[kstreeter513]

While at a conference, I had my insulin in my pocket because I didn't want it to get warm in the car. We had to check out of the hotel by 11, but had to stay at the conference until 9pm that night. Anyway, back to my insulin. Since it was in my pocket, it was getting a lot of shaking I'm afraid. With moving around and going up and down stairs, I think my Humalog received a good amount of shaking.

My question is: Can shaking insulin decrease it's effectiveness. I ask because it seems like ever since then, I have had a great deal of unexplained highs. I don't want to throw it away because it is a relatively new bottle. Does anyone know anything about this? Or have I just been a little insulin resistant for the past few days?

[duck]

I believe I read once that shaking the bottle can actually break the chemical bonds in the insulin protein. Having said that, I know I have shaken the heck out of some bottles of insulin and never noticed any differences...

[Mich]

When I used to use "milky" insulins such as NPH, I was instructed to roll the bottle between my hands like a piece of clay to mix the crystals and the clear insulin. My answer would be no, I don't think motion hurts it.

I have had bottles go bad. Three to be exact in a LOT of years. All were either Humalog or Novalog. Two were from exposure to heat (one in my purse during lunch--I didn't notice it was in the sun) and one came that way from the store--a large volume drug store.

So it could be heat or it could be Jumbies (as they say in the Caribbean.)

Just my opinion, Mich

[RobiJo]

I'd say it's more likely than shaking, it could have lost it's effectiveness just by being too warm in your pocket. While shaking it may cause chemical bonds to be broken, I have a hard time believing you were doing enough moving around to shake it this much. If that were the case, the insulin in my pump would never work!

[JediSkipdogg]

I agree with RobiJo. I would place it more on the heat Ifrom the pocket. Depending on the insulin it starts to break down anywere between 80-86 degrees. A pocket in warm weather can easily hit those temperatures.

Like Mich pointed out, in the old days you have to mix NPH insulin otherwise it was pointless. So insulin being shaked would have to be alright.

[Cyborg]

The insulin in my pump is probably near body temp, 98.6 degrees last time I checked. And there's a whole lotta shakin going on...

[Stuboy]

i carry my insulin pens around in my pockets all the time and i havent' noticed any decrease in effectivness... if anything it would have thought it would shorten the life of the insulin, as in... it lasts 28 days at room temperature... perhaps keeping it in your pocket all day at a slightly warmer temp, it might not last 28 days... but then who's insulin cartridge lasts 28 days before running out? i know mine doesn't.

[fgummett]

ADA Insulin Administration page states:

If you're using intermediate- or long-acting insulin, roll the insulin bottle between your hands to mix the insulin evenly. Don't shake the bottle, as shaking can make the insulin clump together. Rapid- and short-acting (clear) insulin does not need to be mixed.

I'm pretty sure the shaking we are warned against is the vigorous shaking one might perform to mix to a bottle of liquid antibiotic for example... not the kind of gentle movement a vial might get in your pocket... unless you spend all day jumping up and down that is

[Subby]

Originally Posted by Mich

I have had bottles go bad. Three to be exact in a LOT of years. All were either Humalog or Novalog. Two were from exposure to heat (one in my purse during lunch--I didn't notice it was in the sun) and one came that way from the store--a large volume drug store.

Just wanted to second getting it already bad from the pharmacy. It has happened to me, at least once. Yep, it was a pretty "High volume" big-chain kind of place, I assume it was left out in the sun or on the heater or something. The 3 penfills I used over 5 days all seemed to work at about 1/3 effectiveness, before I went and bought a new batch from somewhere else, that immediately worked as expected.

[bryan42]

My insulin for one of my cats, cannot be shaken, it has to be rolled between your hands, and must be kept refrigerated. I was told if I dropped the bottle, it would be no good anymore.Im not sure if this is the same for yours, but it might help.

[kstreeter513]

I don't know what was wrong. Maybe a set was going bad or something but all seems to be well now (stllusing same insulin). Thanks a lot though to all who replied. You guys are really great at quickly responding to questions so necessary actions can be taken.

Appreciate it!