Cooling in Egypt

[Stuboy]

Im going to Egypt in July.

I usually carry my insulin pens around with me inmy pocket, but with temperatures rarely over 20c im never concerned.

When i go to Egypt the temperatures are likely to be 35 to 40c and then some.

I was looking at the Frio Duo Pen Wallet to keep my insulin cool during the day.

Has anyone used these wallets? are they any good?

[fgummett]

I have seen other threads where these pouches are recommended and they sound ideal.

Wasn't sure what you meant by the thread title... I had visions of someone with D, off in a spaced-out World of denial (d'Nile) :D

---

You probably already saw these other threads (http://www.diabetesforums.com/forum/search/id/559118/) Stu..?

Portsmouth eh... I spent many years at RNH Haslar in Gosport (near the G&D) and lived at various times in Gosport and Pompey. Many "sea-hours" on the ferry!

[HelenM]

I've just bought a Frio direct from the UK manufacturers. I was impressed with their service. I ordered online late Tuesday afternoon, received it this morning.(Friday) and thats via Royal Mail/La Poste neither of whom have brilliant delivery records.

[Mich]

Frios work like a champ. I'm a sailor and a camper and have been using them for years.

A few suggestions:

Don't oversoak them or they are HEAVY and so fat they are difficult to use. (Not enough room inside for your pump or bottles.)

Don't enclose them in a baggie or anywhere with no air circulation. They stay cool by evaporation.

In very hot places, don't put them in the direct sun if you can help it. Keep them on your shady side if sitting in the sun for a long time.

I have four of varying sizes. I wear one on my belt for my pump when in the desert. I carry my insulin in one when traveling. I used to keep my Humalog pens in one pinned to my shorts waistband when sailing,

Mich

[notme]

Yup.....I took mine to Africa. We were going on safari and there was no way to keep my insulin cool. It worked like a charm and after three years and many uses, it still works.

The only issue I have with the Frio is it gets kinda fat for a pocket. I had the big pouch for all of my insulins. It takes many days of sitting out on the counter to dry it out for storage.

[Scratch]

I hadn't heard Egypt was cooling. :D

[fgummett]

I hadn't heard Egypt was cooling. :D
Something to do with Climate Change..?

[Janlaton]

Don't know about the pouch just wanted to say have a great trip.

Janlaton

[Stuboy]

cool (no pun intended:D) thanks guys.

I think ill invest!

Im wondering if i can somehow attach a long rope/string to it to carry it around so i dont have to put it in a bag while we walk around Egypt. Sort of an across the body type of thing you know?

[parrotletzoo]

maybe it would fit in a passport pouch? I've seen them on long strings/straps for across the body wear. Check you local luggage shop.

[owlyn]

I've had mine for many years. It works great, but as another poster said, try to keep it out of direct sun. Don't leave it in a car, either.

It comes with an outer pouch that is made to work with the inner pouch, so be sure to use it. Don't put it inside anything other than the pouch it comes with. You can probably put it in a backpack, as long as it's not stuffed (need room for air to circulate).

[jen_slc]

I have quite a few Frio packs and use them all the time. It works like a charm when I camp in the desert in 100 degrees. I would think it'd be ok if you carry the pouch around in a backpack... maybe put it at the top so the air can circulate around it, rather than stuffed at the bottom. Mine is always in some kind of bag (purse or office bag or backpack) and it works just fine, as long as their is some air circulation. If you do carry it on a strap on its own, be advised that it won't last as long if it's hanging off your shoulder in the direct sun. I know it's suggested that you don't leave it in direct sun, but in the desert you can't avoid that and I've never had any problems except that the cooling pouch dries out faster. If you can reactivate the cooling gel frequently enough, I wouldn't worry about the direct sun.

[Stuboy]

i would have thought it would be OK for 1 day walking about?
Im not worried about charging it every day if i need to.

The only other thing im concerned with it that you have to immerse it in water... im going to Egypt where the water isn't clean... i dont want to create an unhygenic environment to carry my insulin around with me...

[owlyn]

i would have thought it would be OK for 1 day walking about?
Im not worried about charging it every day if i need to.

The only other thing im concerned with it that you have to immerse it in water... im going to Egypt where the water isn't clean... i dont want to create an unhygenic environment to carry my insulin around with me...

If you can drink the water, it's clean enough to recharge the pouch. If you can't drink it, then you are right- do not use it to charge the pouch. It doesn't take a lot of water. You can use one of those reuseable plastic food containers you get in the supermarket (Glad and some other brands). I use the smalles container that the pouch will fit in, put the pouch in it, fill the container with water, and put the lid on. 20 minutes later, you're done. Maybe used .5 liter (2 cups) of water.

[Tattoo azz]

Frio wallets are the dogsbo##cks!! i've used them for ages.
Plus they are great to use to cool your head down, i used mine once on my niece in Italy last year it worked a treat.
They only take abt 15 mins to prepare and just remember to squidge the gel about halfway thru cos the crystals can sometimes stick at the bottom.

[Stuboy]

that's the trouble, the water in Egypt isn't drinkable. you can't even clean your teeth with it!!

I suppose i could use bottled water to hydrate the pouches...

I think im gonna invest in a pouch :)

[lilituc]

There is a belt pack available - I don't know if they're big enough for you, but you could look at those. They're mainly for pumps.

[Jarrah]

Im going to Egypt in July.

I usually carry my insulin pens around with me inmy pocket, but with temperatures rarely over 20c im never concerned.

When i go to Egypt the temperatures are likely to be 35 to 40c and then some.

I was looking at the Frio Duo Pen Wallet to keep my insulin cool during the day.

Has anyone used these wallets? are they any good?
hey

I am a Type one Diabetic from NZ. I have travelled to Indonesia and the cook Islands and have used the Frio bags. They are really great provided you can access cool water or ice to cool warm water. I recomend them.

I am planning a trip to Sri Lanka and India and am having similar concerns about how to keep my insulin cool if I dont have access to cool water. Any ideas/

[jen_slc]

Will you be able to keep your bottled water cool? If so, then that's probably a good choice. Otherwise, if you're forced to use tap water to reactivate your pouch, use alcohol swabs to clean off your vials/pens/cartridges before you inject. That will kill most bacteria and inactivate most viruses; however, it won't help against your typical waterborne parasites (giardia and crypto). But I wouldn't worry about that... since they are (usually) diarrheal diseases, you're much more likely to get sick from any of them (bacteria, virus, parasite) by ingesting contaminated food/water or not washing your hands than by injecting yourself with a syringe that's gone through the vial stopper that's been prepped with alcohol and which has been exposed to some water that only MAY have been contaminated. :wink:

As far as a lack of cool water.... I am not sure since I've never tried, but would lukewarm water work, if you let the pouch soak for a much longer period of time?

[Tattoo azz]

FRIO :: Contact Us (http://www.friouk.com/contact/) here is a way to contact Frio i would suggest asking them how to keep there packs cool when and if you can't get cold water, i would hate to give bad advice and someone get ill because they followed it.
hope this helps
Azz

[owlyn]

Alcohol does not kill bacteria- at least not the way it is generally used. It takes 20 minutes of complete immersion in alcohol to kill bacteria. Okay, so you're thinking then why do they use it in the doctor's office before sticking us with anything. Two reasons- 1. we expect it, and 2. it cleans off any surface dirt, which is a good idea.

A study was done back in the late 80s or early 90s (can't find any refernce to it any longer) in England. They took 400 diabetics and split tehm into two groups. One group used alcohol wipes before injecting or testing (in the early testing days), the other did not. There were two patients that got infections- both in the group that used alcohol wipes. My conclusion: alcohol makes .5% of all germs angry, while the rest get drunk and fall asleep.

[HelenM]

Alcohol does not kill bacteria
Thanks for that Olwyn. I'd been meaning to post this. On my pump course we were told that recent studies have found that it may actually encourage the growth of some bacteria. I found this reference.
Soap Combats C.Difficile (http://www.staffnurse.com/nursing-news-articles/soap-combats-c-difficile-2651.html)
On the course we were told not to use alcohol, to use (very vigorous)handwashing with soap and water + swabbing the vial with chlorhexidine.

[Stuboy]

yes we have a fridge in our cabin so i will be able to keep our bottled water cold.

Anyway... I'VE GOT MY POUCH! :D
It arrived yesterday and i activated it... took 3 minutes and it's still cooling now... :D I like it.

When we go to egypt we should have bottled water for free in the all inclusive deal that we have, so i will use that in a tub in the frigde to activate the pouch.

I do still want to find a way of carrying it around without actually holding it... maybe attach a shoulder strap or something. or make a belt strap out of some velco or something.

[Stuboy]

Injecting in Egypt kinda concerns me too... sinse we have to shower with that water... we're bound to be covered in the bacteria from the water!

I was planning on using alcohol wipes at the injection site whilst out there... but now im not so sure!!

[Mich]

I've been faced with this a few times and I just used what I had which was bottled, air temp and kind of warm. As long as the Frio is wet, it will cool down pretty quickly.

I tried to do this when it wasn't blazing hot outside or I was in an air conditioned place. This kept my insulin cool while I was soaking the Frio. You can easily soak the Frio in a plastic bag while you are eating dinner, wring it out and let it start evaporating. I carry a lightweight cloth tote to keep it all in while I am doing this and it's pretty inconspicuous.

Mich

[notme]

It is a chemical reaction so cold water isn't needed to keep the FRIO cool.

As far as bacteria goes, don't over think it stuboy. I have showered and bathed in Mexico, Africa and many other countries where the water may be suspect. I have put my pump on as usual and injected without problems.

[jen_slc]

Sorry, should have clarified the whole alcohol thing. I wouldn't use alcohol on your skin. The reason use of alcohol swabs on skin may be associated with increased infections is because 1) alcohol strips away that nice oily barrier on our skin that protects us and 2) it can create new skin pores or expand existing pores, resulting in greater skin permeability.

Alcohol used as a hard surface disinfectant might need to be in contact with that surface for at least 2 minutes to be effective.

Personally, I wouldn't worry about it. Just throwing out suggestions. :wink:

[Stuboy]

that's ok, im going to use that anti bacterial hand gel stuff while we're out there anyway.

ANYWAY.

I've had my Frio for 3 days now and its dead cool! i've only activated it once and it's still going (yeh ok, it's not very hot in england at the moment lol). I think it's going to be very successful in Egypt :D