Back on the lantus

[Northerner]

Well, my levels outside of mealtimes/novorapid injections have started to creep higher over the past couple of days. I took 2 units of lantus last night, but it was from the cartridge I have had in the pen in the fridge, trying to keep down the waste. Obviously it hasn't worked because my levels are 10.5 prior to lunch after my 7.8 this morning so I decided to get a new cartridge and have some 'fresh' lantus now. The last lot had been originally taken out of the fridge on 29th April, so I guess I was pushing its expiry! I had used 6 units out of 300 😱

It does make me wonder why insulins don't have a longer shelf life, and (cynical old me) if it's engineered to expire in a month or so at room temperature so the companies can sell more of it 🙄

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Hi Alan,
sorry to hear you had to start the lantus again.
I seem to remember someone else experimenting with out of date insulin and they had worked out how much it had degraded over time. This way he knew how much extra! to use to counteract this. Not to sure I would like to take that risk though.
Even animal insulin is meant to chucked after 28 days, which like you I find a dreadfull waste. Hence I don't do it I just keep my insulin in the fridge and use until vial is empty. I haven't noticed any difference in control doing this.

 

[trophywench]

We were always told to use it from the fridge years ago weren't we? Not a prob, you just went into the kitchen and did your sole night-time jab standing by the fridge!

 

[Northerner]

Hi Alan,
sorry to hear you had to start the lantus again.
I seem to remember someone else experimenting with out of date insulin and they had worked out how much it had degraded over time. This way he knew how much extra! to use to counteract this. Not to sure I would like to take that risk though.
Even animal insulin is meant to chucked after 28 days, which like you I find a dreadfull waste. Hence I don't do it I just keep my insulin in the fridge and use until vial is empty. I haven't noticed any difference in control doing this.

I really wouldn't like to experiment like that, sounds so hit and miss! I had tried keeping the pen in the fridge, but maybe the two or three days it was out of the fridge (before I decided to put it back) was enough to trigger it's eventual decline. When I was getting the new cartridge I checked the date and I got it from the pharmacy in November 2011 have only used two cartridges in 7 months and even then thrown those away hardly used! 😱

I'm pretty sure it's only a temporary thing and definitely tied to doing less exercise and feeling a bit under the weather which goes to show how much my sensitivity is decreased by those two factors. My novorapid requirements have also increased again indicating that it is a lowering of sensitivity (plus covering lack of basal with NR until now).

 

[Pumper_Sue]

We were always told to use it from the fridge years ago weren't we? Not a prob, you just went into the kitchen and did your sole night-time jab standing by the fridge!

I was one of those that always had the 2 jabs, then when the Isophanes were brought in they were mixed in the same syringe.

Must admit to being very lucky my mum had brains and could work out the carb ratios even back in those days. Very hit and miss as no blood testing back in those days but I lived to tell the tale.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

I really wouldn't like to experiment like that, sounds so hit and miss! I had tried keeping the pen in the fridge, but maybe the two or three days it was out of the fridge (before I decided to put it back) was enough to trigger it's eventual decline. When I was getting the new cartridge I checked the date and I got it from the pharmacy in November 2011 have only used two cartridges in 7 months and even then thrown those away hardly used! 😱

I'm pretty sure it's only a temporary thing and definitely tied to doing less exercise and feeling a bit under the weather which goes to show how much my sensitivity is decreased by those two factors. My novorapid requirements have also increased again indicating that it is a lowering of sensitivity (plus covering lack of basal with NR until now).

The chap who did it kept very detailed records and put them on the net as well.
Like you though I would not like to do it that way either.

It does sound as if your body has decided to make a point about you having diabetes so back to the extra jabs it is

 

[Northerner]

...It does sound as if your body has decided to make a point about you having diabetes so back to the extra jabs it is

I'm back off it again now! I had taken it at midday but on the following day thought it better to take it at night like I usually do so decided to wait an see how things went. Lunchtime was OK, at 7.6 pre-lunch and when I really ought to have taken it as 24 hours had gone by, but decided to see how things went. Pre-tea was 6.0 and then before bed was 4.3. Ididn't fancy taking it when I saw that, and didn't want to jack my levels up just to cover the possibility I didn't need it (if you see what I mean!), so thought I'd give it a miss and see what the morning brought. This morning I was 5.5 🙂