[kidvid]

Hi folks. I have been reading with some interest about the potential pandemic of bird flu. I don't have a strong opinion about the potential for this event (yet) but what interested me was the fact that people in affected areas have been advised by the CDC to keep on hand a 6 month supply of any meds that are life sustaining (not their term - I can't remember what they called it, but you get the point).

I'm a newbie, and certainly don't have a 6 month supply of insulin or the associated swag for my pump and meter. I was wondering if a Moderator or another poster with the ability could post a survey of how many months supply of insulin people keep on hand, and associated admistering hardware (insets, needles, etc).

Anyone interested?

[JediSkipdogg]

You can add polls...when you make a new topic, at the very bottom there is an option to add a poll and then how many different selections you want in it. Then you submit the post and a new screen comes up where you put the different poll selections in.

Now, here's the problem with a poll on this topic. If you want total survival that is one thing. Here's what I mean based on my approximate supplies I have at home now...

One Touch Ultra Strips - ~800 strips, about 10 months
Insulin - 7 vials - ~4 months
Insulin Cartridges - 6 boxes - using two times each, about 12 months
Infusion Sets - about 15 boxes - 1.5 yr supply (I overorder all the time in case insurance changes since I pay $0 now )

So my amounts vary greatly. My insulin is where the big downfall is. However, if I was in a time of need, I could extend that out by using less with eating less.

[SueM]

I can't see any point in having extra suplies.
The general concensus is if you get bird flue your going to die any way.
If you are dead you wont need the suplies
Sorry I have a warped sense of humour.

[corwin]

It really depends on what part of the supplies, I guess in an emergency we can all eat less carbs and test less then we normally do.
For me, since I'm honeymooning, I'm not using much insulin, so as long as my requirements don't change, what I currently have in my fridge will last me 1.5 years. However since I'm still learning, I test very often, so my supply of test strips will only last me 2 months tops.

[Lex4153]

Originally Posted by SueM

I can't see any point in having extra suplies.
The general concensus is if you get bird flue your going to die any way.
If you are dead you wont need the suplies
Sorry I have a warped sense of humour.

If the bird flu spreads to your area, you need to shut yourself in your house and not come out for some time. That's why it's important to have a supply of water, food, and life sustaining meds, because you may not be coming out of your house for a few months in order to avoid contracting the bird flu.

Any word of any more cases of humans contracting the bird flu? I haven't heard anything in awhile.

[poodlebone]

Originally Posted by JediSkipdogg

One Touch Ultra Strips - ~800 strips, about 10 months

Is that correct, 800 strips lasts you 10 months? That's only 80 strips/month, less than 3 tests a day.

Since I can't afford to stockpile anything that insurance doesn't provide/cover I don't have much extra. Insulin is the one thing I often had too much of, so I haven't refilled my script in months. Down to 2 bottles now so I will refill it, and maybe continue every month until I have at least 6 bottles on hand. 1 bottle of Humalog is more than enough for a month and my script is for 2 bottles a month. My original pump script was for 3. I also sent some to a woman who lost her job & insurance several months ago.

I do have some extra infusion sets but they're the kinds I have problems with, that insert at 90 degrees. I'm holding on to some just in case, but I prefer the Silhouettes.

Strips are what I stress about the most. I use everything I get, 300/month, and can never build up an extra supply. I might get a script for 400 when I see my CDE next week.

[kidvid]

Lex is right - the idea is to insulate yourself from contact as much as possible.

Quoting AllenBandung from the ADA board:

Avian Flu as we call it here in Indonesia is being passed between humans in what is a clone environment ,that is to say between close family members. You may have read that the WHO has finally admitted that this is the case in Indonesia Ache Province where a family of 7 all died within 5 days of each other. Other small comunities have been affected throughout Indonesia. Avian flu is still a major probem here with weekly cases and deaths, mainly children contracting the flu usually from contaminated birds.

Our Organisation here, a US based company, is taking it so seriously that we have had to prepare evacuation plans for US expats (Hopefully they won't take the problem to the States) and plans for the containment of the flu within our own environment. If a local epidemic should breakout here we are being advised that August through February is the most likly period.

As a precautionary measure we are advising all people here who are dependent on life saving drugs to hold a minimum 6 months supply in their care.

For me that means 6 months of Insulin and associated supplies. In addition we have been warned that the supply of medications to Indonesia from the main manufacturers may dry up in 6 weeks of a declared pandemic. In addition to the numbers who will die from the flu we expect another 10% collateral deaths due to lack of medical care not associated with Avian Flu

You might be suprised how many Americans and Europeans travel in Indonesia, even in the "back woods". I travelled there extensively in the 80's as my parents lived in Sumatra. The oil industry employs tens of thousands of Americans and Europeans in the area - a great many of which work rotational shifts there for a few weeks, home for a few weeks. A quick way to transmit disease globally.

I would be more afraid of supply coming up short than catching the flu when going to the pharmacy - or maybe both.

Joe

[spike]

Originally Posted by SueM

I can't see any point in having extra suplies.
The general concensus is if you get bird flue your going to die any way.
If you are dead you wont need the suplies
Sorry I have a warped sense of humour.

Sue, I love your pragmatism!

[JediSkipdogg]

Originally Posted by poodlebone

Is that correct, 800 strips lasts you 10 months? That's only 80 strips/month, less than 3 tests a day.

Ooooops, my bad. I guess that would be 80 days then, divided too many times. I do about 8-10 tests a day.

[jen_slc]

Originally Posted by Lex4153

Any word of any more cases of humans contracting the bird flu? I haven't heard anything in awhile.

Since 2003, the cumulative number of confirmed human cases of avian influenza A/H5N1 is 229 with 131 deaths (as reported by WHO), current as of 7/4/06. Human case activity has been fairly quiet over the last few weeks since WHO announced limited human-to-human transmission back in June. Since that announcement, WHO has confirmed one more fatal Indonesian case, but this case died in mid-June.

As to the human-to-human transmission among that one Indonesian family, only one transmission event is confirmed as true human-to-human (son to father), all others are still suspect, and those suspect events relate to transmission among blood relatives and not non-blood relatives likes spouses.

I keep about a 3 month supply, only because that's what my insurance will cover, and I usually stretch it out a bit so that if I lost supplies or broke some vials, I'd still be ok. Over the long run, a little bit of stretching adds up to a decent surplus, at least for me.

I think the reasoning behind the 6-month supply for those individuals in Indonesia is precisely because they are in Indonesia = greater exposure, greater risk, less established health care infrastructure. At this point, I feel perfectly safe with a 3-month supply.

[Keezheekoni]

I'm with Sue on this one... however, I am pretty warped myself!

As for keeping a supply, well I only have enough for a month at this point. That's just because I'm too lazy to do the mail order thing through my insurance. I will be looking in to doing that though, once I'm pumping. When that happens, I will have a three month supply.

Rikki

[butterflykisses]

Wow, what insurance company lets you stock pile infusion sets??? All the different insurance companies I've had since getting the pump only allow the at most, enough for sets being changed every two days and only for a 3month supply at a time, and that's with them not paying a cent until I meet my deductible...which happens about the time the year ends and then I get to start over!!! My present pump supplies, except the insulin, will last me 6 months because I don't change them every 4 days, usually. I get insulin for a month...need to do the mail order thing too, got burned one time and haven't tried again. I would be in REAL trouble if I had to have a 6 month supply any time in the near future!

[lgvincent]

I believe they advise stockpiles so you won't have to go out in public and expose yourself to possible exposure. I've got quite a bit of stuff on hand thanks to the help of some forum members and my own need to have stuff on hand. I remember when younger having my parents scolding me for running out of insulin even though I didn't have access to it so now I get whatever I can whenever I can. I don't have a six month supply of Humalog on hand, however, thanks to stupid insurance. I use more than I am allowed to buy each month. The doctor wrote a prescription for the amount I use but they give me less so my supplies are dropping at a fairly fast rate so soon I'll use more than I have on hand. That will be fun.

[HelenM]

I think the reasoning behind the 6-month supply for those individuals in Indonesia is precisely because they are in Indonesia = greater exposure, greater risk, less established health care infrastructure. At this point, I feel perfectly safe with a 3-month supply.

At the moment I agree. Even thought there have been infected birds in France I have no fear at the moment, nor it seems have the authorities since chickens and ducks are still running around free and the open air market still sells live birds.
I do know that the government have stock piled tamiflu but whether its enough, whether it will work and who will get the vaccine... who knows?

[SueM]

[quote=Lex4153]If the bird flu spreads to your area, you need to shut yourself in your house and not come out for some time. That's why it's important to have a supply of water, food, and life sustaining meds, because you may not be coming out of your house for a few months in order to avoid contracting the bird flu. QUOTE]

Well that just proves my point really doesn't it.
One of the neighbouring farms has 25,000 chickens on his farm. there is also 2 massive big lakes that store the water for the whole district with thousands of migrating geese,ducks and swans on them.All within 2 miles of my farm. I have cattle/sheep/dog and horses to see too so I wont be shutting my self in the house. Only good thing is I very rarely see a living soul.

Now I wonder if it's safe to breath