Prepare With ICEBUDDY

Game Changer for Diabetics

• Pamela Norris • Episode 7

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The ICEBUDDY QOOLER changes lives but also saves the lives of those who use medications requiring refrigeration. Hear interviews from a businessman and Native American mother. They tell their stories on how they deal with keeping diabetic insulin refrigerated and preserved on a daily basis.

Speaker 1:

Welcome back! Today's show will focus on how the ICEBUDDY system can not only change lives, but also save the lives of those whose medicine requires refrigeration.

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Were you aware that there are nearly 100 commonly refrigerated drugs, medications and prescriptions, and those are only the ones for human consumption. There are also many veterinary medicines. They include vaccines and antibiotics that are heat sensitive and lose effectiveness and potency if allowed to reach room temperature. Keeping medication cool that requires refrigeration is a Big Deal! That's why we created the portable cooling system we call ICEBUDDY. The International Diabetes Federation estimates that 382 million people worldwide have diabetes. The Center for Disease Control Prevention has identified diabetes to be one of the largest health issues of the 21st century. Over 29 million Americans have diabetes. Today, we're going to focus on those being treated for diabetes and the challenges this disease poses. I want to introduce to you, Mr Tony Alleyne, a retired Naval Officer having served for 25 years. Let me begin by saying Thank You Sir, for your service. Tony has diabetes and has agreed to share the struggles he sometimes faces as a diabetic. Welcome to the ICEBUDDY Show.

Speaker 2:

Thank you Pam for this opportunity. You know, my life with Type Two diabetes began in 1997. Living with diabetes always keeps me concerned because my supply of insulin has to stay refrigerated. I'm always thinking about how will I keep my supply of insulin cool, if the electricity goes out from a power outage. But that's not the only concern I have. Traveling has always been another hassle. Let me share my experience, traveling as a diabetic. When I moved, for business, more than 5,000 miles from Massachusetts to Hawaii, it was a headache. Here's what I had to deal with. My six month supply of insulin had to travel with me. That medication consisted of 30 injectable pens, costing Thirty Three Hundred dollars. My next dilemma was how do I keep my insulin cool during a 14 hour flight. After researching what was available, the best I could find was cooling sleeves that could only keep my medication cool for only eight hours. Costing me more than One Hundred and Twenty dollars. That meant I had to schedule my flight with a layover in Seattle, Washington. Spending more money for a hotel room overnight. I get to my room tired from the first leg of the trip. Now, I have to unpack my six month supply of insulin from the cooling sleeves and use the room refrigerator. The next morning I had to reconstitute the cooling sleeves for the second leg of my trip to Hawaii. That was a serious inconvenience for me.

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I know ICEBUDDY will change lives by simplifying travel for anyone who has medication requiring refrigeration. You know, I can't wait to get mine!

Speaker 3:

Thank you, Tony, for sharing your experience. Next. I'm excited to have our community hear from Allyson Pocknett a Native American mother living in Massachusetts, among the People of the First Light, the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe. She works full time, has three adult children, five grandchildren, two dogs, and a cat. Needless to say, her life is full of activity. Welcome to the show, Allyson.

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Hi Pam! Thank you very much. Included in my very busy life is my diabetic son who travels a little participating in the annual Wampanoag Pow Wow and other Pow Wows around the country, especially during the summer season. The ICEBUDDY QOOLER and the QPACK would be ideal for him to have not only to put his insulin and other medications in to keep it cool and dry, but to have cold water easily accessible, and some healthy food items available while he dances in the hot sun all day and into the evening.

Speaker 3:

He would be able to bring the ICEBUDDY system with him on a plane or train when he is traveling and eliminate some of the stress of not having all of these much needed things in one place.

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My other son has been a Union Laborer for about two years now. During the summer season, he sometimes struggles with keeping himself hydrated, brings a big bulky cooler for water, a lunchbox with a sandwich and snacks in a backpack with a few extra clothing items. I'm thinking the ICEBUDDY system QOOLER and QPACK would fulfill all his needs in one container, if you will, for his entire work day. Oh my gosh! I could use the ICEBUDDY system when I take my one and two year old granddaughters to the park. I always need extra clothing items, diapers, water and snacks. Instead of having to take two separate bags, I could consolidate into the ICEBUDDY system and sometimes the toddlers are on medications that needs to be refrigerated. I wouldn't have to cut their time in half due to having to go back home to give them their refrigerated dose of medicine. Allison, I gotta thank you so much for describing all the ways you plan to integrate the ICEBUDDY system into your lifestyle. I want Thank Tony and Allyson for sharing their stories. You have now heard from a businessman and a mother. Each of these individuals are facing different challenges because of diabetes. However, they both see incorporating the ICEBUDDY as a way to make quality of life improvements. As I said earlier, there are 382 million people worldwide with diabetes and insulin is only one of the 100 medications that require refrigeration. Imagine how many people will be helped with ICEBUDDY who are taking the other 99 medications. Some of you are lucky enough to have insurance to cover your medications. So our next show we'll explain to insurance companies how ICEBUDDY can reduce their bottom line. Until then, Keep Cool and Carry On!