? Lantus Question - Power Outage - Resolved!

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Erica & Carter

Erica & Carter

Member Since 2016
Hey guys,

So my power just went out due to a bad thunderstorm. I'm in panic mode.

I have my 4 Lantus pens in the fridge and I'm worried about how cold they will stay...

In addition, my AC is not working, and it is extremely humid and extremely hot in Alabama right now. So I'm worried about the animals.

We have one fan but I think most of the power around here is out, so I don't think stores will be open. We also don't have an ice chest or a portable cooler.

Anyone have any advise??
 
Do you have any ice cubes? If not, can you get them from a nearby store or gas station?

If you leave the fridge unopened, it should seat cool in there for a few hours. Any estimate when the power will come back on?
 
Wendy&Neko said:
Do you have any ice cubes? If not, can you get them from a nearby store or gas station?

If you leave the fridge unopened, it should seat cool in there for a few hours. Any estimate when the power will come back on?
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No ice cubes, power is out in this city and the neighbouring city, I don't know if anything is open right now. Would ice cubes not freeze it if I was able to get some from somewhere?

No idea. I live in a small town, not sure how fast they are at repairing these things.
 
If you had ice cubes, I would put it in a small box, lined with towel and put the insulin in a plastic contaiiner on top of the towel. Freezer packs or if you have something like frozen peas would also do. But as Julie says, start with not opening the fridge and used the other plan if power is going to take longer to come on.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
If you had ice cubes, I would put it in a small box, lined with towel and put the insulin in a plastic contaiiner on top of the towel. Freezer packs or if you have something like frozen peas would also do. But as Julie says, start with not opening the fridge and used the other plan if power is going to take longer to come on.
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Okay I will.

I'm worried about the heat too. It's 84 outside and humid, and it's currently 75 inside and humid.
 
Normally if you don't open the fridge it should stay cold 12 hrs.

Other option is if you have insulated lunch bag/box you can put ice from store or if you have the block of blue ice and it's frozen you can use that. Just make sure you insulin is wrapped and there is a couple of layers between insulin and ice.
 
I think the fridge is better insulated than anything you can provide otherwise - like a cooler, for example. So I'd keep it in there and hope for the best.

Also, people keep it at room temp for a month and the manufacturer says it's good that long at room temperature.

I'd keep it in the fridge til tomorrow morning and hope the power's on by then. If it isn't, then I'd take it out of the fridge (if the fridge is warming up) and either wrap it in multiple thick towels to keep the heat away from it as much as possible or put it in a lunch box and go in search of ice. Never let the ice touch your insulin though. Bubble wrap is another insulator - if you have some of it.
 
Woodsywife said:
Normally if you don't open the fridge it should stay cold 12 hrs.

Other option is if you have insulated lunch bag/box you can put ice from store or if you have the block of blue ice and it's frozen you can use that. Just make sure you insulin is wrapped and there is a couple of layers between insulin and ice.
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I have a lunch box but I don't know if I have any access to ice if the power is off everywhere.

I'm having a panic attack because the heat is creeping up in here and we have no way to stay cool and I don't want the animals overheating.
 
Erica & Carter said:
I'm having a panic attack because the heat is creeping up in here and we have no way to stay cool and I don't want the animals overheating.
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Cats don't usually get bothered by the heat as quickly as people do. Maybe you can try wetting some towels with cold water and wetting the cats fur to cool them down. Not sopping wet, just a little. It would also work for you and Lily. You can put a cold washcloth on the back of your neck to cool down or on your wrists or behind your knees. I hope you get your power back soon.
 
Keep calm. If you have a bath tub it should be cool. If you have to just lay out in it. If power is out too long. Can you pack up and drive to an area that has power, even if an hour away? Find a pet store or animal friendly business and go in there for awhile? Will your area open a relief shelter?

Most business will have back up generators. You should be able to find a place you can go. If you keep it low key and not attract attention, so should be able to get into one of them.
 
carfurby said:
Cats don't usually get bothered by the heat as quickly as people do. Maybe you can try wetting some towels with cold water and wetting the cats fur to cool them down. Not sopping wet, just a little. It would also work for you and Lily. You can put a cold washcloth on the back of your neck to cool down or on your wrists or behind your knees. I hope you get your power back soon.
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We can't use our water right now, we have a water advisory :( all of out water is bottled, and most of it in the fridge. Yet another issue.
 
Woodsywife said:
Keep calm. If you have a bath tub it should be cool. If you have to just lay out in it. If power is out too long. Can you pack up and drive to an area that has power, even if an hour away? Find a pet store or animal friendly business and go in there for awhile? Will your area open a relief shelter?
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We both have to work tomorrow. I don't know how that would work. :( The three cats would freak out, and my dog is dog aggressive.
 
The cats and dog will find the coolest place in the house. It's only us humans who insist on sitting in certain places, regardless.

I had an elderly cat with multiple health issues that couldn't handle anything over 90F. She would howl in distress and pant. We eventually had to get AC for her because I was up half the night cooling her down. I used to lay her belly down on a towel covered icepack to cool the blood (not an option for you), and then wet her down thoroughly with a wet wash cloth. It would buy me a couple of hours.
 
Red said:
The cats and dog will find the coolest place in the house. It's only us humans who insist on sitting in certain places, regardless.

I had an elderly cat with multiple health issues that couldn't handle anything over 90F. She would howl in distress and pant. We eventually had to get AC for her because I was up half the night cooling her down. I used to lay her belly down on a towel covered icepack to cool the blood (not an option for you), and then wet her down thoroughly with a wet wash cloth. It would buy me a couple of hours.
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I'm just hoping it comes back on tonight. I don't want to leave them at the house tomorrow during the day. Its suppose to be 96, not including humidity. Isn't that the equivalent to them being stuck in a hot car if I don't have an AC working?
 
Erica & Carter said:
Isn't that the equivalent to them being stuck in a hot car if I don't have an AC working?
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No....your home is insulated....with cars, the sun beats in through the windows and increases the temperature quickly....if your home has any windows that aren't covered with dark curtains, get some big trash bags and cover them so the sun can't come in and add to the heat
 
Chris & China said:
No....your home is insulated....with cars, the sun beats in through the windows and increases the temperature quickly....if your home has any windows that aren't covered with dark curtains, get some big trash bags and cover them so the sun can't come in and add to the heat
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Aluminum foil is also really good for this - keeps the room dark and reflects away the sun and heat.
 
I'm out right now getting some ice and stuff. I have dark curtains too. I think I have tinfoil. We had to drive 25 mins away to the next town over.
 
if your electricity stays off for a long time....

you could always float the insulin in a cup of cool water..... hopefully the water in the tap will be on.... but even the water you said was in the fridge....
insulin can be kept unrefrigerated ... it just doesn't last as long... but it's still good.

Even if a neighbor just could give you an ice cube to keep in your cup with the insulin.....

hope it's all back on soon....
 
rhiannon and shadow (GA) said:
if your electricity stays off for a long time....

you could always float the insulin in a cup of cool water..... hopefully the water in the tap will be on.... but even the water you said was in the fridge....
insulin can be kept unrefrigerated ... it just doesn't last as long... but it's still good.

Even if a neighbor just could give you an ice cube to keep in your cup with the insulin.....

hope it's all back on soon....
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With the water advisory, put the vial in a ziplock bag or something equally waterproof. I don't know how permeable the top of the vial is.
 
The power just came back on... literally as soon as we got home.

Got myself all worried and sick for no reason.

However, it is a small town and Lily told me there have been times where they've had rolling blackouts for days just because of storms and I can handle the dark, but not the heat. Well, at least we have supplies for next time lol
 
Glad you got the power back! Whew!

Missing my Carter condo fix - hope he's doing well. Tonight's below 50 was probably depot. The higher dose can impact 4-6 cycles, so not sure I'd take the reduction. But his SS is looking fabulous!! :D:D
 
Wendy&Neko said:
Glad you got the power back! Whew!

Missing my Carter condo fix - hope he's doing well. Tonight's below 50 was probably depot. The higher dose can impact 4-6 cycles, so not sure I'd take the reduction. But his SS is looking fabulous!! :D:D
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Haha sorry! I have so much immigration going on and work that I found myself too obsessed with reading and making threads lol needed to prioritze myself a bit better!

I was thinking that too but he's been mostly green the past two weeks. The occasional blue numbers are food spikes that I implemented in order to work or go out to run errands but other than that very few have just been blue. I have to work the next 4 days so I'm probably going to take it and just see how it plays out. So far he's held all of his other reductions despite me actively trying to keep him above 50 with MC or HC to hold the dose longer, his pancreas seemed to have other plans. Last week I got very little sleep trying to keep him up, little bugger!
 
Hi all, been a while since I posted. I store my cats pen in fridge and this morning I left out on the counter and went back to bed. It was out for 2 hours and seems to have come to room temp. Is it toast? I put it back in the fridge but I am panicking - is it ruined?? Thanks.
 
Kity Bop said:
is it ruined??
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If it is, there's a lot of us using "ruined" insulin that's still working fine!! It's not quite that fragile!

Every single one of us has left our insulin out at least once.....from a few minutes to many hours....as long as it remains clear with no floaties, it's fine to use
 
thank you so much for your reply! I was convinced I just took a wad of cash and threw it out the window. Thank you I will watch the fluid. I dont know about anyone else but her pens literally expire in 28 - 29 days - I can see the change in her from 1 day to the next and then look at the date opened and say oh yes time to get another. THANKS
 
If kept in the refrigerator and handled carefully, you can use every last drop in the pens....You do NOT have to throw them away after 28 days

You can also save a lot of that cash by buying from Canada like most of us are.....it's 1/3rd the cost it is here in the states!!

All the information can be found in this "buying from Canadian pharmacies" post

The only reason they say it's only good for 28 days is because when the manufacturer asked the FDA to test it, they only asked them to test for 28 days....so that's all they can "legally" say it's good for....just another marketing ploy by Big Pharma
 
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Kity Bop said:
thank you so much for your reply! I was convinced I just took a wad of cash and threw it out the window. Thank you I will watch the fluid. I dont know about anyone else but her pens literally expire in 28 - 29 days - I can see the change in her from 1 day to the next and then look at the date opened and say oh yes time to get another. THANKS
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The longest I've ever been able to use a pen is 35 days.
 
Usually things will stay insulated and okay in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours including your lantus. The pens can be at room temp for up to 28 days and if kept in the refrigerator they can last up to 6 months. I was worried sick about losing power and my lantus being unprotected so I order these:

www.FRIOCase.com

It gave me peace of mind and I have never had to use it.........
 
Woodsywife said:
Why? What made you think they were bad?
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I've always been clueless as to the why. I handle them properly, store them properly...
Before Eleanor's bg went out of whack this past February and she was having good numbers, I would notice slightly higher numbers and/or duration around day 25 on a pen, usually by day 30 I would be seeing a big dfference in
duration. When I would start a new pen, in a couple days numbers would go
down and duration would increase.
Maybe some cats are extremely sensitive? I don't know!!! It sure is annoying I know that!
 
Hi everyone. My cat starts acting crazy hungry and vocal - the drinking ramps up, guess i take that as a sign the insulin is not working as good. She uses almost a pen in a month, just always hate throwing away last bit. You guys have motivated me, im using the whole dang thing next time. =) See what happens.
 
Do you have a spreadsheet set up? Our spreadsheet can really help to identify when the dose might need some adjustments

I'd suggest starting a new post and seeing if the people here might be able to help you....if you're using almost a whole pen a month, that's a pretty high dose
 
Actually I have been overdrawing because I felt it would go bad before she finished. Shes 2.5 in the morning and 1.5 at night. You guys have given me some confidence, I am going to try your advice and simply draw close to required amount and just see how long her pen will last. I WILL come back and start a new thread and let you guys know whats happened. Thank you!
 
@Kity Bop lantus and levemir are depot insulins, every time you change dose you mess with the depot and unsettle it so having different doses day and night is not a good idea and will usually just result in wonky numbers. I don't recall seeing anyone who was giving different doses day and night end up with the nice flat cycles that we want to get with lantus/levemir.

Sorry we've hijacked your thread Erica - so glad your power problems are resolved
 
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