Insulin looks like gel....

[Dewey]

Had a bottle of Novolog that was out for a little bit...but, it wasn't too cold or too hot (at least, not to my knowledge). It had been out of the fridge for just over 28 days, but in my year of using this stuff, I've never seen it gel like up like this. It literally looks like gel. I'm going to the doc this week, so will bring it to his attention. My question is, has this happened to anyone else? If so, do you know why it did?

When a person who's using this stuff sees it gel up like that, it sure makes them wonder (especially makes me wonder what it's doing Inside the body)! It also makes me think...maybe I should go back to Humalog!? I still have a vial of that, and even though it's over a year old (& probably no longer potent), it's Still liquid (Not gel, like my Novolog)!

[Keezheekoni]

I've never had this happen, however a neighbor of mine noticed this happened to his whenever he kept the bottle on the counter and his wife boiled water on the stove, or it was an exceptionally rainy day. Was it really humid in your area today? I'm thinking maybe the humidity has something to do with it? I'd call Novo-Nordisk's customer service number and tell them about it. At least, you'll probably get a free bottle out of them. :D

[Dewey]

LOL....It's almost Never humid in Colorado....unless it's raining or something, and even then, not enough to warrant that. :eek:

I'm not sure what exactly happened to this bottle. I may do a little "experiment" where I keep another (1/4 full - almost empty) bottle lying about, and have another sit next to the fire or stove near the heat/cooking, etc (& yet another near a cold area). Don't worry, I'm not going to waste entire bottles! lol It will be interesting to see the results. It still does concern me though, because we're putting this stuff into our bodies....it should Never get that way, ever. I've heard it said that Novolog was less sensitive to heat. If that's the case, then why didn't the Humalog gel up & not the Novolog?? There are a bunch of questions that are running through my mind on all of this. Just some thoughts...

Another thought that has been coming to mind, is that my doctor told me not to use the breast region for pumping the insulin into (he made a comment about the possibility of breast cancer if that region is used alot, which further adds concern to users). I think that's directly related to M-Cresol (a preservative which, in high enough concentrations, can cause cellular changes), but that's for another topic/thread.

I could call Novo-Nordisk, but I'll ask the doctor first. Maybe he can hook me up in the meantime. :D He'd probably be elated should I choose to go back to Humalog, lol...but, I probably won't just yet.

[duck]

I would NOT use it, but I'm sure you know that. I would probably contact Novo and see what they do. I am almost sure they would like to know about this.

And dude--you live with Carwy. I wouldn't put anything past that guy...



:laugh:

[notme]

I have never had this happen to Humalog, but I would be interested in finding out why this happened to your insulin. Since I read in one of the other threads, your post about breast cancer, I have not used this site again. I have only done it about five times. I won't be doing that again. Too bad, it was a great site.

[Dewey]

I have never had this happen to Humalog, but I would be interested in finding out why this happened to your insulin. Since I read in one of the other threads, your post about breast cancer, I have not used this site again. I have only done it about five times. I won't be doing that again. Too bad, it was a great site.
Yes, I was surprised to hear that too, especially from my doctor. He had asked me which sites I used, so I told him....he then told me to stay away from the breast region and explained why, so I was quite shocked.

I may wind up going back to Humalog. In the past, I've had decent luck with it, except when I got it via mail order (through insurance) from Vegas. It seemed to lose potency, cause my sugars were always elevated from the mail order stuff (Ironically, I'd purchased from "Canada" - WA state, actually - and never had that problem with their stuff... :hmmmm: ). Perhaps I could switch back & just purchase vials locally through insurance? Guess I could always check. I'm just not too keen on the fact that the Novolog did that...:dontknow:

[BriOnH]

That's really bizzarre. I'll see if I can get some novolog to gel up to. Curious as to how this would happen. Near freezing temps is my initial guess, but will try some stuff out.

I don't think humidity could be a factor. The insulin is in a vaccuum and has no exposure to the outside of the vial, while it's in it. Unless the rubber has a semi-permeable property. That will be easy to test by filling an old cartridge with some novolog and putting it in water. 100% humidity.

[desert_reefer]

I've been on Novolog for 4 years and never saw anything like that, but now I want to see it, as long as my whole stock doesn't end up like that. Crazy!

[Dewey]

Here are two pics....they're not too clear, but I'll try to take some better ones later...In the meantime:

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b325/Dewey_B/GelVialNovolog2.jpg?t=1165522541http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b325/Dewey_B/NovologGel.jpg?t=1165522422

[duck]

Do you have a syringe? Draw some out...







(I'm telling ya, it has to do with Carwy and the Voodoo he does).

[andypoo]

That is really freaky ! I wonder if all insulin has done that? I mean Ive never noticed or anything,but then a person might not. See if you can draw it out, easily and squirt it out, easily and point it up in the air or onto the counter or table and see if it liquifys. I want to hear what you find out.