Samantha Walsh has lived with type 1 diabetes for over five years since 2017. After her T1D diagnosis, she was eager to give back to the diabetes community. She is the Community and Partner Manager for T1D Exchange and helps to manage the Online Community and recruit for the T1D Exchange Registry. Prior to T1D Exchange, Samantha fundraised at Joslin Diabetes Center. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a Bachelors degree in sociology and early childhood education.
I think it was hurricane Michael, or Irma. My wife, in preparation for the hurricane, turned the freezer and refrigerator to very cold, to keep the food cold longer if we lost electricity. I didn’t know that she changed the settings. All of my insulin froze. It lost it’s potency. I had to throw all of the insulin away and order a new supply.
I was in Ukraine for a 3 month tour with my band in East Africa and Middle East. I accidentally put it in top shelf and it was one of those small refrigerator with open freezer on top. It cut the strength almost in half and as I was no where near to a major city I had to wait a month to get new insulin when I flew to Lebanon. My body actually adjusted to constant highs but when I got good insulin I actually went through withdrawals and would shake and. Sweat when it was in normal range. It took a week to get my body adjusted to normal blood sugars.
Never froze my insult but just found my yogurt frozen. The refrigerator guy told me not to store it (or fresh fruit) way in the back. It’s apparently a good thing that I store my insulin in the door!
Twice – both times in hotel refrigerators!
I have Frio now to help me through any traveling woes. It goes through TSA beautifully.
When I go to a hotel now, I put a glass of water in the refrigerator and wait overnight to see what happens. If there’s any ice in the cup in the morning, I either just don’t put my insulin in (leave it in the Frio)… or, if the trip is longer and I’ll be there awhile, I find out how to and then turn down the refrigerator.
Yes…nightmare…I was out of state, didn’t discover it until I had to load my pump and I ended up BEGGING the insurance “agent” to let me have one vial. By the time I got the vial I ended up in the emergency room because it took too long…so the insurance company paid for a day in the ED ALSO!!!!!!!!!!!
I was on a vacation away from home and did not realize that the refrigerator in my room was turned all the way to cold. My bottle froze overnight and I had to find a pharmacy to get a new bottle. I found out later that it is a common practice for hotels to turn the refrigerator on at the coldest level to cool it quickly when you check in. I now look to see where the refrig is set anytime I travel.
On a recent cruise I bought a fridge thermometer with me, on the advice from a good friend whose insulin had frozen in a hotel fridge. I was SO glad to have it & will always take it with me from now on when travelling!
It has never frozen in the refrigerator however I had just gotten a new refrigerator and the freezer was on the bottom and I pulled out the top drawer and put the insulin in it thinking it was the frig part like my old one. Lost the whole bunch. Luckily it was just my emergency long lasting insulin in case my pump wasn’t working.. Whew!!!!
Once at a hotel. It was so cold my Frio bag froze. Insulin was OK.
Same here!
I think it was hurricane Michael, or Irma. My wife, in preparation for the hurricane, turned the freezer and refrigerator to very cold, to keep the food cold longer if we lost electricity. I didn’t know that she changed the settings. All of my insulin froze. It lost it’s potency. I had to throw all of the insulin away and order a new supply.
Holy moly!
That would have sent me into a panic!
I’m glad you were able to order more and you made it through the hurricane. 🙂
I was in Ukraine for a 3 month tour with my band in East Africa and Middle East. I accidentally put it in top shelf and it was one of those small refrigerator with open freezer on top. It cut the strength almost in half and as I was no where near to a major city I had to wait a month to get new insulin when I flew to Lebanon. My body actually adjusted to constant highs but when I got good insulin I actually went through withdrawals and would shake and. Sweat when it was in normal range. It took a week to get my body adjusted to normal blood sugars.
One time it froze in one of those motel mini refrigerators. It still worked fine but I no longer trust hotel/motel refrigerators.
Not often. But sometimes during trips in a motel refrigerator
Never froze my insult but just found my yogurt frozen. The refrigerator guy told me not to store it (or fresh fruit) way in the back. It’s apparently a good thing that I store my insulin in the door!
Twice – both times in hotel refrigerators!
I have Frio now to help me through any traveling woes. It goes through TSA beautifully.
When I go to a hotel now, I put a glass of water in the refrigerator and wait overnight to see what happens. If there’s any ice in the cup in the morning, I either just don’t put my insulin in (leave it in the Frio)… or, if the trip is longer and I’ll be there awhile, I find out how to and then turn down the refrigerator.
Yes…nightmare…I was out of state, didn’t discover it until I had to load my pump and I ended up BEGGING the insurance “agent” to let me have one vial. By the time I got the vial I ended up in the emergency room because it took too long…so the insurance company paid for a day in the ED ALSO!!!!!!!!!!!
Of course! The hotel mini-fridge, top shelf apparently is too close to the “ice maker” who knew?!?! >: D
I was on a vacation away from home and did not realize that the refrigerator in my room was turned all the way to cold. My bottle froze overnight and I had to find a pharmacy to get a new bottle. I found out later that it is a common practice for hotels to turn the refrigerator on at the coldest level to cool it quickly when you check in. I now look to see where the refrig is set anytime I travel.
On a recent cruise I bought a fridge thermometer with me, on the advice from a good friend whose insulin had frozen in a hotel fridge. I was SO glad to have it & will always take it with me from now on when travelling!
It has never frozen in the refrigerator however I had just gotten a new refrigerator and the freezer was on the bottom and I pulled out the top drawer and put the insulin in it thinking it was the frig part like my old one. Lost the whole bunch. Luckily it was just my emergency long lasting insulin in case my pump wasn’t working.. Whew!!!!