I’m not sure why you seem so upset, but I didn’t say anything about whether or not insulin loses potency if left unrefrigerated for months—my post did not address potency one way or the other. If insulin remains potent for many months unrefrigerated, then that’s great. I have only once used insulin (Apidra) that was unrefrigerated for several months, and whether the insulin was less potent or something internal cuased insulin resistance, it was definitely not working at keeping my blood sugar down and I tossed it after about a day and a half of using much more insulin than usual in corrections and still running quite high. I live on the west coast and we do not experience extreme hot or cold temperatures here, so I have no experience with that outside of brief trips where I’ve never had to bring more than two weeks of supplies. Thus, I have not had enough experience to discuss one way or the other how long insulin can remain potent unrefrigerated. If others have this experience and are comfortable recommending to people that insulin be left out at room temperature for months on end, go for it. I won’t say they’re right and won’t say they’re wrong because I can’t say either way.
So I guess you aren’t willing to take a shot of 50U of Humalog that’s been left out for a number of months? 
And I’m not upset. Just don’t like seeing myths perpetuated. Humalog or Novolog aren’t going to be useless in a few months, or even 1/2 strength. Bear in mind, I’m not speaking about those insulins exposed to temp extremes.
Also, I’m not referring to insulins I’ve not used, such as Apidra, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the official word on their longevity is similarly super-conservative. Its the nature of the medical establishment to err far on the side of caution–like changing lancets for each poke. Newbies and germaphobes may change lancets for each poke, but most long-term diabetics tend to learn that it’s a waste of time to do so.
Well, again, I didn’t say either way whether I’d be willing to do that or not… I don’t think it wouldn’t prove anything. If insulin lost 75% of its potency over six months, then that 50 units would still be like taking 12.5 units. I don’t know about you, but for me taking 12.5 units without eating a lot of carbohydrates or needing a massive correction would absolutely send me low. But insulin that’s only 25% potent has absolutely lost effectiveness when trying to run a normal basal rate and do normal boluses and corrections. (Note: I am not saying that it would or wouldn’t lose that much potency, just saying that taking 50 units and then going hypoglycemic would not prove that the insulin hasn’t lost potency.)
[quote]And I’m not upset. Just don’t like seeing myths perpetuated. Humalog
or Novolog aren’t going to be useless in a few months, or even 1/2
strength. Bear in mind, I’m not speaking about those insulins exposed
to temp extremes.[/quote]
I don’t understand how I perpetuated a myth when I didn’t even address the issue you’re talking about. I didn’t say that insulin would go bad after a month. I said: “Insulin is good for a month out of the fridge” (which is true), and: “a Frio […] wouldn’t maintain a low enough temperature equivilent to a fridge” (which is true), and: “If you want to make sure you can keep insulin cold for months on end without power…” There is nothing in there about potency or lack of potency. The discussion was a discussion of ways to keep insulin cold, not whether or not it loses potency if it’s not kept cold.
Your statement that “Insulin is good for a month outside of the fridge” implies (even if you did not intend it to) that insulin loses its efficacy after that month. Your post does not explicitly state this, but for better or worse, what is implied sometimes makes a bigger impact.
I don’t think anyone replying to you was upset per se. Passionate, maybe, but not necessarily upset. Unfortunately, there is something missing from texts, posts, etc.: tone of voice.
If there really is a serious enough EMP attack/war/natural disaster that has taken out much of the grid, you will need quite a lot of backup supplies–years even. There are people who have thought of alternative sources for insulin if commercial supplies become unavailable. This site: Make your own insulin – gather your equipment now | NC Renegades gives some historical precedent.
Now I’m curious as to just what is the efficacy of insulin beyond a month of non-refrigeration?
@Jim2 Purely anecdotally, but I can tell you that I typically buy my insulin in bulk (currently for insurance-related reasons, but at earlier times because I’d live outside the US for months at a time) and by the time I use any one bottle, typically I’d have had it for 3-4-7 months. (It is unclear how long before I purchased it it would have been produced.) I don’t think I’ve gone beyond that. But for those lengths of time at least, keeping the vials in their original packaging and in a cool, dark closet, I’ve never noticed ANY difference in how my Novolog works in my pump. Also, for what it’s worth, this was always done with my endocrinologists’ knowledge (three different ones over the years) and they never seemed concerned, knowing that I will not be using the multiple vials within a month.
@Dessito That’s good to know. It’s crazy, but it hasn’t been all that long that you were supposed to keep insulin refrigerated even after opening. I can remember having to warm up my dad’s insulin before giving him a shot. The FDA is ultra-cautious about things. I wonder if guidelines in Europe are more lax regarding insulin storage?