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How long can insulin last

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Adehem

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1.5 LADA
Hi guys,
I am on Novomox 30 insulin and a pen lasts me about 10 days so no issue. I have recently been put on a lunchtime Novorapid insulin. The nurse put me on 1 to 2 unit start, I am now on 3 to 5 dependant on what carbs or exercise I am doing. The thing is I am on such a low dose that the insulin is lasting much longer. The paperwork for it states:- During use keep it at below 30 degrees or in a refrigerator 2 to 8 degrees. You can keep it upto 4 weeks. I told the nurse and she said after 4 weeks I could put the insulin back in the fridge ( I keep mine in a cool drawer during use). I said I could not use it straight from the fridge, she said take it out for 10 minute to warm up. I don`t want to waste good insulin. Any advice - how long do you keep yours.
 
Adehem said:
Hi guys,
I am on Novomox 30 insulin and a pen lasts me about 10 days so no issue. I have recently been put on a lunchtime Novorapid insulin. The nurse put me on 1 to 2 unit start, I am now on 3 to 5 dependant on what carbs or exercise I am doing. The thing is I am on such a low dose that the insulin is lasting much longer. The paperwork for it states:- During use keep it at below 30 degrees or in a refrigerator 2 to 8 degrees. You can keep it upto 4 weeks. I told the nurse and she said after 4 weeks I could put the insulin back in the fridge ( I keep mine in a cool drawer during use). I said I could not use it straight from the fridge, she said take it out for 10 minute to warm up. I don`t want to waste good insulin. Any advice - how long do you keep yours.
Click to expand...
The exact wording on my Novorapid cartridge patient information leaflet is as follows in italics.

Novorapid Penfill that is being used or carried as a spare is not to be kept in a refrigerator.
So that’s Nurse wrong on the 'keep it in the fridge and take it out ten minutes before use'

You can carry it with you and keep it at room temperature for up to 4 weeks.

The implication, as I read it, is that it will begin to deteriorate and needs to be discarded at the end of 4 weeks, not put back in the fridge!
 
You need to get rid of insulin kept at room temp for 4 weeks. I would never use insulin straight from the fridge.
 
It seems very unusual to combine Novomix 30 with NovoRapid. The mix will have a combination of slow and fast acting, so will be overlapping it’s rapid to some extent with the rapid you are adding at lunchtime.

I wonder whether you could ask about a (more standard) basal:bolus regimen where you take a long acting insulin to cope with the glucose trickled out by the liver and a dose of rapid acting insulin tailored for any meals or snacks.

It would take some getting used to, but in the end I think you’d find it more adaptable and flexible?
 
I was thinking the same as @everydayupsanddowns , in it being an unusual combination, I strongly suggest you check this out , personally I would first speak to the Pharmacist at the chemist as they are the experts about medications, then take it from there.
Their would definitely be an overlap of rapid insulin in your mixed insulin and the Novorapid which could cause hypo’s.
I find the basal bolus regimen very adaptable, esp once I learned to calculate my units (doses) according to the amount of carbohydrates I am going to eat.
Telling you to put the in use insulin back in the fridge after 4 weeks, will not extend it’s shelf life

Personally I don't as I alway use a cartridge within 4 weeks but Some people do keep their rapid in the fridge and take it out to warm up before use.
Others here will know for sure but I believe the reason they say not to keep in use insulin in the fridge is It can take longer to start working and it can sting quite a lot if it’s used when cold.
 
With pens when I put the cartridge in I label it with the discard date on (28 days ahead). Once in use it is then kept out of the fridge (it really hurts injecting cold insulin). I then discard as per the date, with some left over as when I was using pens I was on tiny doses.

As @everydayupsanddowns has said they have given you a very unusual combination of insulin’s. It would be sensible o ask about using separate basal insulin and Bolus (Novorapid for example). This would be a lot more flexible, and enable you to eat when you want to.
 
Had @ thought I wonder if your nurse mistakenly thinks your Novomix 30 is a Basal (background) Insulin
 
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