Historic Storm

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Jill & Alex (GA)

Jill & Alex (GA)

Member Since 2009
Looks like many of you in the US will be hit hard with blizzard conditions which might dump a couple feet of snow!

Please make sure your Hypo Toolbox is well stocked and you have plenty of test strips and supplies to last for the next few days. If you lose power, try to keep your insulin cool, but be careful it doesn't freeze.

If you're a newer member, you might want to print out this info in case you lose power:

How to treat HYPOS
Lantus & Levemir - Shooting and Handling Low numbers

Your vet's office might be forced to close for a couple of days. If kitty is feeling poorly, now is the time to see or talk to your vet if necessary.

Most of all, stay safe and warm! Keep in touch. We worry about you!



Feel free to add your own tips, questions, or concerns to this thread.
 
Jill & Alex (GA) said:
Looks like many of you in the US will be hit hard with blizzard conditions which might dump a couple feet of snow!

Please make sure your Hypo Toolbox is well stocked and you have plenty of test strips and supplies to last for the next few days. If you lose power, try to keep your insulin cool, but be careful it doesn't freeze.

If you're a newer member, you might want to print out this info in case you lose power:

How to treat HYPOS
Lantus & Levemir - Shooting and Handling Low numbers

Your vet's office might be forced to close for a couple of days. If kitty is feeling poorly, now is the time to see or talk to your vet if necessary.

Most of all, stay safe and warm! Keep in touch. We worry about you!



Feel free to add your own tips, questions, or concerns to this thread.
Click to expand...
How can you keep insulin cool? Are there containers for this?
 
Do you have any of those soft gel freezer packs? When I got Bob's insulin it was in a small Styrofoam cooler with a couple of freezer packs. They kept it cool for 48 hours or so. The vial itself was in bubble wrap, I guess to keep the insulin itself from freezing?
In a pinch, I'd use a soft freezer pack in a large insulated mug or small thermos.
 
Paula said:
How can you keep insulin cool? Are there containers for this?
Click to expand...
In a small cooler with one of those frozen gel packs. Just make sure you wrap the insulin with a towel/cloth/paper towel. You don't want the two touching. Depending on how cold it is outside you might be able to put the cooler on a deck, in the yard, or even in the garage.

If you can manage to keep your refrigerator closed as much as possible you might be able to simply leave it in the fridge.

Frio makes some nice cooling cases: http://www.frioinsulincoolingcase.com/
It's too late to order now, but a local drug store might have them or something comparable.
 
Failing that you don't have a frozen gel pack and you can't get out to buy one, if you have bubble wrap or anything to insulate your insulin (even several layers of newspaper, put ice (or snow -- since you'll have a lot of that) in the bottom of a cooler. Put a layer (or several) of plastic or put the wrapped pens or vial in a freezer bag on top of another layer of insulation and close the container. You don't want the insulin sitting directly on the ice. It will keep your insulin dry and cool. You don't want to freeze your insulin.
 
Also remember that some insulins (Levemir and Lantus) don't require refrigeration. In fact, most human diabetics don't keep it cold. Keeping it in the fridge helps keep it good for a lot longer. I don't think it will matter too much if it's out of the fridge for a couple days in a pinch.
 
So, some of us in the path of the storm will not have internet access to help out answering questions, including me.

Sure do hope I don't lose power but I'm right on the coast of Massachusetts and in that sweet spot where they are predicting 24+ inches of snow and winds 40-60 MPH.

Thankfully I have a great guy that plows my 300+ foot driveway. Don't expect to be able to drive anywhere for a couple of days, since digging out will have to wait until Wednesday afternoon and the winds to die down and snow to stop drifting.
 
Still have power. About 15 inches of snow so far, but those drifts are over the door jambs. Shoveled out my main 2 entries. Had to do the mud room first, and then walk around to the other door cause the snow is drifting off the roof and it was about 2.5' deep. Couldn't even open the door from inside!

The number of birds at my feeders is incredible. The bird feeders are so crowded, there are dozens of birds are on the ground. Looks like someone sprinkled pepper on the snow! There we so many birds at the feeders, I went out and tossed a bunch of bird seed on the ground. Winds are NOT bad here on the north shore. Sure glad I'm not on Nantucket, where the entire island is without power. I'm far enough away from the ocean, a mile or so, that there are no worries of the winds crashing against my home and washing it away. Feel sorry for those folks on Plum Island that have their house backing right up on the ocean. One more hide tide for them to get through.

Kitties and I are fine so far. I think we all need a nap this afternoon after all that shoveling! Plus, all the shoveling to come.
Monet in front of slider master room deck.JPG

Snow almost too high for civie Monet to look outside at the 'catertainment' bird feeders. Second floor deck off master bedroom.

Wink in front of fam room doors during blizzard.JPG

Wink in front of family room sliding door. You can see how the snow is piled up on the deck and drifted against the door.

Birds in side yard during blizzard Jan 2015.JPG

My side yard feeders. I threw some bird seed on the ground, because there were too many birds at the feeders.
 
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