Glucometers in the Cold

Last night I emailed Sebastien Sasseville, the first Canadian with Type 1 to summit Mount Everest, for some tips on keeping a glucometer warm when you are outside in the cold. Sabastien had to deal with the brutal temperatures on Mount Everest, so I thought he would have some tips on what worked for him during his adventures. Please keep in mind that if you use these tips, Sebastien is not a doctor, medical professional, or glucometer engineer. These tips are all based off of his personal experience, so they may not work for everyone. You should always consult with your health care professional for all of your diabetes management needs.

Sebastien writes: "First important thing is to keep your meter warm. Your outter pocket is pretty much at outside temperature so yes, your monitor must be inside your jacket. Even that is not always enough. I recommend to keep in a pocket (travel bag type), right next to your skin, under your first layer. Some straps pocket are designed especially for this. Keep your strips warm too, that is just as important if not more. (still keep them in the vial).

Then you also have to test with warm blood. If your fingers are frozen and if you have to sqeeze them to get blood out, you are likely to get a false result as well.

Most times when your supplies are too cold you'll get false lows. What you have observed is very frequent.

hope this helps!"

Again, please keep in mind that if you use these tips, Sebastien is not a doctor, medical professional, or glucometer engineer. These tips are all based off of his personal experience, so they may not work for everyone. You should always consult with your health care professional for all of your diabetes management needs.