Insulin and refrigerators

[Sparkle]

Can you take insulin cartridges out of the fridge for 24hours or so (so they are room temp) and put them back into a fridge? Or cool bag thing?

My Diabetes Nurse says yes but wondered........

Novarapid and Lantus

[TAutry]

Sparkle,

I've done it when it was necessary to spend the night at the hospital with my father. I didn't have any problem with it, but I haven't made it a regular practice.

Travis

[Mick]

Quote from the ADA:

"If you use a whole insulin bottle in a month or less, keep the bottle you're currently using at room temperature. It will stay fresh for up to month without refrigeration, as long as its temperature stays under 86F. If you would rather keep all insulin in the refrigerator, make sure to warm up the insulin before injecting it. Cold insulin can make the shot uncomfortable. Opened bottles of insulin will keep in the refrigerator for up to one month."

Quote from Eli Lilly Co.:
Recommended Insulin Storage Opened In-Use* Insulin
Room Temp. (59°F to 86°F)

*In-use is defined as when the stopper or seal has been punctured with a needle, and should be stored at room temperature. In-use PENS should NOT be stored in the refrigerator.
The storage of insulin is a complex, highly regulated process. Eli Lilly and Company must comply with standards imposed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as well as standards established by other regulatory agencies, such as The United States Pharmacopeia (USP), both in the U.S. and abroad. Eli Lilly and Company establishes guidelines for storage based on the recommendations of the United States Pharmacopeia Dispensing Information (USPDI) as well as the Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products (CPMP: European Regulatory Agency). The USPDI states that an insulin bottle in use may be kept at room temperature for up to one month. The CPMP recommends an in-use vial of any aqueous preserved sterile product, which includes insulin, be used within 28 days. The reason is that the risk of germs getting into your insulin can never be fully eliminated. Lilly believes that storage recommendations should be the same no matter where you are in the world. Therefore, Lilly suggests that you throw away an in-use vial after 28 days.

They all seem to be saying that whether you refrigerate or not, one month is the lifetime of OPENED bottles of insulin, period. This is what I was always taught. I have NEVER, in 40 years of injections, stored my current opened bottles in the refrigerator. Never have had any kind of problem either.

Michael

[ang]

this isn't a problem at all with humalog and nph (insulins i've used, no experience with lantus, but i don't see a problem). i don't want to say anything concrete but i'm pretty sure insulins can stay out of the fridge for up to 30 days as long as it isn't exposed to extreme temperatures (above 30, i think). before i got my pump my humalog pen was never in the fridge since i tried to take it everywhere with me. just in case of a spontaneous snack or meal out. considering an insulin pump isn't refridgerated you know insulin has to be good for at least 3 days outside the fridge because it has to be in your pump. the little info sheet that comes in the box of insulin should have some information.

[Lorna]

I probably shouldn't do this, but I never keep mine in the fridge!

[Sparkle]

Sorry guys - think you've got the wrong end of stick here! Michael, I don't use bottles by the way! Cartridges lantus and novarapid. Gosh, don't think I could cope with bottles of it yet! :eek:

I want to travel with them out of a frio cool bag if poss (on hol) and then (when I get there and it's hot !) put them into a frio cool bag or fridge. I know insulin lasts 28 days out of a fridge BUT can you take OUT of fridge for a while and then put back in.....even just for up to the 28 day mark or less etc. Worried it may damage it going from cold to room temp then cold again./..

Sure it will be OK anyway.

[DeusXM]

It's perfectly fine to put insulin that's previously been at room temperature into a fridge - it doesn't damage the insulin at all.

[Sparkle]

Great thanks! :)

You can't be too careful!

[rzrbks]

Sparkle
Cartridges lantus and novarapid.

The very reason I switched to Opticlik pen for my Lantus---transportation problems are minimized.

So, between the Opticlik and the InDuo for my Novolog/Novorapid--I don't have to haul around a small freezer suitcase for my insulins. :thumbsup: