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| Categories: Additional article for Therapies |
| Additional article for Therapies | |
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Do I always have to store my insulin in the refrigerator?
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As already mentioned on on our homepage, insulin is a hormone. And as such it has to be treated like a protein, although it is produced synthetically:
- Your insulin supply should be stored in the refrigerator between +2 and +8 °C. Usually the compartment for vegetables should be sufficient.
- Insulin which is already in use should not be put back into the refrigerator. This insulin has to be kept in room temperature because the effect of cold insulin is weakened and it might cause pain when injected. Moreover there is no need to be afraid that it will be spoiled. In normal room temperature it can be kept for 1 or 2 months.
- Avoid heat. Like all hormones, insulin cannot bear temperatures over 45 °C. If temperatures rise, you better keep it in a cooling bag. In case you should notice white flakes in the insulin, it is denatured (temperatures have been too high) and can no longer be used.
- The same caution should be taken concerning cold. Insulin is an extremely cold-sensitive substance. If you are going on winter holiday, you better carry your pen or your pump as close to your body as possible. If the insulin is frozen once, it is spoiled.
- Now here an advice for diabetics using a pump: If you change the ampoule, do not forget to warm it up between your hands. A lot of people do forget that the pump is giving insulin every few minutes and that it can be quite painful if it injects cold insulin. A further advantage: the electronic system is conserved as it is not resistant against cold.
- Nowadays insulin can be kept up to 2 years. Please be aware of the expiry date imprinted on the packaging. Your doctor will take away lapsed insulin for you.
- From my own experience I can advise you that you should not use rest insulin from a pen in a pump. The rubber of the pen can easily be twisted. The insulin pump will misinterpret the increased pressure as a catheter blockade.
Translated by Jella Eifler
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