The issue of transporting insulin had been on our minds for months before we started our trip. When we were on vacation for 2-3 weeks in between, it was never a big issue because we bought the Disoncare. This was sufficient for the amount of insulin we had so far and also for the number of hours we were on the road until we had a fridge again. Now, however, our aim was to take as much insulin with us as possible and to ensure good transportation and efficient cooling.
We therefore asked ourselves the question:
How do we get as much insulin with us as possible and what is the best way to cool it?
The answer:
No idea, but we’ll find out!
The path to the solution
It’s been a long road to get to where we are now, with many different attempts and purchases as well as several bad buys. Based on the experience we gained before and now after 5 months of traveling the world, we have compiled our experiences here.
The tests consisted of trying out various thermos flasks from different suppliers, as well as coolants, temperature sensors and cool bags. It was also very important for us to find out which combination would keep the temperature cool for the longest time. We also bought cool packs, which were not allowed to have more than 100 ml, otherwise they could get into trouble at the airport security check. For the test phase, Joshua created Excel tables and collected the values there so that we could see the progressions in graphs and then finally decide on the best option.
Disoncare
The Disoncare* can hold 3 pens or many ampoules. You need a freezer compartment in which the special coolant is placed at least 8 hours in advance. Before you put the insulin with the coolant into the thermos flask, the coolant should be stored outside for 10 minutes, otherwise it will be too cold and the insulin may freeze. There is a QR code on the thermos where we can enter our details so that it can be traced back to us in the event of loss or theft.
The only drawback
The bottle has no temperature sensor, so you have to trust the technology and don’t know whether it’s too hot or cold.
Disoncare has now improved this, but only for small bottles and not the large thermos flask. However, the new model* is highly recommended for transporting fewer cartridges or pens, as the integrated temperature sensor and compact size make it the perfect everyday companion.
Simple solution
We bought the following temperature sensors* from Amazon, which permanently transmit the current data via Bluetooth. This data can also be viewed retrospectively, even in diagrams. This means we can always keep an eye on the temperature and can also see whether it has unfortunately become too hot or too cold.
Thermos flask from Stanley
However, the large thermos flask from Disoncare is not enough for us, so we looked for a larger one and found the Stanley brand. Very promising, but still not ideal, because the thermos has everything we want, but the special coolant from Disoncare doesn’t fit into the Stanley’s opening. When we were about to give up, we found the even newer thermos flask from Stanley for food* and ordered it. Although the coolant fits through the opening, the bottle is slightly too small, which is why it is not ideal. However, the lid closes after a few attempts and 16 ampoules of insulin fit inside.
The perfect coolant
As we couldn’t find this type of special coolant anywhere else, Joshua wrote to various manufacturers and asked for a custom-made product. After weeks of back and forth, one company actually agreed and produced 4 samples. Two kept the temperature at 3 °C and 2 at 5 °C. These were in an aluminum bag and after only 3 attempts, the material in the first bag unfortunately gave way and the liquid leaked out. So, one night before departure, we welded the remaining bags and used rubber bands to shape the bag so that it would fit into the Stanley.
Refrigerator for insulin
In the meantime, we also tested a portable fridge with a rechargeable battery from CGOLDENWALL. Sadly, however, it gave up the ghost after the second use and only very few ampoules fitted inside, so disappointingly the portable fridge option was off the table sooner than we would have liked. Because it would have been very easy.
Cooler bag
We tried out different sizes and materials of cooler bags during our tests and opted for a simple standard cooler bag*. All 4 thermos flasks fit in it perfectly and for longer journeys we also put in a 1 l bottle and 2-3 0.5 l bottles of water, which we froze beforehand.
During our trip, we never had any problems with the cooler bag as special luggage. On the contrary, it was often ignored. We were never asked why we had three bags, nor was she weighed or completely unpacked. However, I always have the medical certificate with me so that I have everything to hand in case of questioning. We are also always careful where we put our bags when we travel. The floor is often too hot. So she either stands on a bench, a chair, in the shade or we hold her.
Our results
After various tests and comparisons in Excel tables and weeks of experimenting with which coolant, cool bag and thermos worked best, we decided on the final version, which consists of:
2x Stanley Thermos flasks, each with a shrink-wrapped aluminum bag, which we always freeze before transporting.
We also have two Disoncare with their coolant and a 100 ml ice pack, which we always freeze additionally for transportation, but also if the power fails, which has happened often enough.
These 4 thermos flasks and their coolant are then stored in a cool bag.
Tips for transportation
Flight
On our first long flight from Germany to Manila with a stopover in Qatar, we traveled for almost 18 hours to our accommodation and almost ran the risk of the insulin getting too hot on the first day of the trip. So during our stopover at the airport in Qatar, we asked in small stores for ice cubes that we could put in our cooler bag. As these melted quickly, this was not the best solution and Joshua had the idea of asking the airport pharmacy if they would put the insulin in their fridge until we boarded. And they were actually super friendly and just wanted to see our boarding pass as confirmation and we could leave the insulin there for a while. On the connecting flight, we asked the staff on the plane and they immediately put the insulin in the airplane fridge so that we didn’t have to worry about it for the next 6 hours or so. When we fly, we keep the cooler bag under the seat so that we can get to it during take-off or landing if it threatens to get too cold.
Train, bus, ferry
For longer train or bus journeys, sometimes 8-13 hours in Vietnam, we have found that it makes sense to put the cooler bag in one or two bin bags and put ice in the bottom beforehand. In Vietnam and also in the Philippines, you could buy ice from many stores. It’s particularly worthwhile if the freezer didn’t cool properly the night before.
Conclusion
We have currently developed the optimum variant for us and always adapt the other variants to the given circumstances. Before long journeys, we always try to find accommodation with a freezer compartment so that we can freeze all our cool packs and, if necessary, several bottles of water.
We always pay attention to the temperature in the thermos flasks, as there is always a risk of the insulin freezing due to the frozen materials. To prevent this from happening, we use the temperature sensors, which transmit the current and past values to our cell phone via Bluetooth. It is important to monitor the temperature at the beginning, as it runs the risk of quickly becoming too cold. Once it has reached the desired temperature, it will remain at this temperature for several hours. It is often enough to briefly open the thermos flask. Or wrap the frozen bottles in a small towel or a thick napkin to avoid direct contact with the Stanley thermos flask.
We are very happy to have been traveling the world with our self-developed system for 5 months now and have been able to fulfill our dream. Thanks to these little gadgets, which are so important to us, we can travel the world despite having type 1 diabetes and not let the disease stop us.
Please bear in mind that we are not doctors and have no medical training. Our reports and texts are based on our experience of over 6 years and are individually tailored to Rebecca.