[Teerapan]

Hello everyone, My name is Tee. I am new here, just been diagnosed for 3 months. Now my problem is I have to go on a five-week vacation. (1 week in Greece, 1 week in Australia and 3 weeks in Thailand) The only problem is I have no idea how I should handle with my insulin supplies. Doctor told me that insulin can live outside the fridge for 28 days at most. Then what should I do with insulin supplies for long travelling like this. Has anyone experienced anything like this before? THANK YOU.

[Geoff]

Hi Teerpan, welcome to the forum.

Traveling in tropical country's you will need to keep your insulin cool, when temperatures rise over 25-30C insulin can be damaged. Get yourself a Frio wallet or Frio Vitess bag, theses work very well I use them all the time. Have a look at this link for info: Frio Insulin Cooler

Depending where you live, just put the info into Google to find your local supplier.

[Subby]

Hi Teerapan, you may also like to sort out suppliers in case your insulin goes bad/ gets lost. Where in Australia are you going? I am happy to advise on how things work here and where/how you would go about getting insulin, in the case of emergency. If you are travelling soon it is our winter and there is not much heat around to worry about, unless you are in the centre/North. (eg NT, Cairns, Darwin)

The only other thing I would mention is prepare for all eventualities, ie bags lost and stolen. Have supplies doubled up in different bags at all times, try to think of the best way to minimise your risk of being stuck without insulin supplies, for example have stashes in hand luggage _and_ in luggage, if you are travelling with others ask someone to have a stash, etc. Believe me you don't want to deal with the hassle of losing luggage or bags and being without insulin at the same time.

Be prepared to be stopped re: supplies and insulin vials in hand luggage, at the airport. I recently was stopped about vials, on a domestic Australian flight. Have some proof of diabetic status on hand at all times.

[Subby]

Forgot to mention about insulin going bad. There are a few threads about insulin losing potency from heat/light, use the search function you are bound to find lots of opinions. Sadly like so many things diabetic people find different things occur.

Me, I would be careful and be sure to refrigerate / keep in a cold bag, anytime I am in 30c/92f plus temperatures. That's from experience where I "feel" that a day or two at those temperatures can start to impact the insulin. Always keep out of the sun. Refrigerate your current vial, at night at the hotel if possible. If you do these kind of things carefully, a month should be fine.

I don't know what climate you are from but bear in mind that diabetics sometimes have differing insulin requirements in different climates - ie I live in Melbourne, so get experience with this with a coldish winter and sometimes blistering summer, and with the heat I find my insulin needs increase by about 15%. Bear that in mind and you might like to have a plan to deal with this issue if it occurs.

[Teerapan]

Many thanks, Subby. I am in England, will go to Brisbane next month for a week. I expect the weather there will be similar ho here, tho. Is there any chance I can get some supplies in case for an emergency? (I am on Lantus and NuvoRaid).

[Chappo]

Teerapan, you have the same rights under Australian Medicare as you do under the British NHS. If you have any issues with insulin or healthcare, you can see a doctor, get a prescription, pay what we pay (next to nothing - $5 for a 1mL bottle of NovoRapid or $5 for a box of 5 cartridges) and be on your way.

I forget which specific understanding/act it is under, but I have done the same vice-versa. In 2006, I took an Australian prescription to a London pharmacy when i was living in Hungary! I flew over cheaply on Wizzair, got my insulin, flew back

It's very easy here, you won't have any problems in an emergency.

Unfortunately i am leaving tomorrow for the ADA Conference in San Francisco, so i would have offered to help you out. If you have ny queries, contact Diabetes Australia (QLD) on 1300 136 588 from within Australia, or +61 7 3239 5666 from outside.

Enjoy your trip!

[Chappo]

Hints to staying healthy while in Australia, Medical

Here's some more information: and it's called a reciprocal arrangement - i kicked myself when i saw it!

[Subby]

Good info from Alex there about getting medical care and a script. I havn't heard of Nuvoraid - Google hasn't either. Is it a rebranding of novorapid? No problems with novorapid or Lantus, I find that 1 out of every 4 or so chemists around Australia will generally have it stocked. (So don't be disheartened if you get a run of some without, keep looking and you should be fine. I think 1 or 2 chemists per town tend to "corner the market" with diabetes supplies).

Brissy should be nice at the moment. I just came back from 1 week on the sunshine coast above Brisbane. If you are looking for a beautiful beach location I can recommend Noosa (about 2 hours above Brisbane) for some queensland natural beauty without the highrises and with a bit of an exclusive "community" feel (and great beaches/national park). If you hire a car the hinterlands above Brisbane are nice too, Glasshouse Mountains, Montville, Eumundi (great markets on wed and saturday). Have fun on your trip.

[Teerapan]

Thanks Alex. It's a big relief if I could use my perscription over there.

Originally Posted by Subby

I havn't heard of Nuvoraid - Google hasn't either. Is it a rebranding of novorapid?

It's Nuvorapid, Subby. Sorry for my typo.

[UpNorth]

FRIO is the way to go And bring your supplies in your carry on bag for the flights! And if possible, keep some of it with someone you travel with, so to always make sure you don't lose it all if something happens to your bag! Also, bring more of everything than what you'd normally use in that amount of time! You never know...

[Tattoo azz]

Definately take more than you would expect to use in 3 months
just in case. Also i can vouch for the Frio packs, they are so cool and handy and are also good for cooling your head in the sun!

[JJM335]

Hi Tee:

Frio is the way to go! In my experience Novorapid is pretty stable but Lantus can be a bit flaky if you don't keep it refrigerated or in a cool bag. Just be careful with it.

Are using the Lantus cartridges or the disposable pens? The disposable pens are not only better than the pens for the cartridges, but are much more convenient for travelling. With the cartridges, if you lose the pen and the cartridge you are in trouble - with the disposables, you just get another one out of the Frio. (This advice doesn't apply to the Novorapid - the Novopen Jr is a much better pen than the disposable).

The disposable pens cost the NHS the same as the cartridges. Just ask your doctor to prescribe you the Lantus as Solostar disposable 5 x 3 ml pens.

Joel

[Tattoo azz]

I use the opticlick disposable pens for my Lantus, they're ok too.

[fgummett]

Where are you staying in these countries? It seems to me that more and more hotels have fridges in at least certain rooms... but something you would want to check ahead Or possibly you could ask the front desk to store some in a fridge for you?