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Have you ever asked a hotel to provide a refrigerator so you can keep your insulin cool? Select all that apply.
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I use Frio bags. Too often hotel refridgerators run too cold
I use pens so it isn’t an issue
No because every hotel I stay in has a refrigerator in their rooms.
Same here
Yes, I always request a refrigerator. I always keep my unused insulin refrigerated.
Here’s an ongoing experience, loosely related to this question. I am currently on vacation at a Florida beach. I meticulously packed all of my T1D supplies. But, wouldn’t you know it that when I reached in the refrigerator to pack food to take with me, I did not grab my Novolog insulin. I spent the entire day, yesterday, Thursday 5/25, talking to my insurance company, my doctor’s office, and several pharmacies, trying to get one vial of Novolog. I jumped through lots of hoops to get to the final step. Then, the pharmacist tells me that he’s out of Novolog (CVS). I went to Publix pharmacy and had to go through a prescription transfer process. When I get that done, the pharmacist tells me she’s out of Novolog. I go to another Publix pharmacy, and they have one vial, but they will not release it for 24 hours. Several hours later the pharmacist calls me and says he cannot sell me the insulin under Medicare part D because Publix has a policy that I have to insulin for a pump under Medicare part B. He won’t tell me the price, but says I have to wait until today to get it. He says I can get it under GoodRX for $88.
My wife and I finished dinner at a local restaurant. At 8:00pm, we jumped into the care and drove 2hours home. Got back to our hotel after Midnight.
The moral, don’t forget to pack the insulin!
4/25, not 525. Also “Jumped into the car,” not “care”
I used to have to ask for a refrigerator but nowadays many rooms come standard with them.
I use a Frio pack when I travel so am not overly concerned; however, I expect hotels and cruise ships in the US and most of the developed world to provide a refrigerator/cooler in my room and they always have. However, I have traveled in Middle East and Africa (before T1 diagnosis) where some locations did not provide them. For long term travels, I’d request one or make other arrangements.
I like to keep it cold and not all hotels I’ve stayed in supply them so I always ask. However, we are taking a train across the US and Canada soon and they do not provide refrigerators nor will they allow you to keep it in theirs. So I got a small rechargeable refrigerator that I saw online, but am now deciding to let the insulin get warm. Can only have a small suitcase and a personal item and I don’t want to check my bags. Fingers crossed.
Hi Patricia –
If there’s time before your trip, I would suggest ordering and using a product called Frio. You put it in water for 5 to 15 minutes (depending) to activate the “crystals” and then evaporation keeps the insulin cool for a few days. I’ve used it a number of times and like it a lot. It’s not a refrigerator cold, but the insulin will stay cool. After a few days, the holders just go back in water for a short time to reactivate the “crystals”. Just don’t oversoak or you won’t be able to get the vials or pens into the holder.
I hope this helps!
Use a FRIO pack, it uses evaporation to keep insulin at 70 degrees
Always make sure there is a refrigerator in the room when making reservations
If no regrigerator, I use an ice bucket.
Unless were talking Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, etc. type heat there are very few places IMHV where anyone would need to keep it anything but regular room temp. If it’s hot to that extent, sure maybe, but not usually required…
I did this before it became common place for hotels to include a mini fridge in each room. One time, there was no fridge available, so I had to keep my insulin in ice water overnight and put my blue ice in an ice bucket to try to refreeze it (didn’t work!).
Yes when used insulin had to be refrigerated. Now the insulin being used can be at room temperature. I use a Frio pack on long trip occasionally.
We book only hotel rooms with refrigerators. If traveling on a cruise or non-hotel accomodations, I always request a refrigerator. You do have to protect the insulin against freezing though. I keep the vials in a padded case and put them on the lowest rack away from the freezer compartment. ALWAYS check the temp setting beforehand. Freezer compartment is a good place for the FRIO pack.
I have in the past, but it was a long time ago.
If hotel or cruise ship has a locked refrigerator I ask them if they’ll unlock it and I’ve never had them refuse