+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 30

Old insulin better than no insulin?

This is a discussion on Old insulin better than no insulin? within the Type 1 Diabetes forums, part of the Diabetes category; I ran out of insulin a few weeks back while I was out of town, and couldn't get a refill ...

  • Increase Font Size or Decrease Font Size
    1. #1
      jjames is offline Banned I am a: Type 1
      Join Date
      Dec 2006
      Location
      Missouri
      Posts
      301

      Old insulin better than no insulin?

      I ran out of insulin a few weeks back while I was out of town, and couldn't get a refill on my insulin (without paying full price) because I had already refilled the week before. Anyway, I've decided to give a friend an extra bottle of insulin where I travel to on a regular basis in case I forget / run out of insulin unexpectedly, but started to think: if it's several months down the road - would the insulin still be any good? (We're dealing with an opened refrigerated bottle of Humalog.)

      Ideas? Opinions? Fact sheets?

    2. #2
      Stealthman80's Avatar
      Stealthman80 is offline Junior Member I am a: Type 1
      Join Date
      Oct 2007
      Location
      Ottawa, Ontario
      Posts
      34
      let me think here, I THINK 3 months after its been opened refigerated, I know it's 1 month out of the fridge

    3. #3
      Peggy is offline Junior Member I am a: Type 2
      Join Date
      May 2007
      Location
      Corpus Christi, Tx
      Posts
      95
      We get our insulin thru the mail, three month supply at a time, so it must be safe in the fridge for at least three months. But it would be better if it was unopened, I would think

    4. #4
      ant hill's Avatar
      ant hill is offline Senior Member I am a: Type 1
      Join Date
      Dec 2006
      Location
      Hastings Melbourne Victoria Australia
      Posts
      6,889
      Quote Originally Posted by jjames View Post
      but started to think: if it's several months down the road - would the insulin still be any good? (We're dealing with an opened refrigerated bottle of Humalog.)

      Ideas? Opinions? Fact sheets?
      As long it's been in the fridge it should be ok I would think. For me I have disposable syringes to get the last drop as I hate waste.

      Which reminds me to go to the pharmacy and get some novorapid.


      Peter...


    5. #5
      jjames is offline Banned I am a: Type 1
      Join Date
      Dec 2006
      Location
      Missouri
      Posts
      301
      Does anyone know if the potency just diminishes, or if it goes bad completely after 3 months or so?

    6. #6
      SharpTail's Avatar
      SharpTail is offline Member I am a: Type 1
      Join Date
      Aug 2007
      Location
      Canada
      Posts
      124
      I am sure if the vial has not been opened it will be good for a very long time. I would also think that a partially used vial if refrigerated would have an extended life. One thing you could consider if you can get it is a box of the Humalog pen cartridges. Each vial in a box with 5 I believe is 3 ml in volume rather than 10 ml (Ithink) with a regular vial. That way you are risking a smaller volume of insulin if it happens to go bad.
      Pat

    7. #7
      TenderVittleS's Avatar
      TenderVittleS is offline Banned I am a: Type 1
      Join Date
      Sep 2006
      Location
      Texas
      Posts
      387
      If it has been opened generally it lasts only about 30 days. After that the effectiveness goes way dow for me anyways. I wouldn't count on it IMO.

    8. #8
      cheryl's Avatar
      cheryl is offline Senior Member I am a: Type 1
      Join Date
      Jan 2007
      Location
      Tenessee
      Posts
      1,432
      When I was on shots my humalog was room temp.....and my bottle lasted me sometimes 2 and half months and trust me I got some lows still on it.....so I know it can keep for a while......I never noticed when I would get a fresh bottle versus the old bottle in blood sugars at all, I was stingy with my humalog when I was on shots, I still am but now it only lasts 6 weeks poo....

      Cheryl
      Don't know who I want as president, but I know I don't want to live like a communist....ENOUGH SAID.....

      March a1c 6.4
      Pumper 522 with Humalog

    9. #9
      BlueSky's Avatar
      BlueSky is offline Senior Member I am a: Type 1
      Join Date
      Sep 2006
      Location
      Lianyungang, Jiangsu, China
      Posts
      2,566
      Before we immigrated to New Zealand in 1997, I accumulated a big stock of Humalog because I knew that it wasn't available here at the time. I kept it in the fridge, and a year later it was still working fine. The only time I have had insulin lose potency is when it had been left out of the fridge.
      In my humble opinion



      Type1 since 1977
      MDI using Lantus, Novorapid and Actrapid

    10. #10
      jjames is offline Banned I am a: Type 1
      Join Date
      Dec 2006
      Location
      Missouri
      Posts
      301
      Quote Originally Posted by BlueSky View Post
      Before we immigrated to New Zealand in 1997, I accumulated a big stock of Humalog because I knew that it wasn't available here at the time. I kept it in the fridge, and a year later it was still working fine. The only time I have had insulin lose potency is when it had been left out of the fridge.
      Now that kinda answers my question. I think that even if it had less potency, and it were for a few days - it would surely be better than going without any. All agree?

    11. #11
      silverfrost's Avatar
      silverfrost is offline Junior Member I am a: Type 1
      Join Date
      Jun 2007
      Location
      Syracuse, NY
      Posts
      59
      Quote Originally Posted by jjames View Post
      Now that kinda answers my question. I think that even if it had less potency, and it were for a few days - it would surely be better than going without any. All agree?
      Definitely.

      I've also had Humalog pens in the fridge for over three months now. I don't remove a pen from the fridge until I'll be using that pen all the time, and then it's only out for 3 weeks or so. They all seem to be working fine for me still.
      -Jenny

      HbA1c
      May 2007 (@ Diagnosis): 15.9
      November 2007: 6.3
      March 2008: 5.5
      November 2008: 5.2


      Pumping with Minimed 522 Clear.


    12. #12
      JJM335 is offline Senior Member I am a: Type 1
      Join Date
      Oct 2007
      Location
      Scotland
      Posts
      617
      It depends on which insulin. In my experience Lantus is notoriously flaky, opened cartridges can go off if kept at room temp for a week or two. OTOH Novorapid/Novolog seems to be more or less bomb proof. I used to keep my pen in my jeans pocket all day every day (incubating nicely at body temperature) and never had a problem.

    13. #13
      JediSurfer is offline Banned I am a: Type 1
      Join Date
      May 2007
      Location
      The Shire
      Posts
      793
      Direct exposure to sunlight or UV rays is the main danger for insulin. Apart from that it will last ages. I have used stuff thats gone past its expirey date without realising for a couple of days and didn't notice any lack of potential.

    14. #14
      desperado's Avatar
      desperado is offline Junior Member I am a: Type 2
      Join Date
      Jul 2006
      Location
      Georgia
      Posts
      74
      I had asked my pharmacist this same question about Apidra and Lantus.
      He said as long as they are unopened and remain refrigerated the insulin should be good until the date on the box. He said thats how it comes to the pharmacy.
      As for opened boxes I have used Apidra and Lantus for 60 days as long as it is refrigerated , it still works for me
      Been out mending fences too long.......

    15. #15
      JediSkipdogg's Avatar
      JediSkipdogg is offline Senior Member I am a: Type 1
      Join Date
      Sep 2005
      Location
      Cincinnati, OH
      Posts
      8,843
      Most insulin has at least a one year shelf date. Insulin comes with "Use By" dates and while I'm not at home, I believe in my last shipment I got a vial or two that don't expire till Jan 2009. Again, it has to be refrigerated during that time to help it last longer and once it's "opened" then it goes bad alot laster.
      ●Blue Ash, Ohio Police Dispatcher
      ●Type 1 diabetic for 25 years (11 months old)
      ●Animas pumper since December of 2002
      ~IR 1000 (Dec. 2002 - Jan. 2005)
      ~IR 1200 (Jan. 2005 - Jan. 2009)
      ~Cozmo 1800 (Jan. 2009 - ?)
      ●Dexcom Seven+ since August 1, 2009

      Diabetes is an Art, NOT a Science. You must master the control by skills and not by knowledge alone.


    + Reply to Thread
    Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts