Taking extra insulin for 3 months in Europe, Which is correct? Lily Co. or Frio? Options

[susanhs]

I have taken 2 months supply of insulin vials in a Frio case, from ship to destination( 8-10 hours) and then on the way home (15+ hours) So far, no problems, even though Humalog insert sheet says that storage should be around refrigerator temps( 37- 45 degrees). the Frio company nurse called me to tell me that, off the record, unopened vials will be ok for those lengths of time at the Frio temperature(around 70 degrees Fahrenheit). What is correct? So I don't' have to replace the insulin or get new insulin, immediately (or soon) after arriving for the 2 1/2 months of our stay in Europe, should I get a colder alternative to Frio?

Does the refrigerated insulin keep its "coolness" when taken from the fridge, put into the Frio wallet and then transported in my handluggage until I get to my destination, as long as it is in the Frio wallet?

Planning has got me looking at all possibilities and one situation is that I could take a freezy block from home, but on the ship when we leave, there is only a fridge and so I can't refreeze the block (blue standard cooler block). Same for most hotels. How does ice work? Besides melting, I don't want to deal with all the baggies and asking the maid for some extra ice for departure!

[GA Hiker]

Could you take a "larger" plastic container ("Tupperware") to hold the ice, and a "smaller" plastic container to hold the insulin inside the container of ice? Would it freeze like that? It would eliminate the baggies which can always tear and leak.

[susanhs]

Could you take a "larger" plastic container ("Tupperware") to hold the ice, and a "smaller" plastic container to hold the insulin inside the container of ice? Would it freeze like that? It would eliminate the baggies which can always tear and leak.

Dear GA Hiker,
thanks for a creative solution! I will look for several containers and test it out before I go on the trip, but I like your idea.

This post has been edited by susanhs: Feb 26 2013, 09:53 PM

[JohnG]

I have taken 2 months supply of insulin vials in a Frio case, from ship to destination( 8-10 hours) and then on the way home (15+ hours) So far, no problems, even though Humalog insert sheet says that storage should be around refrigerator temps( 37- 45 degrees). the Frio company nurse called me to tell me that, off the record, unopened vials will be ok for those lengths of time at the Frio temperature(around 70 degrees Fahrenheit). What is correct? So I don't' have to replace the insulin or get new insulin, immediately (or soon) after arriving for the 2 1/2 months of our stay in Europe, should I get a colder alternative to Frio?

Does the refrigerated insulin keep its "coolness" when taken from the fridge, put into the Frio wallet and then transported in my handluggage until I get to my destination, as long as it is in the Frio wallet?

Planning has got me looking at all possibilities and one situation is that I could take a freezy block from home, but on the ship when we leave, there is only a fridge and so I can't refreeze the block (blue standard cooler block). Same for most hotels. How does ice work? Besides melting, I don't want to deal with all the baggies and asking the maid for some extra ice for departure!

When U get off the ship how will U travel ? I have a insulin fridge it runs on 110v or 220v or 12v in a car and it holds 9 bottles of insulin. You can also carry your insulin in a SS Vacuum bottle in a small ice chest on the ship and it's easy to get ice...unless it's Carnival...just kidding...(IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)
 photo_3.jpg ( 117.2k ) Number of downloads: 6

[Arlene S.]

I have taken 2 months supply of insulin vials in a Frio case, from ship to destination( 8-10 hours) and then on the way home (15+ hours) So far, no problems, even though Humalog insert sheet says that storage should be around refrigerator temps( 37- 45 degrees). the Frio company nurse called me to tell me that, off the record, unopened vials will be ok for those lengths of time at the Frio temperature(around 70 degrees Fahrenheit). What is correct? So I don't' have to replace the insulin or get new insulin, immediately (or soon) after arriving for the 2 1/2 months of our stay in Europe, should I get a colder alternative to Frio?

Does the refrigerated insulin keep its "coolness" when taken from the fridge, put into the Frio wallet and then transported in my handluggage until I get to my destination, as long as it is in the Frio wallet?

Planning has got me looking at all possibilities and one situation is that I could take a freezy block from home, but on the ship when we leave, there is only a fridge and so I can't refreeze the block (blue standard cooler block). Same for most hotels. How does ice work? Besides melting, I don't want to deal with all the baggies and asking the maid for some extra ice for departure!

I've been looking at this one for a long time but haven't had a need for it. It's similar to the one John posted and it should work on the ship and in the hotel.

PS--I looked at it through a magnifyer and it is the same as the one John posted.


http://www.americandiabeteswholesale.com/p...urce=SiteSearch

This post has been edited by Arlene S.: Feb 27 2013, 01:06 AM

[Arlene S.]

When U get off the ship how will U travel ? I have a insulin fridge it runs on 110v or 220v or 12v in a car and it holds 9 bottles of insulin. You can also carry your insulin in a SS Vacuum bottle in a small ice chest on the ship and it's easy to get ice...unless it's Carnival...just kidding...(IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)
 photo_3.jpg ( 117.2k ) Number of downloads: 6

John,

Can you put anything else in there besides insulin? Is there room under the insulin tray?

I have taken 2 months supply of insulin vials in a Frio case, from ship to destination( 8-10 hours) and then on the way home (15+ hours) So far, no problems, even though Humalog insert sheet says that storage should be around refrigerator temps( 37- 45 degrees). the Frio company nurse called me to tell me that, off the record, unopened vials will be ok for those lengths of time at the Frio temperature(around 70 degrees Fahrenheit). What is correct? So I don't' have to replace the insulin or get new insulin, immediately (or soon) after arriving for the 2 1/2 months of our stay in Europe, should I get a colder alternative to Frio?

Does the refrigerated insulin keep its "coolness" when taken from the fridge, put into the Frio wallet and then transported in my handluggage until I get to my destination, as long as it is in the Frio wallet?

Planning has got me looking at all possibilities and one situation is that I could take a freezy block from home, but on the ship when we leave, there is only a fridge and so I can't refreeze the block (blue standard cooler block). Same for most hotels. How does ice work? Besides melting, I don't want to deal with all the baggies and asking the maid for some extra ice for departure!

I have been using Frio wallets since they became available. I used to buy them from the UK. They keep my insulin cool for as long as three days.

[susanhs]

When U get off the ship how will U travel ? I have a insulin fridge it runs on 110v or 220v or 12v in a car and it holds 9 bottles of insulin. You can also carry your insulin in a SS Vacuum bottle in a small ice chest on the ship and it's easy to get ice...unless it's Carnival...just kidding...(IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)
 photo_3.jpg ( 117.2k ) Number of downloads: 6

Hi, John,
we will go by taxi (45 min's )to airport, wait 1 1/2 hr's and fly 1 1/2 hours, drive 3/4 hr to next fridge. the cooler you showed me looks very efficiient but a bit bulky. Europe is on 220V and it would be very practical, but I always try to get my packing down to a managable as little as possible.
What is a SS Vacuum bottle?
Thanks.

[JohnG]

Hi, John,
we will go by taxi (45 min's )to airport, wait 1 1/2 hr's and fly 1 1/2 hours, drive 3/4 hr to next fridge. the cooler you showed me looks very efficiient but a bit bulky. Europe is on 220V and it would be very practical, but I always try to get my packing down to a managable as little as possible.
What is a SS Vacuum bottle?
Thanks.

I have family in Europe, I just do the best I can, I pack my insulin with freezer packs and go, sometimes my insulin is warm when I get there but I have never had problem with it...have made tooo many trips to count...planes, trans, and autos. Europe is not uncivilized they have DHL, Fed X, UPS and Express Mail (DHL is the best). I sometimes ship stuff ahead and other times I have someone ship me something overnight, new phone, drugs, one time insulin pins. You can get insulin just about anywhere, the European Doctors are friendly, speak English, and will call a pharmacy so you can pick up some insulin (you may have to settle for (NovoRapid [Novolog] but Humalog is also sold in some country's). Here is a photo of one of my family members pins in a Stainless Steel Vacuum Bottle.
 Water_bottle.jpg ( 76.53k ) Number of downloads: 3


This post has been edited by JohnG: Feb 27 2013, 02:26 PM

[susanhs]

I have family in Europe, I just do the best I can, I pack my insulin with freezer packs and go, sometimes my insulin is warm when I get there but I have never had problem with it...have made tooo many trips to count...planes, trans, and autos. Europe is not uncivilized they have DHL, Fed X, UPS and Express Mail (DHL is the best). I sometimes ship stuff ahead and other times I have someone ship me something overnight, new phone, drugs, one time insulin pins. You can get insulin just about anywhere, the European Doctors are friendly, speak English, and will call a pharmacy so you can pick up some insulin (you may have to settle for (NovoRapid [Novolog] but Humalog is also sold in some country's). Here is a photo of one of my family members pins in a Stainless Steel Vacuum Bottle.
 Water_bottle.jpg ( 76.53k ) Number of downloads: 3

I like the thermos bottle idea!
I am mailing (USPS) an 8 lb box of tubing, lancets, wipes and Quiksets + a few Glucerna snacks, but I am very unsure of sending medication.
I will be going to Austria and I think each country has regulations regarding what you can send and medications are not allowed to Austria.
In addition to the supplies, in regard to shipping insulin I would also be afraid the insulin would go bad over shipping time.
I doo have a Dr's phone number and Medtronic's Vienna phone # + address, so I know I won't be stranded.
Thanks for your ideas.

[JohnG]

I like the thermos bottle idea!
I am mailing (USPS) an 8 lb box of tubing, lancets, wipes and Quiksets + a few Glucerna snacks, but I am very unsure of sending medication.
I will be going to Austria and I think each country has regulations regarding what you can send and medications are not allowed to Austria.
In addition to the supplies, in regard to shipping insulin I would also be afraid the insulin would go bad over shipping time.
I doo have a Dr's phone number and Medtronic's Vienna phone # + address, so I know I won't be stranded.
Thanks for your ideas.

I have a daughter in Germany she works for a University and my son will ship me insulin DHL it's my insulin it is labeled with my name on it and
Germany does not care if it belongs to me, Austria is no different. Even if it's not refrigerated it's good for over a mounth so I don't worry and it will last
until I get home. Remember your not importing anything if it belongs to you, cloths, meds, cell phone charger, whatever it's for your use so they do
not care it's not a customs issue.

[susanhs]

I have a daughter in Germany she works for a University and my son will ship me insulin DHL it's my insulin it is labeled with my name on it and
Germany does not care if it belongs to me, Austria is no different. Even if it's not refrigerated it's good for over a mounth so I don't worry and it will last
until I get home. Remember your not importing anything if it belongs to you, cloths, meds, cell phone charger, whatever it's for your use so they do
not care it's not a customs issue.

Thanks, that is news to me! I checked the cost of an 8 lb package to Austria via DHL, UPS, FEDEX, and compared to Postal Rates. The first three were all much higher than USPS for priority mail, to get a supply of my insertion sets, reservoirs and lancets, wipes and some glycemic snack bars. the difference was $25 more to $150 more! Insulin is very light.
The past two years I have taken all the insulin I need for 2 months in my Frio wallet and no problems. I will have to take 1-2 more this year, but it should work out with Frio and the thermos cup and ice or a flexible freezer pack.

Good to know about what customs thinks about what I send. It's not like I am selling the stuff!!

Have you ever had to buy more supplies from Medtronic, Germany while there? I have contacted Medtronic Vienna and they told me they would help me out, even if I didn't have a regular acct. with them, not being a resident.

[GA Hiker]

Thanks, that is news to me! I checked the cost of an 8 lb package to Austria via DHL, UPS, FEDEX, and compared to Postal Rates. The first three were all much higher than USPS for priority mail, to get a supply of my insertion sets, reservoirs and lancets, wipes and some glycemic snack bars. the difference was $25 more to $150 more! Insulin is very light.
The past two years I have taken all the insulin I need for 2 months in my Frio wallet and no problems. I will have to take 1-2 more this year, but it should work out with Frio and the thermos cup and ice or a flexible freezer pack.

Good to know about what customs thinks about what I send. It's not like I am selling the stuff!!

Have you ever had to buy more supplies from Medtronic, Germany while there? I have contacted Medtronic Vienna and they told me they would help me out, even if I didn't have a regular acct. with them, not being a resident.

We will take an 18 day vacation this year in Eastern Europe. I called Medtronic about the possibility of getting pump supplies there if something happened to the ones I bring with me (a JDRF member here in Atlanta had her pump supplies stolen from her unlocked luggage in her hotel room in Prague while they were out to dinner). They said they would have to ship it to me from the U.S, that it would take about a week, and might have trouble getting through customs. They said there is no way I could get pump supplies from a European source EVEN THOUGH THEY SELL THE SAME SUPPLIES IN EUROPE! I would certainly have to find a doctor first -- how do I do that when we are on a busy tour? My husband and I figure we will have to divide my supplies between us and carry then all day every day in daypacks, in addition to what everyone else is carrying.

[susanhs]

We will take an 18 day vacation this year in Eastern Europe. I called Medtronic about the possibility of getting pump supplies there if something happened to the ones I bring with me (a JDRF member here in Atlanta had her pump supplies stolen from her unlocked luggage in her hotel room in Prague while they were out to dinner). They said they would have to ship it to me from the U.S, that it would take about a week, and might have trouble getting through customs. They said there is no way I could get pump supplies from a European source EVEN THOUGH THEY SELL THE SAME SUPPLIES IN EUROPE! I would certainly have to find a doctor first -- how do I do that when we are on a busy tour? My husband and I figure we will have to divide my supplies between us and carry then all day every day in daypacks, in addition to what everyone else is carrying.

Dear GA Hiker,
That is amazing to me that people would steal such things, but a cousin's group in Barcelona had his insulin stolen, so nothing should surprize me.
We are in Vienna for 8-12 weeks and the loaner pump I take is from the U.S., and all I asked the Vienna Medtronic office was regarding replacing the Quiksets & reservoirs. I did not ask about a replacement pump, but you are right, it would have to come from the U.S.

I would have to go to a doctor to get more than a few of these supplies, I think, and also find a doc to get an Rx for insulin. You can always go to a pharmacy and ask, or go to the emergency room. Since you're moving around so much, I guess it would be good for you & your husband to split up the supplies, but if you have a lock on your suitcase, which you would leave in your room, there should be no problem. Is there a safe in your hotel, in room or at the desk?

Do you take copies of all your prescriptions for insulin, pens, pump stuff? that might help.

Eighteen days of touring means about 10+ sets plus some for safety, for set changes? That is not really too bulky or heavy. I opted for Quiksets last year though I liked Mio inserters better, but Mio's were twice as heavy!!! Don't worry too much, but plan accordingly and thoroughly. I would recommend a loaner pump. For $50, it would save the time you would need to wait to get a new one, if yours pooped out.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Susan

[GA Hiker]

Dear GA Hiker,
That is amazing to me that people would steal such things, but a cousin's group in Barcelona had his insulin stolen, so nothing should surprize me.
We are in Vienna for 8-12 weeks and the loaner pump I take is from the U.S., and all I asked the Vienna Medtronic office was regarding replacing the Quiksets & reservoirs. I did not ask about a replacement pump, but you are right, it would have to come from the U.S.

I would have to go to a doctor to get more than a few of these supplies, I think, and also find a doc to get an Rx for insulin. You can always go to a pharmacy and ask, or go to the emergency room. Since you're moving around so much, I guess it would be good for you & your husband to split up the supplies, but if you have a lock on your suitcase, which you would leave in your room, there should be no problem. Is there a safe in your hotel, in room or at the desk?

Do you take copies of all your prescriptions for insulin, pens, pump stuff? that might help.

Eighteen days of touring means about 10+ sets plus some for safety, for set changes? That is not really too bulky or heavy. I opted for Quiksets last year though I liked Mio inserters better, but Mio's were twice as heavy!!! Don't worry too much, but plan accordingly and thoroughly. I would recommend a loaner pump. For $50, it would save the time you would need to wait to get a new one, if yours pooped out.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Susan

I will get a loaner pump from MM (I've done that twice before) unless the FDA approves their new pump and sensors before our trip, in which case I will get the new stuff and use my MM522 (out of warranty) as my backup, plus I will take Lantus and pens for Novolog and syringes and pen needles -- Whew! My own pharmacy never has Novolog vials on hand when I come in to renew (get them in a day or 2) so I won't count on foreign pharmacies having it either (although they might). As for pump supplies, they can't be found at pharmacies or ERs, anywhere. We'll be in about 8 different hotels and I don't know how many, if any, have a safe in the room. If I put anything in a room or hotel safe, I'd be afraid of forgetting it.

[susanhs]

I will get a loaner pump from MM (I've done that twice before) unless the FDA approves their new pump and sensors before our trip, in which case I will get the new stuff and use my MM522 (out of warranty) as my backup, plus I will take Lantus and pens for Novolog and syringes and pen needles -- Whew! My own pharmacy never has Novolog vials on hand when I come in to renew (get them in a day or 2) so I won't count on foreign pharmacies having it either (although they might). As for pump supplies, they can't be found at pharmacies or ERs, anywhere. We'll be in about 8 different hotels and I don't know how many, if any, have a safe in the room. If I put anything in a room or hotel safe, I'd be afraid of forgetting it.

My endo told me that European pharmacies carry something that is akin to Lispro(humalog, novalog), so you should be able to get it. Yes equipment is only available through Medtronic. Did you look on the Medtronic website for all the Euro. offices with phone #'s? I would take them along and call if you have an emergency.

Do lock your equip. for your pump in your luggage in your hotel. Make a list, keep it elsewhere, like wallet or backpack. That way you know what you have left and you won't have to worry about safes. Most average hotels don't have a safe, you are right. Only the Sheratons and other luxury, expensive hotels.

Hotel doctors cost a huge amount, but there are lots of others who could see you, to get you an RX for insulin. Just ask the hotel people, or do some internet research and find doc's in the area of your hotels.

[GA Hiker]

My endo told me that European pharmacies carry something that is akin to Lispro(humalog, novalog), so you should be able to get it. Yes equipment is only available through Medtronic. Did you look on the Medtronic website for all the Euro. offices with phone #'s? I would take them along and call if you have an emergency.

Do lock your equip. for your pump in your luggage in your hotel. Make a list, keep it elsewhere, like wallet or backpack. That way you know what you have left and you won't have to worry about safes. Most average hotels don't have a safe, you are right. Only the Sheratons and other luxury, expensive hotels.

Hotel doctors cost a huge amount, but there are lots of others who could see you, to get you an RX for insulin. Just ask the hotel people, or do some internet research and find doc's in the area of your hotels.

Thanks for some good ideas.

[tedm]

My endo told me that European pharmacies carry something that is akin to Lispro(humalog, novalog), so you should be able to get it. Yes equipment is only available through Medtronic. Did you look on the Medtronic website for all the Euro. offices with phone #'s? I would take them along and call if you have an emergency.

Do lock your equip. for your pump in your luggage in your hotel. Make a list, keep it elsewhere, like wallet or backpack. That way you know what you have left and you won't have to worry about safes. Most average hotels don't have a safe, you are right. Only the Sheratons and other luxury, expensive hotels.

Hotel doctors cost a huge amount, but there are lots of others who could see you, to get you an RX for insulin. Just ask the hotel people, or do some internet research and find doc's in the area of your hotels.

AFAIK, NovoRapid, which is exactly the same as Novolog, is available all over Europe.