If you take insulin, you don’t want to add stress to your everyday routine by worrying about maintaining your insulin supply. But to ensure that insulin is used effectively, it’s crucial to keep it at the proper temperature. Do you, therefore, chill insulin?
Most medications, including insulin detemir and insulin glargine, last 42 days if stored at the recommended temperature. However, if your insulin has frozen, read this article to know how to deal with it. Usually, frozen insulin occurs when the medication is left in the car under the A/C, or it may have been in a very cold climate. You can also find tips on how to store these medications in the fridge.
How Long does Insulin Last in the Fridge?
Insulin should generally be kept in the refrigerator. However, insulin can be stored at room temperature, so it doesn’t need to be in the fridge for roughly 28 to 30 days. Insulin should be kept in the refrigerator for up to one month at 36 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit.
Due to the rising diabetes prevalence in the USA, insulin is widely used. Because of this, many people have long been concerned about using and storing insulin properly.
First of all, insulin is sensitive to extremes in temperature. As a result, it is always advised to keep all of your insulin supplies in the refrigerator.
How to Properly Store Insulin?
Insulin usage is a necessity for those with diabetes. For insulin to continue usable by individuals who require it, it must be stored as instructed. To ensure proper insulin storage, heed these recommendations.
Remain Calm
Insulin should be kept in a refrigerator between 36°F and 46°F, according to the product labels from all three American insulin producers. Avoid freezing the insulin if you’re using ice. Insulin that has been frozen should not be used.
Recognize the Expiration Date
Insulin that has not been opened and is kept in the temperature ranges mentioned above keeps its potency until it expires.
Opened or unopened vials or cartridges of insulin from the manufacturer can be kept at a temperature between 59°F and 86°F for up to 28 days without refrigeration and without losing effectiveness. However, any insulin diluted or removed from the manufacturer’s original vial should be thrown away within two weeks of the alteration.
After 48 hours, insulin in the infusion set of a pump device (such as the reservoir, tubing, and catheters) should be thrown away. A pump device’s infusion set should not contain insulin exposed to temperatures above 98.6°F.
Avoid Temperature Extremes
When exposed to high temperatures, insulin loses some of its efficacy. The insulin is less effective the longer it is exposed to high temperatures. Over time, this may lead to a loss of blood glucose control. Keep insulin out of the sun and away from sources of extreme heat.
You might still need to take insulin that has been kept above 86°F in an emergency. The insulin vials subjected to these harsh circumstances should be thrown away when properly stored insulin is once again available.
Which Products are Used for Storing Insulin?
Along with the rapid development of new insulins, safer ways to store insulin have also improved.
Three such items have emerged, offering distinctive and straightforward ways to bring insulin products with you, whether you’re going on a long day or a long journey.
When it comes to medicines that have to be preserved at specific temperatures, MedAngel is a helpful “smart thermometer.” You keep it next to your insulin, and if the temperature veers out of range, an alarm will be sent to your phone. It’s fantastic that you may alter your prescription’s temperature range.
Insulin products appear to be kept at a more constant temperature when using Frio Cooling Packs, which can last up to five times longer than ice packs. They come in several designs and colors, have a long lifespan of up to 45 hours, and are simple to store and use. According to the instructions, they must soak in water before usage.
Insulin pens can be cooled with the Vivi Cap. Instead of the cap, it easily clicks onto an insulin pen, and with the push of a button, it begins to retain the insulin at the right temperature for however long you need it to. There’s no need to prepare or use ice packs. The device can be used for as long as the battery lasts.
What is the Best Way to Handle Frozen Insulin?
Insulin rarely freezes unless it is cold outside; you purchased the supplies on a cold day, were left outside for a long period, or left them in the car with the air conditioner on.
The results of a study presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes meeting in Berlin suggested that unexpected temperature changes could occur in household refrigerators. As a result, when storing insulin in the fridge, check that the temperature never drops below the freezing point.
Consider keeping a thermometer in the refrigerator and checking for a stable temperature of 39° F (or 4° C).
First of all, if the insulin is frozen, you won’t be able to inject it. Second, even after thawing, avoid using insulin. Don’t utilize any insulin that becomes frozen to you at any stage.
This is so that the insulin won’t be destroyed by freezing temperatures (above the recommended refrigerating temperature). Therefore, insulin will not effectively lower your blood sugar levels. Therefore, throw away the frozen insulin and replace it with new supplies. We can help if you are having financial difficulties paying for your insulin. Visit this page for further details on that.
How do Refrigerating Conditions Vary Depending on the Type of Insulin?
It’s crucial to remember that these refrigeration temperatures can change based on various elements, including brand, type, and even whether or not insulin is being used.
For instance, an unopened disposable insulin pen can be stored outside at room temperature for four weeks at temperatures below 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius). And until it expires, it must be refrigerated at a temperature between 35.6 and 46.4 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees to 8 degrees Celsius).
No matter what temperature it is stored at, a used disposable insulin pen has a maximum shelf life of four weeks. Therefore, it’s crucial to remember that refrigerating won’t increase insulin’s effectiveness or prolong its shelf life.
It is stated that rapid-acting insulins spoil more quickly than normal insulins when it comes to kinds. In contrast to normal and NPH insulin, rapid-acting insulins like Novolog and Humalog spoil more quickly. It is always advised to store these insulins under refrigeration as soon as possible or from the beginning. Always visit your doctor if you have any questions.
How can you Know if your Insulin is Bad?
There are two ways to determine if your insulin has expired.
Visual Inspection
Visual inspection is the first technique. It’s probably not safe to use if it contains clumps or what appear to be small “strings” in it. Don’t use insulin if it appears foggy or discolored in any way.
If insulin has become contaminated, it can be seen visually.
The majority of insulins are clear, colorless liquid medications that resemble water. You can typically detect if your insulin pens, cartridges, or vials are no longer effective by visual inspection. Never use the insulin that doesn’t appear to be insulin. It has gone bad if you see a color change, if it appears hazy, or if you find clumps, strings, or frost inside. Throw it out right away.
Unexpectedly high blood sugar levels are a second sign that your insulin is not functioning properly, as was already indicated.
Can you Still Use Insulin After the Expiration Date?
The only time you should use expired insulin is if you have no other choice, which is not advised.
It is impossible to predict how well, or even if at all, expired insulin will function because the effectiveness of insulin deteriorates over time.
The fact that insulin has two expiration dates makes it a little unusual; the first is the date by which it will no longer work if it is kept at the right temperature and unopened. The manufacturer recommends that insulin be used up by the second expiration date if it is kept at room temperature and opened.
Check both dates if you want to know if your insulin is safe to use.
What Happens if you Use Expired Insulin?
When insulin is not functioning properly, it is comparable to when you receive a diabetes diagnosis and your pancreas is not creating enough insulin to meet your body’s requirements.
The rate at which blood sugar levels rise starts to increase. When your blood sugar levels increase, and you’ve ruled out all other possible causes, such as illness, dietary or exercise changes, or new medications, you may begin to worry that your insulin may have become faulty.
You can be sure that your insulin was damaged when you switch to a new vial or pen, and your blood sugar levels “magically” return to normal.
It’s critical to remember that insulin can expire before that date. This only rarely happens. If you feel your insulin isn’t functioning as well as it should, try switching to a fresh vial or pen.
IGF-I, or insulin-like growth factor I, has the potential to be used in the treatment of osteoporosis since it is a strong stimulant of osteoblast proliferation. IGF-I, however, impacts many organ systems. Thus, it’s not apparent if a medication can promote bone growth without having unfavorable side effects. To assess treatment effects, we gave 18 postmenopausal women sc injections of recombinant human IGF-I at different dosages (30, 60, 120, or 180 micrograms/kg/day) for six days. During treatment, serum IGF-I concentrations increased by two to four times.
Conclusion
If you have diabetes, you should check your insulin’s expiration date to ensure it is not too old. The expiration date is stamped on the pen or vial. If you find a later date, discard it immediately. Never use the insulin that is older than the expiration date. It is best to consult your healthcare provider for advice. This is especially important if you don’t have health insurance or are paying for the insulin out of your pocket.
The insulin lispro product that you purchase should be clear and colorless. It should not be cloudy or contain solid white particles. If you find any of these, do not use them. It is also important to check the expiration date on the label to ensure that the product is safe to use. The product should be refrigerated after purchase and last for at least two weeks. If it is not in this condition, do not use it.
