Sean Kelley is senior editor at Health.com, and author of the “Poked & Prodded” blog. He takes insulin and lives in hot weather and… well, I’ll let him tell you…
A Guest Post by Sean Kelley, PWD at Health.com
Every summer I go through the same dilemma: What to do with my diabetes gear (glucose meter and medications) when I’m playing golf? For those of you living in milder climates, this may not seem like much of a challenge, but in July and August temperatures in Alabama, where I live, can easily exceed 100 degrees. (Don’t get me started on the humidity!)
Just managing my diabetes under such circumstances is a challenge. Because I walk and carry a 40-pound bag, I burn a ton of calories. Last year, I wore a device that measured caloric burn on one mountainous course I frequently play. During the 4-hour round I burned 1,100 calories.
I’ve been known to go low on such days — not in strokes but in mg/dl. Last summer, I crashed on the 18th hole; a marshall got me to the clubhouse before a ride to the hospital became necessary. Because it was hot, my meter and supplies were 30 minutes away in the air-conditioned confines of my house. (I know, rookie mistake!)
Managing such swings in blood sugar really requires having my monitor with me at the course, of course — not at home keeping cool. But where do you put it to keep it same?
Manufacturers generally recommend you keep your monitor out of the heat (or cold); a couple of monitors maintain their accuracy above 100 degrees (mine doesn’t). Test strips also aren’t supposed to be exposed to extreme heat. And the meds I’ve been taking are all supposed to be kept under 100 degrees (if not under 85 degrees).
If leaving my gear at home isn’t an option, neither is leaving it in the car. A study published in Pediatrics in 2005 found that a car’s interior can heat up by an average of 40 degrees within an hour. On a sunny Alabama day in August, you can slow roast a pork shoulder in that kind of heat.
My golf bag doesn’t offer much greater refuge than the car: On the course, temps inside get hot enough to turn sun tan lotion watery and melt my candy (my hypoglycemic fix) down into pools of its components. I’d rather not find out if it’s hot enough to warp my meter strips.
So what am I doing to stay safe and keep my gear cool as this summer heats up? I’m still experimenting, but for now I’m packing frozen cool packs in a pocket on my golf bag, hoping the ambient temperature around my insulin and meter will keep them cool.
If that doesn’t work out, I may buy an insulin cooler large enough to accommodate my meter but small enough to fit in my bag. (Lots of colorful options exist wherever you buy diabetic supplies.)
Or I may start dropping my gear at the clubhouse. I hate to be away from my meter in case I feel the telltale signs of a reaction coming on, but they’re only a phone call away and it’s better than getting a bad reading or scorching the effectiveness of meds.
So, how do you handle your gear when the heat is on and you’re at the beach, on the course or just hanging out around the pool?
I used one of these when I went to Cape Town:
http://www.friouk.com/buy/
They’re really easy to set up and last for quite a while. I’m sure a few hours, even in those temperatures, wouldn’t be a problem.
Not sure if they’re available outside the UK, though. You’ll probably be able to find them on eBay or get them imported if needs must.
George.
+1 on Frio. They work very well in heat. Just leave them exposed to air like on a mesh pocket on the outside of your backpack. Different sizes for vials, pens, pumps, etc.
http://www.coolerconcept.com/
thanks George & Bob . Just ordered them for my son with T1.
-terry
Special insulin cooling devices? I guess as a women I carry a large purse which a small lunchbox can fit…with some ice packs in it. Keeps it cool all day, even in Missouri, which often experiences Alabama-like heat (and keeps my monitor handy when, as a Park Ranger intern at a National Park, I have to give a 3/4 mile, hour long tour in 100 degree weather). But I suppose men don’t enjoy carrying purses or lunch boxes.
frio all the way. had mine for years and it helps keep my items cool in the kansas city heat and humidity.
Score one more Frio fan boy here.
What about if you wear a pump!?
LOVE to see another PWD in hot & humid Birmingham!
I always head to the Greenway to run. It’s still hot, but all the trees help to shade the path (and the Fire station is near by)! I also usually unplug from my pump, so I don’t fry the insulin. I typically need less in the heat anyway.
What about a continuous glucose monitor? I can’t imagine the heat would make a difference to the receiver, has anyone seen problems with the system on super hot days?
I was just going to suggest looking into a couple Frio packs…but I see a number of people have already beaten me to the punch! Frio has served me well on hot days and on camping trips. The packs are especially nice because they’ll work even if you only have room temperature water to soak themRi.
Happy golfing!
~Laura
There is nothing like a Frio to keep insulin, meters/strips, snacks and even lipstick cool! There is a Frio to keep an insulin pump cool as well and you can wear it on your belt.
I carry my Frio along with meter and snacks (& lipstick) in a mesh bag with a pull string and slide lock. This can be tied to a golf bag, laptop bag, backpack, slingpack, etc. – to keep it on the outside of these bags.
This is important because air has to dry the water that is being held in the Frio crystals to create cooling.
mesh bag: http://www.CollinsCottage.com
Frio information:
http://www.CoolerConcept.com
I’m going to assume you carry food and drinks and snacks with you (if not, why not?) I find carrying a lunchbox/cooler works better for me than the fancy diabetic gear. It’s a soft, padded, lunchbox sized thing with a strap. You can stick blue ice packs in there and then fit in a couple of sandwiches, an apple, a water bottle or soda … and your insulin and meter. The food insulates the insulin from the ice pack. It’s a good strategy because it’s everything you need in one spot — not just the diabetes supplies, but also the food and drink you’ll need to keep your BG up. It encourages you to bring the whole shebang.