Hey there
I was just wanted to know what’s the deal with keeping insulin cold. Does the stuff go bad if it gets warm I left it out left mine on my night stand last night. Can I still use it? This is all pretty new to me. Thanks for the help
Joe
It should be OK as long as it wasn’t over 86 F. You can also read the those papers that come in the box for more info. I keep mine (in use) on a table because cold Lantus hurts. LOL PS I also use insulin that’s been open (used) for over 28 days. I change my lancet about every 6 mos. or dull which ever comes first. LOL Me bad??
Dude, I just did a quick peek at your page. Hey small world I am in IE also, Highland. Me I was dx’ed aug./08 in ICU, you???
here’s a discussion called “refrigerate or not”
I keep mine out of the fridge after I open the vial. Sometimes i find at the end of using a vial (about 10 days) the effectiveness goes down a bit but not too much. I just try and protect the open vial from extremes in temp (like don’t lock my kit in my car on a hot summer day.)
Each type of insulin has different requirements but most insulin is fine at room temperature once open for about a month. It will expire after a month or so at room temperature. If you’ve been recommended to keep it in the fridge it’s probably because you don’t go through an entire bottle in a month (if this is the case I suggest you look into getting an insulin pen rather than the vial because there’s less in a pen and it’s much more comfortable to inject room temperature insulin, cold insulin tends to sting!). Also, any unopened insulin should be kept in the fridge until you need it (except of course when you’re starting a new bottle/pen, it can be removed once the old bottle/pen needs to be replaced.)
Hey there thanks for the heads up. Yes it’s a small world got to love the good old IE lol when you say you found out in the ICU you mean the ER right? That is how I found out was sliping into a coma due to high sugar. I saw this coming a mile away and just thought if I looked the other way it would miss me boy was I wrong!!! Just about died from it now I am trying to embrass it just very hard lots to grasp and my feet are killing me. I just got to make it two more months at the new job and I will have health care and I can go see a real doctor. I am so happy I found this site I was really feeling down and out about all this. Thanks for the answering my question.
Cheers Joe
I used to always make sure my insulin was refrigerated. Now I only refrigerate my unopened insulin. I have never had a problem with insulin going bad, even my Lantus that was opened more than a month (I had misplaced a vial for a while).
I did use Humalog that had been in the sunglass carrier of my car for over a year (through two summers). I wouldn’t recommend this but I was out of insulin, it was an emergency, and it was all I could find. I threw the bottle out as soon as I accessed fresh insulin.
What kind of Insulin was it?
NPH should always be refrigerated, but Novolog is fine at room temp. It’s recommended that it be left at room temp before putting it in my Omnipod, so i just leave it in my case all the time. I haven’t had any problems yet 
Did the Humalog from your car do anything?
Yep it kept me in check. I was surprised too because I had a few extra carbs. I figured I might as well give it a try what was the worst that could happen? It wouldn’t work. If I didn’t take it, it definitely wouldn’t work.
Yeah, the unopened Insulin should keep for months in the refrigerator. I think the throwing away after 28 days is due to possible contaminants, not the Insulin itself expiring. I keep my pens in my purse and they are fine.But even the vials can be at room temperature as long as you throw them away after 28 days or so.
Keith,
When I was on Lantus, I found it lost potency at 26 days & was totally kaput at 28 days. Now using Levemir (which doesn’t sting) that lasts for 6-8 weeks. I use my other insulins (Apidra & Humulin R) past 30 days.
I change lancets at 6 months or longer also:)