Insulin storage

[Seamsamp25]

Hello all, once in use, must insulin stay out of the fridge? Please don't be rude, we are learning.

 

[Robin]

Hello all, once in use, must insulin stay out of the fridge? Please don't be rude, we are learning.

I’m sure nobody would dream of being rude, if you’re asking something, it’s because you don’t know the answer, and someone on here might!

Short answer is, once taken out and in use, it doesn’t need to go back in the fridge, also, injecting cold insulin can be uncomfortable. BUT, if the weather is very hot, and you’re worried about the temperature inside your house, you might want to give it a bit of respite in the fridge, and it won’t come to any harm.

 

[Seamsamp25]

I’m sure nobody would dream of being rude, if you’re asking something, it’s because you don’t know the answer, and someone on here might!

Short answer is, once taken out and in use, it doesn’t need to go back in the fridge, also, injecting cold insulin can be uncomfortable. BUT, if the weather is very hot, and you’re worried about the temperature inside your house, you might want to give it a bit of respite on the fridge, and it won’t come to any harm.

Thank you Robin, our severely autistic son (26), was diagnosed in April; he is essentially a child and an angel. We have been injecting insulin that has been stored in the fridge and now we feel awful. It has been a whirlwind, we are smart people but we realised our mistake today.

 

[Robin]

Thank you Robin, our severely autistic son (26), was diagnosed in April; he is essentially a child and an angel. We have been injecting insulin that has been stored in the fridge and now we feel awful. It has been a whirlwind, we are smart people but we realised our mistake today.

Don’t feel awful, no harm done, it might just have felt a bit noticeably cold when going through the skin. I often forget to take a new cartridge out of the fridge before I need it, and all I think is, Oh, that felt a bit cold!

 

[Seamsamp25]

Don’t feel awful, no harm done, it might just have felt a bit noticeably cold when going through the skin. I often forget to take a new cartridge out of the fridge before I need it, and all I think is, Oh, that felt a bit cold!

We are travelling to the US and will be there for a number of weeks; we are cataloguing our supplies, there is a fear we will run out. So, insulin stays out once in use but the new cartridges stay refrigerated? Thank you for your reassurance, we want to make sure he is comfortable and well at all times.

 

[Robin]

We are travelling to the US and will be there for a number of weeks; we are cataloguing our supplies, there is a fear we will run out. So, insulin stays out once in use but the new cartridges stay refrigerated? Thank you for your reassurance, we want to make sure he is comfortable and well at all times.

Yes, new cartridges stay refrigerated, but it isn’t going good them any harm if you have to take them out while in transit, and put them in a fridge as soon as you get there.
Word of warning, check the temperature of the fridge! I went to the US once and nearly froze my insulin in a malfunctioning hotel fridge. I took my picnic stuff out next morning and realised the ham had frozen solid, but luckily because I’d left the insulin in its box, with the instruction leaflet cushioning it, it was sufficiently insulated not to have got too cold.

 

[Seamsamp25]

We are taking a fridge thermometer with us, we are very organised at the best of times with his other medicines but this is another level for us.

 

[SB2015]

If you are going to USA for less than 28 days it won’t matter if the insulin is out of the fridge for that time. I had a similar incident as @Robin with a poorly functioning fridge in our room freezing the insulin. We had to replace it all, but that was covered by the insurance and a very nice doctor whose child had T1, understood what I needed very quickly and would not charge me for the prescription. We still had to pay (a lot ) for the insulin. I now put the cartridges/vials in a soup flask and label the flask. I then put the whole flask in the fridge, and hope that the flask protects it from any variations. Good thinking on the fridge thermometer. A good idea as a safety precaution. When you are away

For your trip the general advice is to take twice the amount of supplies that you would usually use, and make sure that you have spare everything. You probably won’t need them (but the time you don’t take the extras is when you will need them!!!)

If I forget to get out new insulin before it is needed, I just put it in my armpit to warm it up before I then use it. It doesn’t take long to warm it and avoid it stinging a bit.

I hope that you have a great trip and look forward to hearing how it goes.

 

[Seamsamp25]

If you are going to USA for less than 28 days it won’t matter if the insulin is out of the fridge for that time. I had a similar incident as @Robin with a poorly functioning fridge in our room freezing the insulin. We had to replace it all, but that was covered by the insurance and a very nice doctor whose child had T1, understood what I needed very quickly and would not charge me for the prescription. We still had to pay (a lot ) for the insulin. I now put the cartridges/vials in a soup flask and label the flask. I then put the whole flask in the fridge, and hope that the flask protects it from any variations. Good thinking on the fridge thermometer. A good idea as a safety precaution. When you are away

For your trip the general advice is to take twice the amount of supplies that you would usually use, and make sure that you have spare everything. You probably won’t need them (but the time you don’t take the extras is when you will need them!!!)

If I forget to get out new insulin before it is needed, I just put it in my armpit to warm it up before I then use it. It doesn’t take long to warm it and avoid it stinging a bit.

I hope that you have a great trip and look forward to hearing how it goes.

Thank you both for the great advice, we have also sorted out our travel insurance and are well and truly covered.

 

[SB2015]

Thank you both for the great advice, we have also sorted out our travel insurance and are well and truly covered.

Now simply enjoy the trip.

 

[Lucyr]

So, insulin stays out once in use but the new cartridges stay refrigerated?

They don’t have to be refrigerated, they’re fine out of the fridge for a month. So if you’re just going for a couple of weeks the insulin is fine all being out of the fridge for that time, then put it in the fridge when you get home and it can still come out for another couple of weeks.

There’s not a problem with keeping in use insulin in the fridge it’s just not necessary to keep it there. It might feel a bit cold when injected but it won’t be painful. You’d have seen it in his reaction if you were hurting him.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

When I take spare insulin to places where there isn’t refrigeration (eg camping) I use a Frio (which uses evaporation to keep insulin relatively cool) I mark the boxes of the spares so that I remember they’ve already started using up their 28 day ‘out of fridge’ allowance.

Enjoy your trip, and remember to pack at least 1.5x the amount of supplies you estimate you would normally need.

 

[SimonP]

I'll add that injecting cold insulin isn't particularly uncomfortable, so don't worry. I spent 25-odd years injecting about 50 units a day of insulin which was stored in the fridge all the time. No harm done (I don't think 😉)

 

[helli]

I'll add that injecting cold insulin isn't particularly uncomfortable, so don't worry. I spent 25-odd years injecting about 50 units a day of insulin which was stored in the fridge all the time. No harm done (I don't think 😉)

I think sensitivity to cold insulin varies.
I find it very painful and avoid keeping in use insulin in the fridge.
Now I have a pump, I make sure I have a new vial out of the fridge the day before pump set change.

My advice would be to avoid injecting straight out of the fridge.
It might not hurt but, on the other hand, it might hurt and there is no reason to risk it.