Insulin and camping

I am on a pump, but I naturally pack needles and vials which I have used on occasion.

Every summer for the past three years I've gone off to Zion National Park where the temps alternate between 40C(~100F) in the open sun, to 5C(~40F), and occaisionally below zero while in the canyon water (I do long hikes in slot canyons which require swimming through some sections which are in permanent shadow). It's an odd things to be sweating through an oppressive heat while coming across a slab of snowpack.

Lesson #1 for pumps (which I know you don't use, but I'm codifying here): Use tegaderm (or similar) to affix the infusion set. It's the only thing that'll survive the sunscreen (which is itself a necessity).

Lesson #2 for pumps: BRING BACKUPS. Infusion sets will come off, and the spares you brought may as well. Needles are more reliable.

General Rule #1: Alcohol wipes are a must. I seldom use them in civilization as I'm "clean enough" for my skin to deal with whatever foreign matter sneaks in with the needle, but out in the wilderness it's much less biologically pleasant.

General Rule #2: Your insulin will keep fine, but bringing a thermal container wouldn't be a horrible idea. A cooler if you don't need to travel much, a small thermal bag if you do.

General Rule #3: If you'll be interacting with water (swimming through obstacles as I do, or just rafting) bring a dry bag. This'll be a good spot to put your meter as well.

General Rule #4: Bring a second meter. I use the OneTouch Ultra II strips, so I have a couple spare Minis ($20USD each) so that if one gets lost or damaged, I'm not in any trouble.

General Rule #5: Bring at least twice the insulin you think you'll need and keep them in separate locations if possible. I tend to bring tripple.

General Rule #6: Glucose tabs are win. I seldom use them in the city, but your BG will likely do the unexpected, packing along a dozen/day is a good supply. You may need none, but you may need them all.

General Rule #7: Sh*t happens. This particular hematoma came about from doing a shot in the middle of a slot canyon and having the luck to knick a vein in the process. Harmless, but scared my co-hikers.


Have fun!

Edited for the obvious bit that I missed: Glucose tabs!

LOL Currently have one of those hematomas healing on my left side belly. Been getting strange looks at work about it.

Was planning on bringing extra insulin just in case, mainly because I'm paranoid :)

And that reminds me, I need to pick up glucose tabs. I'm still planning on taking some of my usual hypoglycemic measures (read: bread & peanut butter) to keep in the tent, but knowing my luck, that will be the one item that small furry animals will find.

The sweat lodge will likely lower your blood sugars—I would be very cautious about that! Test and eat beforehand, and have your meter and low blood sugar supplies nearby. Also alert your friends to the possibility and symptoms of low blood sugars.

Also, bring waaaay more glucose tabs and low blood sugar stuff than you expect to need. In my experience, whenever I do something outdoorsy, it's difficult to predict and prevent lows (you will likely need to lower your Lantus considerably to do so, unless you are normally very active).

For the same reason you aren't meant to do it before getting into a hot bath don't take any insulin immediately before going into the sweat lodge, it speeds up the rate at which the insulin becomes active

As Jess mentions high temperatures can also simply drop your blood sugar because your metabolism is changed at the high temperatures you lose sugar in your sweat and your body does things quicker so its is good to be careful

Depending on what the temperature is like where you are going, I would definitely look into getting a frio for your insulin (http://www.frious.com/). It served me well in the desert heat of Israel in June.

In terms of the sweat lodge. Just like je5s said, you will probably get hypoglycemic. Eat before and probably wait on getting the lantus till after.