Fridge freezing insulin! :S

[D_G]

I have a tempermental fridge, its a tiny thing with the freezer the size of a shoebox at the top which i always keep closed (well try to) So when our fridge is full its ok exept stuff at the back of it tends to freeze, which is handy for our meat and things as they dont fit in the top bit....i keep my insulin in the fridge door and up till now its been ok, well at least i think it has!!

My levels have been a little high recently for instance today i woke up levels were 10!😱 so gave myself more than enough insulin to bring me down and also had a low carb brekkie to compensate, well by 11am it still hadn't gone down and i have juct checked again before lunch and im still 9!!

So the insulin has done hardly anything despite giving myself 6 units of the stuff this morning which normally would send me right the way down

Is it possible it may have frozen and then thawed out again?? there is no way of checking just by looking at it!

I wonder if they do little fridges for stuff like this on the nhs or prescription or am i being silly??

 

[novorapidboi26]

Its possible I suppose..........................

I would keep trying it for another day, or two, just to make sure...........

Can you turn the freezer down slightly, or move the insulin down lower.......?

 

[Copepod]

The door of a fridge is the least likely place for anything to freeze, so that's unlikely to be the explanation.

Could be other factors such as the start of a virus.

Never heard of fridges on prescription. In fact, as insulin can survive at least 28 days at room temperature, it doesn't need to be kept in a fridge. Years ago, long before I had diabetes, a pharmacist friend went to considerable efforts, with no success, to get a fridge for a man to store his insulin and food, but the only suggestion from powers that be was to dispense insulin every 4 weeks.

Personally, I always keep insulin in a plastic sandwich box, so it can never touch the element, thus reducing chance of freezing.

 

[D_G]

The door of a fridge is the least likely place for anything to freeze, so that's unlikely to be the explanation.

Could be other factors such as the start of a virus.

Never heard of fridges on prescription. In fact, as insulin can survive at least 28 days at room temperature, it doesn't need to be kept in a fridge. Years ago, long before I had diabetes, a pharmacist friend went to considerable efforts, with no success, to get a fridge for a man to store his insulin and food, but the only suggestion from powers that be was to dispense insulin every 4 weeks.

Personally, I always keep insulin in a plastic sandwich box, so it can never touch the element, thus reducing chance of freezing.

Th thing is that when there is less food in our fridge...everything tends to freeze so it could have happened with the insulin as well

I know insulin lasts for 4 weeks out of the fridge but if it has already frozen its useless i think? I could go to the doctors every 4 weeks to get some i suppose and just leave it our of the fridge but then by the end of the 4 weeks there would be a heck of alot insulin left and it would all be wasted as i only go through probably around 2 cartidges a month.

NRB - Yes i have turned the fridge down and started a new cartridge so i will see what happends

 

[Northerner]

How about getting one of those really small fridges and keeping it in your bedroom? You might be able to get one off ebay nice and cheap. 🙂 Put one on your list to Santa 🙂

 

[Copepod]

Well, you really need to check your fridge thermostat. You should be able to see any ice crystals in your cartridges to see if it's frozen.

I wasn't suggesting getting insulin every 28 days and wasting lots, just explaining why my pharmacist friend was told her patient couldn't get a fridge free.

As Northerner says, fridges can be fairly cheap - or even free from Freecycle.

And consider virus as a reason for your insulin not reducing your blood glucose levels as much as you expect.

 

[D_G]

Well, you really need to check your fridge thermostat. You should be able to see any ice crystals in your cartridges to see if it's frozen.

No the fridge is at the correct temperature all the time, the problem is that our freezer is INSIDE our fridge so if its accidentaly left open or if there is hardly anything in the fridge, the freezer tends to freeze everything!

 

[Tezzz]

I would check the fridge with a min max thermometer. Mine varies between 3 and 6 degrees.

I also make sure the ice compartment is not covered in a build up of ice inside and out.

Are you going down with an infection?

If you don't trust your insulin could you borrow some insulin from the chemists?

 

[Copepod]

With that new information about your freezer compartment, I agree with Brightontez - check to see if the compartment needs defrosting, as any excess ice will mean the door can't close properly.

And do consider that you might be getting a virus, in addition to sorting out your fridge.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Was this a new cart this morning D_G?

(You should not keep insulin that you are in the middle of using in the fridge, it should only be used to keep 'spares' in good condition ready for use later)

Are there any other signs of freezing nearby or on the outside of the packaging (moisture/condensation as it thawed)

Keep an eye on BG levels, and see if ,

Insulin does lose effectiveness if frozen. If you think yours has you should probably replace your stock in the fridge (and do something about it to stop the same thing happening again...)

As for replacement fridge... is there a 'Freecycle' group near you? You might find there are perfectly servicable fridges up for grabs from houses that have had a new kitchen or whatever.

 

[D_G]

Thanks for all the suggestions and advice 🙂 sorry I should have been clearer about the freezer compartment being in the fridge lol

The insulin vial was new out of a new box in the fridge but hopefully I am getting all new ones from the chemist tomoro and I am going to store it in my sisters fridge until I get something sorted!

I put this on facebook and some of the suggestions I got from friends made me laugh....including someone suggesting I defrost it in the microwave, and another in a cup of hot water as that's what she does with her milk.....🙄 if only it were that simple ay!

As for a virus I shall keep my eye on my levels and if they return to normal ranges by tomoro when I get my new stuff I know it was the insulin