to date. I tend to also tell the usual muppet at check-in also when they ask if you have anything sharp (they don't expect someone to say yes so worth giving them a minute to wonder what to do). But yeah, always carry all my kit in hand luggage. After notifying check-in staff I tend to find a member of the customs bag search section look out for you, but haven't been anywhere yet which hasn't understood what all my kit was. Although did have once who ask me to demonstrate and use it...Blood test sufficed but they can be daft at times. Always wanted to take food with me, but the don't carry food/liquid on flight ban thing was a big no no to all that. But did always find enough goodies available in the airport itself to hold with me. Have a good trip sounds a nice outing. Has made me think though, these Frio pack things sound interesting, but was curious as to what folks would consider on a 6 month ramble/camping trip for insulin? it's early stage planning at the moment but was considering a monthly drop off somewhere to various FedEx or UPS station somewhere? any thoughts?
June 28, 2011 08:01 novorapidboi26 DAFNE Graduate NHS Lanarkshire 1,819 posts	I can just imagine you sitting with your fancy meal and cutlery, you must of felt like a King.......... To me there is no such thing as Diabetic meals...............being on the DAFNE forum, no one should be thinking like this.......we can all eat anything we like, at whatever time we chose to do so, that's the beauty of it......... I suppose these airline companies and others who supply food need to cater for as many circumstances as possible......
June 28, 2011 08:56 AllanR DAFNE Graduate North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust 15 posts	Very true, but guess he was trying to be helpful when he decided to book it for me hehe. Told him otherwise for the return trip though luckily. Was also amusing how in the height of all the air scare silliness, the higher classes get metal knives and forks and glass bowls etc, while cattle class gets flimsy plastic stuff (including the food ). Guess the old joke is that terrorists don't fly first class
June 28, 2011 09:01 Alan 49 DAFNE Graduate Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust 284 posts	Allan The good thing about the Frio packs is that you only need a bowl or basin with cold water in it to get them working. The inner pouch contains special crystals - you soak the pouch in the cold water for 10 to 15 minutes, until the crystals soften and then they will stay cool for around 24 hours. So if you've got a couple of Frio pouches and access to cold water, they will keep your insulin supplies cool. Gosh! I sound like a Frio rep. Alan
June 28, 2011 22:48 AllanR DAFNE Graduate North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust 15 posts	Cheers for that Alan. Seem quiet an interesting product which am sure will become quiet useful. Noticed they also sell smaller ones to fit a pen in, always wondered how a pen really lasts sitting trundling around in a jacket pocket all the time etc. Seems one of them might be quiet good, although for normal use maybe a tad overkill for how long a cartridge tends to last. Thanks again for the suggestion