Touring with Diabetes

I came down with adult diabetes last July and the first thing that came to mind was how am I going to tour having to keep a cooler with me. Got an old magnetic tank bag, took off the bag, went to Wallyworld, bought a $10 Coleman cooler that holds about a six-pack and some velcro pads. The adhesive pads didn't want to stick to the nylon cooler but some super glue solved that problem. Packed out the bike, threw my insulin and some snacks in the cooler and took off for the 800 mile long trip to Fl. Worked great. The cooler is the soft type with the hard plastic liner that lifts out. That came in handy. When the bike leans like in the mountains or exit and enter ramps the water would spill over the insert but be contained in the cooler bag. The cooler has a netting around the outside which keeps a gloucose meter from getting to hot and a netting on the inside of the lid to keep test strips and Quick Pens from getting to hot [Placed in a zip-lock bag of course]

 

They don't need to be kept cool, but they aren't supposed to be stored at temps over 85. The text strips and Kwik-Pens can't be stored over those temps either. At least thats what I've read on the info packets that come with them. Rode to Mammoth Cave last year, the heat index was 110 so I can only guess how hot it would be in a saddle bag. It was so hot we took back roads home because the highway was just way to hot. In high temps in a small cooler the freeze packs don't last long and on a trip you end up topping it off with ice just to make it through the day and I try to travel on a budget so not all motels I stay in have a freezer to refreeze them over night. Riding down to New Orleans next week and following the Mississippi back to check out the flood and the temps are going to be in the 90's so the frozen packs won't last that long. Lantis in a vial says Store refrigerated 36-46 F Humalog KwikPen says Room Temp. My guess is in a climate controlled building and being a hospital the vials are used up fast and don't have to last up to 28 days.

 

you can zip lock your meds and bury them at the bottom of your cooler.... my mom did that when we traveled( she was a diabetic) the litttle soft sided coolers aren't really that good do you have a top mounted case? maybe turn it into a cooler (spray in insulation).....

 

Your right about the soft coolers. The ice melts pretty fast. I have had to refill it 3 times in one day. My bike came with a Ventura rack system. Two different racks, one thats short in height and the other tall. The tall on is designed to hold the large bag you can see in my profile pic and it holds alot. When I travel by myself I set the bag over the rack so its behind me and then I have enough room for a hard case or cooler on the back but when the other half goes with me I can't do that. The soft cooler rode so good on the tank down to Fl and back I'm thinking about buying a hard cooler thats a little bit bigger and trying it out. Of course I'd take it on a test ride over the weekend. I live in the foothills so plenty of hills and curves to see how it will ride. Plus I figure a cooler with ice can be a little heavy and so riding two up with gear it won't be a bad idea to have that extra weight towards the front of the bike. I only weigh 140 so it may even improve the ride.

 

I'm a type 1, insulin dependent diabetic. I've been one forever. It is true that the insulin does not need to be refrigerated, but it's not good for it to be exposed to the heat either. What I do is just throw it in a lunch bag with an ice block. That gets me through the day. The biggest concern I deal with is making sure that my sugar does not go low. It is like driving drunk. I often check it frequently and always before I start out from my destination. It's a pain, but you learn to live with it.

 

My wife is type 1 also. She has an Animas insulin pump that she wears on her belt. It carries plenty of insulin, but she always has extra in her pen. She carries this and her meter usually in the tailbag or tankbag and has no problems with it getting too hot. She checks her blood every time we stop. You said it right, it is a pain, but you learn to live with it. Way better than the outcome of not checking it.

 

Forgive my off topic comment, but type 2 DM is typically treated w/ oral meds initially. Unless you were already well advanced at the time of diagnosis I'd be surprised that insulin was the first medication of choice.


And you can tell me to shut the hell up and mind my own beeswax! :redface:

 

For the most part, you're right and there's nothing wrong with your question. Type 1 is also known as juvenile diabetes and in most cases comes about in your younger years (< 25). Type 2 usually comes about in your later years and is often tied to weight problems which is then usually controlled by oral meds and diet. However, in some cases, there are Type 2 diabetics who are insulin dependent due to continued high blood sugars. In those cases, it's up to the physician to make the call. Type 1 = insulin dependent with no other treatment options. Type 2 = oral med with possibility of insulin. I am not a doctor and I don't pretend to be, but I've had Type 1 for about 23 years now. I do know 1 person in the same situation as jonn has described.

 

10 year type two guy here. 7 or 8 years insulin dependant. Basically all you need to do is keep the insulin out of the direct heat . If it were buried near the bottom of a tank bag. then you should be fine. If you were using so little that your ampule was being kept for over a month, then there might be a concern. But high blood glucose, though in the long run is not good, it is not going to kill you. I would be more concerned about monitoring your blood and keeping glucose tablets close at hand. Or a bottle of Cole or Pepsi. Low blood sugars will kill you. Fortunately when mine goes down, I feel it right away and can take appropriate action.

A foot note to this. I have ridden to Reggies Roadhouse twice now from here which is probably a 3500. mile round trip. Last year I started out one morning from I think it was Grants Pass or somewhere out there and had a low blood glucose episode. Drank a bottle of pop, had breakfast and a nap, then carried on. It was a shorter day, but I carried on. What did happen though, is that because I was delayed getting to Atascadero, everyone there got drunk for the whole fuggen weekend.