Lantus user

[raymondmeyer7]

I am a long time user of daily shots of lantus insulin. One problem I have is having to keep it refrigerated at all times. I would like to know if I can skip a day withour any harm?
Raymond L. Meyer
raymondmeyer7@yahoo.com

[shockme]

hi raymond and welcome to df!skipping a dose is NOT a good idea!have you considered the insulin pen?i use lantus,with the opticlik pen.you only refridgerate the lantus cartridges you're not using.the cartridge of lantus in the pen stays in the pen.of course if it's super hot in the place where you keep it-you'e have to remove the cartridge and stick it i the fridge.why is keeping your insulin refridgerated a problem?take care,trish

[Olidus]

You mean you load the cartridge in your pen and leave it in the fridge between each shot?
How long have you been doing this?

I use Levemir and I simply leave my new cartridges in the fridge. The one loaded in my pen I do not leave in the fridge.

[frige]

You can store it unrefridgerated at room temp (below 80 degrees) for 30 days.

I used mine longer than that - 60 days at room temp, stored inside the dark medicine cabinet. Not sure if light makes a difference.

I also switched to the pen eventually. 300 unit cartridges.

Pumping now.
-john

[jen_slc]

You don't have to keep it refrigerated all the time, unless you want it to last longer (and I'm talking about vials here). Are you using the pen or a vial? It does depend on temp, though: I would not trust the insulin anymore if you left it out at 95F in the summer, even if it was just one day.

I used to carry my vial around at room temp in my UltraSmart monitor case, but I'd end up throwing unused insulin away because the activity started to wane after ~a month (it takes me 2-3 months to go through one vial). Plus, I live in a desert and it gets waaaay too hot to carry around insulin without cool protection. So I bought a Frio pack, and by keeping it cool I can go through almost the entire vial without any change in activity.

If it's something you're concerned about, I suggest looking into a cooling pack.

[xMenace]

I am conserned about what you mean by skipping a day. Lantus doesn't cover food intake; it covers your basal suagr release. This is a low level release that happens 24/7. If you skip lantus for a day, your BGs will likely skyrocket.

[Keezheekoni]

I think the OP means skipping refrigerating the Lantus for a day...not skipping the insulin.

If you skip refrigerating it for a day, that should be no biggie, unless you live in 90+ degree heat and don't have a/c. :)