FRÍO® keeps your insulin cool

A FRÍO® needs only water to activate, easy for when you're on the move! Most diabetic nurses and doctors advise keeping insulin cool to maintain its effectiveness.

Madagascar, MAD '06 Climbing Expedition

Back from Madagascar now and busily preparing apartments for the fast approaching winter. I just wanted to say a big thank you for your excellent bags for MAD '06, our climbing expedition to Madagascar. They were very useful in getting all my insulin safely and coolly delivered to Base Camp.

Jerry Gore Dec '06

Back From Iraq: A Soldier's Story

American Diabetes Association: Diabetes Forecast July 2005

Back From Iraq: A Soldier's Story by Laurie Meyers

Staff Sergeant Mark Thompson convinced the Army that having Type 1 diabetes shouldn't keep him from serving in Iraq.

The desert air, especially if there was any wind, "felt like sticking your head in the oven while cooking the Thanksgiving turkey," Thompson said. But Thompson was holding his own, and so were his pouches. He never even needed the refrigerator. And by February of this year, Thompson had completed his tour of duty in Iraq.

To view the full article detailing Staff Sergeant Thompson's challenges and experiences in Iraq involving persuading the army that he could serve in a combat zone, manage Type 1 diabetes and also how he kept his insulin cool and safe in desert conditions go to:

http://www.diabetesarchive.net/diabetes-forecast/jul2005/back.jsp

To top

South Africa: .... This wallet acts as a superb protector for my pump..

"All previous products have performed well in the sweltering South African sun over the past 3 months but I have just discovered to my absolute horror that I have lost my FRIO Insulin Pump Wallet.... This wallet acts as a superb protector for my pump. I have fallen off my mountain bike numerous times over the past 3 months while training on our mountain tracks and the wallet protects the pump well. I took part in an endurance mountain bike race a few weeks ago and another cyclist crashed into my back when I was forced to stop by another cyclist ahead. The wallet protected my pump perfectly - the only damage was a squashed banana in my other back pocket"

Peter R, Cape Town, South Africa

To top

Antarctica Trip, ..I'm very happy to report..

I'm very happy to report that the pouch safely protected the insulin from freezing at temperatures down to -2C. As insulin is recommended to be stored above 2C this performance was very much appreciated! I used it for all my trips off the ship onto the ice and in and about icebergs. It also came with me when I slept overnight on the ice ! Although inside the bivowac, the pouch was actually outside my sleeping bag so did not benefit from my body warmth. The insulin was perfectly fine to use. I can heartily recommend your product to any insulin-dependent diabetic intending to holiday in cold places. Indeed my younger sister, having endured frozen insulin in Lapland earlier this year, intends to buy a pouch from you as she has developed a taste for skiing...

Paul Brough '97

Note: FRÍO® UK Ltd cannot advise on or recommend the use of FRÍO® travel wallets in cold and freezing or other extreme conditions because tests in these conditions have not been carried out. Any testimonials we have received on the use of FRÍO® products in cold and freezing and other extreme temperatures are from individuals who have simply reported back on their use of the wallets in these conditions. All we can say, is that the wallets have been used by professional mountaineers in extreme conditions, and they have said the FRIO® wallet prevented the insulin from freezing during their trips.

To top

Ankle Bands: how brilliant a product..

I am writing to say how brilliant a product your ankle band is. After 12 years of a painful ankle, a relative leant me one of your ankle bands - medium - for me to try and I was amazed,it meant that I do not always have to keep a bag of frozen peas on stand by in the freezer!! It really has been a boon. In fact I keep it in a bag in my handbag at all times and then pop it into water when needed. It was really useful when on holiday abroad this year I did not need to find a freezer So, once again, thank you very much for producing such a helpful aid. Gail Davies, Wrexham '07

To top

NZ, Chile, Singapore and Oz.. 6 month trip with a Frio

I took 3 XL Frio wallets with me hoping they would help keep a 6 month supply of insulin cool. I have to tell you that they exceeded my expectations in everyway. They never let me down once; from the cold of southern N.Z. and Chile, to the heat of Singapore and OZ they never failed me. I would love to recommend these wallets to everyone I know. If you are a diabetic going travelling then these are a must. The one tip I would give would be to buy some kind of strong, robust net/mesh bag to carry the wallets in because they work best when they are provided with maximum exposure to the air.

Mr Smith, '07

Note: it is strongly recommended that extended travel plans of more than 28 days be discussed with your diabetic nurse or GP as should the availability of a 'fridge on your travels

Majorca holiday: .. I was really impressed, keeping both my tablets and emergency injection ampules nice and cool"

"Your products were recommended by fellow Addisonians on our self-help group discussion website so I purchased a small travel wallet for my holiday to Majorca in June. I was really impressed, keeping both my tablets and emergency injection ampules nice and cool"

Phil, Ramsgate '08

Sahara Camel Trek

"Wanted to let you know that I have just returned from a week in the Sahara on a camel trek and the FRIO was a brilliant bit of kit. It kept my insulin cool and was quick and easy to top up. Couldn't have done without it, I now know that I can travel anywhere without worrying about my diabetes".

Helen, UK, November 2011

Caribbean.."thank you for a wonderful hassle free holiday"..

This product arrived safe and sound and we have just returned from a months holiday in the Caribbean. All we can say about your product is WOW !!! AND WOW AGAIN !!! My husband is severely diabetic and it was a huge worry to us of how to transport his insulin safely overnight and then on a long haul flight the next day. A sales assistant in Boots the chemist told us about your product and the rest is history. Your product does exactly what it says, his insulin arrived safe and sound and at the correct temperature. We just wanted to say thank you for a wonderful hassle free holiday and many more in the future transporting his insulin around safely.

Thank you so much we will never hesitate to recommend Frio, in fact we did do just that on our holiday. Sincere thanks.

Susan and David King, UK 2011

Nat Strand's Amazing Race across four continents, the $1M prize… and the FRÍO® Wallet!

American Diabetes Association: Diabetes Forecast May 2011

A physician with type 1 circles the globe and wins on reality TV

Does the stress of having to bungee jump off a 150-foot crane (when you’re deathly afraid of heights) affect your blood glucose? Is it possible to get some much-needed rest if your insulin pump is beeping every hour on the hour—and you’re sleeping on a sidewalk in the middle of a busy foreign city? How do you dose insulin when you’re eating a boiled sheep’s head—eyeballs, tongue, and all?

These are just a few of the absurd quandaries faced by Nat Strand, the first contestant with diabetes on The Amazing Race, the rugged, exhausting reality-TV competition. From dog sledding in the Arctic Circle and rappelling down a canyon in Oman to speed skating in South Korea and toiling in Russian potato fields (while dressed like babushkas, of course), she and best friend and teammate Kat Chang traveled a total of 32,000 miles in just 23 days, sprinting their way across four continents, 10 countries, and 31 cities, all in pursuit of a $1 million prize.

How do you pack light when you have diabetes—and absolutely no idea where you’re going?

Essentially, The Amazing Race is a worldwide scavenger hunt that pits 11 teams of two against one another, in an ongoing quest to solve cryptic clues that lead them from one new city or country to another. As they trek from place to place using a set allowance to cover expenses, the duos must compete in a series of challenges—anything from skydiving to a memory test to drinking a goblet of pig’s blood—with myriad “detours,” “roadblocks,” setbacks, and switcheroos along the way. The goal is to finish all tasks and arrive at each destination’s “pit stop” checkpoint first, in order to win prizes or an advantage of some sort—and, ultimately, to avoid elimination.

All of the crazy riddles, bizarre brain games, and harrowing physical tests notwithstanding, Strand insists that the most difficult aspect of her reality-TV gig, by far, was cramming everything she’d need to stay healthy into a single carry-on backpack: a month’s worth of insulin, test strips, syringes, batteries, alcohol swabs, snacks, a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), several blood glucose meters, glucose tablets and gel, a glucagon emergency kit, extra pump reservoirs, cartridges, and more.

“I didn’t know what countries we’d be in, what the weather would be like, or what we’d be doing or eating,” she recalls. “I had to think of every single disaster that could happen and try to plan ahead for it.” This careful preparation was even more critical because the show’s producers gave her no special treatment and steadfastly refused to carry extra insulin or other supplies during taping, which took place in May and June of last year.

As a result, Strand spent weeks working with her medical team to determine exactly what she might need for a month of madcap globe-trotting. “My biggest concern, honestly, was that she wouldn’t be able to fit everything in the stupid backpack and that we’d have to make some hard decisions about leaving important stuff behind,” says her diabetes educator, Carolyn Robertson, RN, ACNS, BC-ADM, CDE, of the University of California–Los Angeles. Robertson made valuable suggestions like repacking bulky pump reservoirs and infusion sets into Ziploc bags to save space and bringing a handy-dandy Frio pouch to keep insulin cold in warmer climes. She also recommended that Chang carry a full set of supplies in her bag as well, in case one backpack was lost, stolen, or held up in customs.

“I had so much [diabetes-related] stuff that I didn’t even pack a hairbrush,” says Strand, lamenting her “pretty crazy hair” throughout the race, usually kept in place by her trademark blue bandanna. “But thankfully, I had absolutely everything I really needed.”

To view the full article by Carolyn Butler which details the wonders, trials and stresses of the reality TV contest including Nat's all-consuming type-1 diabetes management and the equipment required to make the exhausting challenge across four continents in various climates and multiple time zones, go to: http://forecast.diabetes.org/magazine/features/nat-strands-amazing-race

Expedition to Cerro Aconcagua, IDEA 2000

"One of the main issues faced by a diabetic at extreme elevations is the temperature ranges encountered, and the potential for insulin to denature if it gets too hot or too cold. In the past, we have tried combinations of creative packing, placement, and a little luck to let the insulin survive. In summary, my experience with FRIO Cooling products has been exceptional, seemed to protect the insulin from freezing, it was snowing and there were 70 mile per hour winds, my FRIO wallet forgot to find its way back into my sleeping back one night, I woke up and my insulin was fine just as cool (or warm) as it had been for the whole trip. The product itself delivers on its promises, and will become a standard piece of equipment in my gear bag. In fact, I have begun using it in less extreme environments (I plan to use it this summer). I would personally recommend the FRIO cooling wallets to any diabetic who needs to take their insulin with them"

Extract from IDEA 2000 Review of FRÍO® Cooling Wallet Performance
during the Expedition to Cerro Aconcagua (height 22800 feet) Todd Clare, President, IDEA 2000

Note: FRÍO® UK Ltd cannot advise on or recommend the use of FRÍO® travel wallets in cold and freezing or other extreme conditions because tests in these conditions have not been carried out. Any testimonials we have received on the use of FRÍO® products in cold and freezing and other extreme temperatures are from individuals who have simply reported back on their use of the wallets in these conditions. All we can say, is that the wallets have been used by professional mountaineers in extreme conditions, and they have said the FRIO® wallet prevented the insulin from freezing during their trips.

Hurricane Katrina: ..FRÍO® worked beautifully..

"My family just went through Hurricane Katrina. My 78 year old mother is a diabetic who uses insulin. Fortunately we had purchased a FRÍO® pouch at an earlier time. I wanted you to know it worked beautifully. It kept her insulin cool and safe for over 10 days until we could located a generator to power a small refrigerator. During this time we had no access to ice so the FRÍO® was a real life saver. Thanks for a terrific product."

Mexico Trip: "I have had my FRÍO® for several years"..

"I have had my FRÍO® for several years and can't imagine why every diabetic doesn't have their own. Recently I took a trip into a fairly remote area of Mexico and relied on my FRÍO® to get me through. I admit to some initial reservations. It was very hot where I was. Each morning I took my Frio pouch to the bar/dining area. The first morning it was a little tricky explaining what I wanted in my weak Spanish, but once the attendant understood I needed my pouch to be cooled in water, it was no problem. I came to breakfast. He soaked the pouch in the ice and water in his drink cooler, and I was a happy woman. The insulin stayed effective for the time I was there, and my blood glucose was perfect. The trip was something I will never forget. If I'd had to rely on freezer packs, I could not have done this. And, I won't hesitate to go on future adventures because I know my FRÍO® will get me through with no worries. By the way, I take every chance I get to let other diabetics know what a great product this is."

Follow on from above...

"Follow on from above. I am already a great personal advertiser for the product. As I may have told you, I am a nurse in the obstetric department in a small hospital with a large Mexican farmworker population. I make sure all the physicians are aware of FRÍO®, even the pediatricians who are now dealing with more and more children who must be on insulin. When my mother was carrying around all her non-disposal syringes, test tapes and insulin when we travelled so many years ago, often in hot places. I cannot image how it all worked. The FRÍO® make mine a very different life."

Margaret Ruedi

Death Valley, USA: I had to write...

"I had to write to tell you just how delighted I was with my FRÍO® cool packs.I have just returned from a fly-drive holiday in California and Arizona and had no trouble with my insulin. Thanks to your fantastic product I was able to visit places such as Death Valley (120°F) and the Joshua Tree National Park (90°F+). Thanks!!"

Mrs J Birch, Sussex, UK

Ski-ing Trip: ..found the bags extremely useful...

"Purchased 2 large FRÍO® cooling pouches for my son and husband to keep their respective diabetic Insulin items cool whilst we went a family ski-ing trip in late February 06, both of them found the bags extremely useful, no more jamming their insulin in with an ice block inside a cool bag or forgetting to retrieve spare insulin from the holiday fridge for the return journey home or worse still- cartridges rolling out of the fridge, dropping and smashing on a tiled floor of the kitchen in the holiday apartment- all previously experienced"

E. N., Surrey

Note: FRÍO® UK Ltd cannot advise on or recommend the use of FRÍO® travel wallets in cold and freezing or other extreme conditions because tests in these conditions have not been carried out. Any testimonials we have received on the use of FRÍO® products in cold and freezing and other extreme temperatures are from individuals who have simply reported back on their use of the wallets in these conditions. All we can say, is that the wallets have been used by professional mountaineers in extreme conditions, and they have said the FRIO® wallet prevented the insulin from freezing during their trips.

Australia Holiday: ..It was worth its weight in gold...

"I have just used one of your FRÍO® bags; which Treliske Diabetic Dep. lent us, on a 6 weeks holiday to Australia. It was worth its weight in gold. My husband uses Lantus and Novo Rapit pens and it was invaluable. Is it possible for me to purchase one of the bags to keep for our own use?"

Mrs Lewis, UK

Egypt holdiay: Absolutely delighted...

"Absolutely delighted with my FRÍO® cooling wallet, traveled through Egypt for 3 weeks without having to use the hotel fridges!"

Mrs C, London, UK

..I would like to take this opportunity of congratulating you for your excellent service..

"I would like to take this opportunity of congratulating you for your excellent service, it was outstanding. Something that is quite rare in this day and age. Thank you to all the team. We have some of your products already which we have used for several years and find them most useful. Off to Australia in April '06"

Ellon, UK

Everest Marathon '99: The bags were essential...

"The bags were essential for me to keep my insulin cool during the lowland trek when temperatures were very high. I also found that they provided sufficient insulation to prevent insulin from freezing at high altitude [during the Everest Marathon]

Dawn Kenwright
First Lady, Everest Marathon '99

Note: FRÍO® UK Ltd cannot advise on or recommend the use of FRÍO® travel wallets in cold and freezing or other extreme conditions because tests in these conditions have not been carried out. Any testimonials we have received on the use of FRÍO® products in cold and freezing and other extreme temperatures are from individuals who have simply reported back on their use of the wallets in these conditions. All we can say, is that the wallets have been used by professional mountaineers in extreme conditions, and they have said the FRIO® wallet prevented the insulin from freezing during their trips.

Australia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Thailand and India

"I wish to inform you that I used two extra large FRÍO® packs during a five month trip to Australia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Thailand and India. I did have doubts that...insulin would survive this time span in the heat. I need not have worried"

Ms A. Thorne, Lancs, UK

...in Tunisia... 2 day safari in the Sahara..

"...in Tunisia our room had neither 'fridge' nor air conditioning, so we were relying on the FRÍO® wallet...but it was to endure an even stronger test, a 2 day safari in the Sahara! With temperatures up to 120F the wallet more than proved itself"

Mr G. Rees, Birmingham, UK

Happy to Lend a Hand, USA..

"We went to an outside show for 3 days. The temperature was 90°F plus all weekend. The insulin was still cool when we arrived home after a 4 hour drive. If anyone has any questions, I'll be happy to lend a hand"

Carolyn Dennis, North Carolina, USA

.. Pakistan.. 45°C

"I used a FRÍO® pack in Pakistan for a month at temperatures of 45°C and quickly realised that I no longer needed to worry that my insulin would be ruined by hot weather"

David Thomasson, Film Director, Tyne Tees Television

Arizona Desert, Grand Canyon: I was so delighted...

"I was so delighted with the results of your products. I would just like to thank you and congratulate you on the effectiveness of your packs. We travelled around 3,000 miles including parts of the Arizona Desert, Grand Canyon, etc. and I had no problems at all"

Ms M.N., Ireland

..Then I discovered FRÍO® What a miracle!

"After I heard my 'sentence' - diabetes mellitus - I was determined about one thing: I would not stay at home pining. So I had to travel with a heavy thermos flask containing some ice and my insulin. It did work, but it was not easy and certainly not discrete. Neither was ice to be found in all places, nor did the flask prove indestructible. But I was not complaining! Then I discovered FRÍO® What a miracle! Now my insulin is only a small package in my hand luggage. Together we have travelled many miles in Asia - as tourists through the Sunda Islands and Sulawesi, for a TV documentary to the philippines, for my book "Atjeh,Atjeh!" to Sumatra and last summer to a hot China. Conditions were often primitive, but there was always a washbasin or a bucket from which my FRÍO®wallet could absorb some water to keep my insulin at a safe temperature for days. What a travel companion! In order to preserve our friendship for posterity we had a picture taken at one of the world's wonders: the Great Wall of China. Although the temperature was 32 °C, as always this did not effect my insulin"

Jelte Rep, Producer & Author, Holland

I like the light weight of it..

"I like the light weight of it, the ease in cooling and the way it seems to be holding up to an 80F day here in the States"

K. Wheelock, UT, USA

I found it very effective...

"I found it very effective on holiday recently, and I was surprised at how long one 'charge' of it lasted, your claim that it will 2-3 days under reasonable conditions is absolutely true - even longer in fact."

M. C. Marlborough, UK

It's certainly a great invention...

"It's certainly a great invention and one I could have done with a couple of years ago!... only water required, much lighter, and the correct temperature... I'd like to compliment you and order another one..."

Mr C., Germany

...no more bulky ice packs...

"...no more bulky ice packs and the hassle of finding freezers to refreeze... so easy to reactivate..."

Mrs M., Perthshire, UK

...This FRÍO® Wallet is a wonderful help ..

"...have been very pleased with it in temperatures of 90°F. Thank you so much for the research you are doing. This FRÍO® Wallet is a wonderful help "

Ms R., Warwickshire, UK

Argentina: "FRÍO® worked wonderfully thank you very much"

"On this trip I went to the north of our country, and it is really hot now. FRÍO® worked wonderfully thank you very much"

Ms W., Argentina