[Fred&CharlesFan]

Over the last few decades I have had at least 2 experiences of a vial of insulin becoming ineffective. Instances are rare, but have happened.

The question: has anyone else ever experienced a case of insulin ineffectiveness in the middle of using a cartridge.

This past weekend, a rough adventure in that neighbourhood, when I was about 1/3 through a newly filled 300ml cartridge, the insulin goes ineffective.
Checked all the basics: confirmed delivery with existing set & tubing, changed set & tubing. Correction boluses were not working. The last thing left was the cartridge contents. Installed a new cartridge from a new fresh vial. Bingo! Back on track. High BGs were dropping in under 50mins after taking another correction bolus with the "good" insulin.
The "bad cartirdge, however had been fine for Weds evening, Thurs. and Friday. I had noticed my numbers were off while I was at a Saturday conference (which I attributed to the lack of activity and food at the conference).

I had not exposed the cartridge / pump to radiation, excess heat, XRays, water, hot-tubs, steam baths or early spring Ontario skinny dipping!
The pharmacy and manufacturer are very interested to understand what went wrong. Humulog insulin.

Any similar adventures out there?

[Mich]

I had it happen for the third time ever last week. A bottle straight from the Pharmacy was bad. It had been handled exactly like all their other insulin according to the Pharmacist at the major chain pharmacy. The other bottles that were purchased at the same time were fine.

It's a mees-tur-ee. (I didn't bother sending bottle back.)

Mich

[Subby]

Yes I have had a few instances like this. It's another reason I like to use 3 ml penfills - to have a smaller amount "open" at any time, to be using a "fresh" penfill about 3x more often than a vial and to only carry around (and often waste) 3ml instead of 10ml as my emergency insulin.