My kitchen smells like Band-Aids

koblenz · #1 (**permalink**) 10-08-2004, 10:32 AM

OK, quick post to vent and laugh at myself...

Who here has dropped their vial of insulin on the kitchen floor when removing it from the fridge?

Well, I did it last night with my Lantus and KA-POWIE. It broke.

Luckily my pharmacy had some in stock and I ran out and got a new bottle, to the tune of $64.00 out of pocket. Ahhhhh, I am so mad at myself.... but yes, I know accidents happen.

After I confirmed I could get a new vial right away, my wife just laughed. I was so mad at myself for doing that... and she was so relieved we could get a new vial right away, she didn't care about the money. She said I looked pretty funny cleaning up the broken vial, the whole time cursing and mumbling explicitives under my breath... I imagine it was pretty funny.

OK, vent off.

lgvincent · #2 (**permalink**) 10-08-2004, 10:37 AM

I dropped and broke a vial of Regular one time. I was surprised at how sweet it smelled. I hope you'll consider getting a few extra vials in case something like that happens again.

HeatherP · #3 (**permalink**) 10-08-2004, 10:44 AM

I always keep mine in the box it comes in. That way there's some cushion when I drop them.

So Lantus smells like band-aids eh? Odd.

HeatherP

koblenz · #4 (**permalink**) 10-08-2004, 10:52 AM

The funny thing... it was in the box. That didn't help in my case. Just bad luck I guess.

I am going to look into getting a one extra of each and start rotating vials.

I also picked up a couple of the vial protectors online about a month ago. They work great for the Novolog bottle, but as the Lantus bottle is a good bit thinner, they don't fit around the vial.

HeatherP · #5 (**permalink**) 10-08-2004, 10:57 AM

Really? Wow.

Be careful about having more than one vial open. It goes bad after about 30 days. (at least for me it does)

nantomsuethom · #6 (**permalink**) 10-08-2004, 11:05 AM

Accidents happen, I am glad you can laugh about it (now).

Everytime Thomas changes his site we smell that bandaid smell! My daughter hates it and leaves the room for a while.

I like that vial holder protector. Where did you find that?

Heather, your insulin shouldnt go bad after 30 unless its open. I hope not anyway. Thomas always gets a 3 month supply when we order. We don't put the whole 200u in his pump so it ends up staying in the refrig. even longer than 3mo.

Nancy

HeatherP · #7 (**permalink**) 10-08-2004, 11:10 AM

I'm talking about the vial being open. You're using short acting insulin, I was speaking specifically about Lantus and that it has a "opened" shelf life of about 30 days and then gets unpredictable. Koblenz was talking about rotating vials which sounds like he was going to have more than one open at a time.

HeatherP

koblenz · #8 (**permalink**) 10-08-2004, 11:11 AM

On the vial protector, just Google: insure insulin vial protector

I got mine from amazon as I was ordering a few other things anyway. They work great for the Novolog size bottle. Don't know if humalog or other insulins use the same bottle size as Novolog. You get two to a package for about 6 bucks, one teal, one fuscha. They are pretty.

On the extra insulin vial issue, Yeah, I meant I was going to rotate the entire vial when I get a new one; not have multiple open at the same time. But thanks for looking out for me Heather, sometimes I am not so bright!

rzrbks · #9 (**permalink**) 10-08-2004, 12:53 PM

I know that HeatherP and several others are gonna SCREAM at me

but

I'm still working from a bottle of Lantus I opened on August 22nd

and B/Gs are just fine.

I've prolly got only several more days that it will be viable however.

nantomsuethom · #10 (**permalink**) 10-08-2004, 01:10 PM

rzrbks- Most pharmacists will tell you that you need to discard the vial after 30 days. I have a friend, that's a pharmacist, he told me as long as you keep it in the refrig. and it still looks good (no crystals) it is good until the expiration date.

rzrbks · #11 (**permalink**) 10-08-2004, 01:19 PM

I keep and use mine until my morning readings are in the high 90s/5s.

That way I can squeeze out 6-8 weeks from a vial of Lantus.

Two reasons for doing so:

1. We have No Insurance for Medical Prescriptions so we have to pay for insulin

2. I have OK from CDE and Dr. since the highest A1C Ive ever had was 5.7.

Keep in mind, I go to a pharmacy that receives the Lantus 'fridgerated, they keep it in fridge, and I have them take it straight from fridge and I put it in small cooler with ice until I get it home.

At home, it is out of the fridge Only, long enough to draw out nightly dosage. then back in fridge.

The Vial never has a change to warm up.

koblenz · #12 (**permalink**) 10-08-2004, 01:21 PM

Hmmm. That is interesting about it lasting more than 28 days. The pamphlet in the box says 28 days, the label my pharmacist puts on the box says 28 days....

If that "limit" did not exist, one vial would last me like 3 months. While I don't think I would push it that long, I may experiment and go a little longer than 28 and pay close attention to my BS numbers during that period. If I could go a little longer, that could save me a couple of hundred bucks a year. Every 28 days, I am throwing out like 3/4 of each vial (Novolog and Lantus).

I will have to ask CDE/Endo on next visit.

MarkMunday · #13 (**permalink**) 10-08-2004, 04:37 PM

Koblenz,

Throwing away all that insulin is a terrible waste! Have you considered switching from syringes to pens? Cartridges are half the size (1.5 ml) so you will be able to use most of the insulin before the expiry date. Novo make very nice pens and you should be able to get one free from your CDE. Aventis also supplies a Lantus pen.

Also try using the insulin beyond 28 days limit and see what happens. I haven't noticed a significant change in my bgls when doing this.

Cheers,

Mark

koblenz · #14 (**permalink**) 10-08-2004, 04:43 PM

I have not tried a pen yet. I am due to get a pump in the next several weeks, so no point in switching now (unless I am denied).

I discussed the Pen option with my Endo and CDE initially and they recommended against because I take fractions of a unit doses with a syringe (I am sensative). At the time, about 6 months ago, they were not aware of any pens that did 1/2 unit (or less) increments. So for the time being, they wanted me to stick with syringes.

I will try and stretch out my Novolog in the pump when I get it.

Shalyndria · #15 (**permalink**) 10-08-2004, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by koblenz
I will try and stretch out my Novolog in the pump when I get it.

If you're talking about trying to keep Novo in your pump for more than a few days (several at most) I wouldn't suggest it. The viability of insulin is preserved when it's kept refrigerated, but not so when in the pump as it is at room temperature for extended periods. Too much affect on the stability, which can affect potency and cause obstructions in the tubing and/or cannula. I was advised to change my reservoirs every four days (and that's pushing it, according to my CDE) and earlier in higher-than-normal heat. If your TDD is fairly low, then your best option is to either get a pump with a smaller reservoir, or not fill it completely.
Of course if you're talking about trying to extend the life of your refrigerated vials of insulin, then please disregard the above!

:p

Not only have I used insulin past the recommended 'shelf-life', but I also draw every last drop of insulin (with a syringe) out of the almost-empty bottles and add it to the new one. Used to do this with NPH too, which was probably not the smartest idea (as it can affect concentration) but I never saw any significant changes in BG's because of it. Waste not, want not

Shy