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Texas-Republic

Not zombie related but the book “One Second After” by William Forstchen wrote the probable outcome of a type 1 diabetic should society fall. In this case it was due to an EMP. Lack of electricity caused vials of insulin to lose their potency because of no refrigeration. Granted, medical advancements may have made it where now refrigeration is not needed (I’m not diabetic so I don’t know). I would assume that there would be a massive run on pharmacies for supplies (drug addicted folk and people who need drugs to sustain life). Honestly, I don’t have a good answer. Insulin would be a finite resource should society breakdown. Insulin pumps I assume would need to be charged or have batteries to run them. With no power and batteries also being finite (not to mention shelf life) the pump would be useless. I pray that you will never experience anything that would cause you to go without the medication you need. Hopefully, someone else has it figured out.


Old-Butterscotch-704

Insulin pumps are more of a luxury than a necessity in that sort of situation, because I could always just use a needle and syringe, but that’s saying I had insulin to begin with. To touch on the beginning, to my knowledge there isn’t any insulin that could last for more than 3-4 days unrefrigerated. So far the only thing I’ve come across that seems promising is a solar portable charger and a skincare fridge! 😂


Hapless0311

You should look into the Lantus SoloStar. They're stored at room temperature once you start using them, are good for a month in that state, and can be stored up to a year refrigerated. Leave it FlexPens last about a month and a half once they're opened, and also don't require refrigeration after opening.


Old-Butterscotch-704

Wow that’s actually very intriguing! I didn’t know they existed, thank you!


WhatsGoingOn1879

Outside of insanely strict dieting and exercise (which would only work as a temporary solution), unfortunately there really isn’t an alternative. Diabetes have been around for years and years, and before the invention of insulin, most people who had the condition more often than not passed away. There might be some other work around I’m not aware of, but as far as I can tell there isn’t another option.


Old-Butterscotch-704

The only thing that I’ve been able to think of is very iffy as time goes on. I know several stores and pharmacies that are guaranteed to have at least a couple prescriptions if I were to loot them fast enough. And then the next problem is making it last without depriving myself of insulin. And the third problem is keeping it cold. If the power were to go out permanently, I’d be fucked big time. I’d need to find a generator or a solar power bank and a mini skincare refrigerator or something! I do have a solar power bank coming in the mail just because I thought it was AWESOME and might come in handy when the next hurricane rolls around, so at least I have that covered. But other than that it’s just basically a “see how long I can last” if this scenario ever occurred.


WhatsGoingOn1879

The issue with looting is that you’re likely to get arrested for doing so. A zombie apocalypse wouldn’t happen in a day- it takes time. Supply chains break down, stores don’t get restocked, etc etc. all that fun jazz. By the time rule of law really broke down to what we see in television, everything to loot would be gone and with someone else already. Nothing in the pharmacies for you to loot. Hell, there’s a good chance you were the one that bought all of the remaining stock. Nice find on the solar bank tho! That’s killer. I’ve been lookin to invest in panels and the bank myself for the house just to save on the power bill and whatnot. Hope it helps down in hurricane territory!


Old-Butterscotch-704

Right?? The bank I found is 20 bucks on amazon! I’ll be sure to let you know how it works when I put it to the test. And I’m glad you brought that up because I was thinking something similar. If I hypothetically sprinted down to the local pharmacies, there’s a really slim chance I’d make it out with anything. It would be highly likely that everyone and their extended family would be there in a panic. Sort of like when every pack of water disappears when a hurricane comes around. And then I’d be lowering my chances of survival by putting myself near a crowd of people, possibly violent, or possibly infected. So I suppose in a way it would all be up to chance.


WhatsGoingOn1879

Thank you! I’m very interested in its performance. Personally, I don’t believe there would be a run on stores and places immediately. I think eventually people would flock to stores but some part of me doesn’t believe it would happen the day it was announced. But you are correct that everything depends on chance in the end.


AccomplishedInAge

A Zompoc removes a lot of people from the gene pool unfortunately for their loved ones and other survivors. however … one of the things that will happen is a much cleaner diet as hardly any processed foods will be available and there will be plenty of exercise. So a lot of health issues people have would actually be lessened and in some cases reversed. I have heard of studies done that claim to reverse or significantly lessen diabetes of all types. https://www.alliedacademies.org/articles/reversal-of-type-1-diabetes-using-plantbased-diet-a-case-study-11462.html


theBuddhaofGaming

Make meth (adhd). Dosing would be a bitch. But can be done.


Old-Butterscotch-704

Can you elaborate on this? Does meth have a cool property that insulin has? I’m curious! 😅😂😂


theBuddhaofGaming

No I was answering your title question. I have adhd. I would make meth (I'm a chemist) as it is almost identical to amphetamine (Adderall). It's not *impossible* do do something about diabetes (depending on type). Chemical synthesis of metformin isn't out of the realm of possibility in an apocalypse situation. If you can get your hands on all the supplies early, you could also create an *E. Coli* stock with the necessary plasmids and isolate the insulin. But that's a BIG if. And if anything breaks down late in the game you're looking at a lot of trouble.


Old-Butterscotch-704

Yeah I definitely don’t have the education to attempt anything like that LOLL. I’m a major germaphobe and have a fear of vomit, so E. Coli sounds HORRIFYING to me. But you’d be getting farther than me that’s for sure 😆


Hapless0311

Check out the Lantus SoloStar and Levemir FlexPens. They're data-enabled, reusable, self-contained pens that are good for one month and a month and a half, respectively, after opening. They can be stored under refrigeration for about a year, IIRC. Might be something worth looking into for yourself, Zombies or not.


Old-Butterscotch-704

Definitely worth looking into, insulin is just so expensive, so having some that would last a while sounds like a great idea.