Basal insulin storage question...

[Diabetic-Canada]

A question for those of you who use syringes for your basal insulins. If you only give one injection every 24 hours, is it still fine to keep the vial of insulin out of the fridge? or should it go back into the fridge for the day?

[KickStart101]

I don't use one shot of basal a day but if I did I would still keep it in the fridge. No real reason not to. It does say on the box to refrigerate. If I was going somewhere about 3 hours 'til the next fridge then not a prob. If I was going more than that, then I would have a small, cool container to put it in. That is up to you though, I'm sure lots don't. :) I
just wouldn't take the chance of my Insulin going Blah while on a trip since I don't take double supplies with me and I'd be Royally peed off if my Insulin didn't work while I was on vacation and it was my fault. :(

[JediSkipdogg]

It is recommended to always keep it in the refrigerator mainly for the fact that heat drastically deminishes the potency of insulin. So if you leave it out and say your A/C dies in the middle of summer and you forget it's out, you could make the vial useless. As far as I know though, there are no insulins that MUST be kept cold yet.

[rzrbks]

Ok, OK.

I know it's supposed to be forbidden ( Looks around and makes sure no CDEs, PCPs, or Endos are listening) but, I could often stretch my vial of Basal(Lantus) out to 35 or 40 days (5 to 10 extra days) by taking it out of the fridge only long enough to draw out my daily dose.

A number of times, it actually lasted me more than 42 days. (keep in mind that I never, officially, made the above statement)

I did, however, start keeping a veryclose eye on it at day 28