Fridges often store insulin at wrong temperature, people with type 1 diabetes are warned

Status
Not open for further replies.
Northerner

Northerner

Admin (Retired)
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Insulin is often stored at the wrong temperature in people’s fridges, according to research presented at Europe’s largest diabetes research conference.

To preserve its effectiveness, insulin should be kept between 2-8°C in the fridge, and between 2-30°C when carried around by a person, for example in an injection pen.

These results were presented on a poster at EASD 2018 and the full results are yet to be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

https://jdrf.org.uk/news/insulin-is...people-with-type-1-diabetes-are-being-warned/

Must admit, I have no idea what the temperature in my fridge is, although I've never been aware of any problems with my insulin so it must be about right! 🙂
 
Northerner said:
Must admit, I have no idea what the temperature in my fridge is, although I've never been aware of any problems with my insulin so it must be about right! 🙂
Click to expand...
Same here Northener re temp in my fridge. I have had a couple of probs with insulin but think it was more to do with conditions it was kept in before I recieved it as it was at room temp when it was delivered by the pharmacyand didn’t have a fridge item label on it
 
Ditto - have often thought if I ever saw a fridge thermometer at a reasonable price, size etc (cos there's not much room on that door shelf, perhaps I out to invest in one? But there again I've not looked for one yet LOL
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ljc
trophywench said:
Ditto - have often thought if I ever saw a fridge thermometer at a reasonable price, size etc (cos there's not much room on that door shelf, perhaps I out to invest in one? But there again I've not looked for one yet LOL
Click to expand...
I’ve got a cheapo one in the freezer no idea why as I seldom look at it 😱 but for the fridge I’ve never thought it necessary as it’s seems cold enough in there to me, brrrrr .
 
That is worrying for another reason. If it's the wrong temperature for insulin, then it's the wrong temperature for food as well!
 
When my daughter was a baby we put her bath thermometer in the fridge overnight, and it was reading a pretty constant 4 degrees, so hopefully our fridge is about right! She wasn't diabetic then, it was just pure curiosity!
 
My fridge tells me what temperature it is (I’ve checked it, and it’s accurate). Currently set at 4 degrees.

So does the freezer, currently at -19.

Mind you, I’d expect it to be accurate. American style, cost just short of a grand. Almost completely silent, which is vital in an open plan kitchen/lounge.
 
Last edited:
It’s what happens between factory of manufacture and your fridge that concerns me. How can a postman keep it at that temperature in his bag from these schemes get your script delivered. Then the hours it’s sat on your hall floor when you are not in.
 
if you measured your fridge on the same basis as this trial, you would probably see similar variations. Auto defrost fridges heat up the condenser plate and so will raise the fridge temp. Also opening the door will do similar. the time it takes to recover will depend on the fridge's efficiency. if you want to check your fridge you will need to get an external thermometer.
 
In my fridge the freezer is entirely separate, and that is the only frost free element. I don’t keep insulin in the freezer. The fridge (and the freezer) sound an audible alarm if the doors are open long enough to affect the internal temperature. That’s quite enough to reassure me about insulin storage.

I do realise that most folk are unable to afford this kind of kit, of course, but I certainly won’t be buying an external thermometer. It’s probably better than the pharmacy fridge.
 
I would hope nobody puts insulin in a freezer.
I was speeking from experience of running a b&b where you have to record fridge temp twice a day, so an external thermometer is a must, and only costs about £9. Fridges have zones where the temp varies, so the door shelves will prbably be warmer than the internal shelves. The door alarm works by detecting the door proximity and a timer, it had nothing to do with temperature, also you will find the door can be not quute shut and it wont be detected as open, i've had my freezer partially defrosted with a bag of chips. P. S. I have a Samsung American style with electronic thermostats. But old style or cheap fridges(esp. Under counter fridges have mechanical thermostats) are notoriously innacurate).
 
I don't know how accurate the baby bath thermometer was either, it was a digital one that could also be used as a room thermometer. However I've never had any insulin go off so I'm not going to worry about it!
 
Hi I am a retired electronics engineer and have been using a "Maxwell" thermometer senser and it shows in the fridge from 4' to 6' and keeps it at that temp. The system costs are quite high but well worth it?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top