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Do you refrigerate your insulin after opening the vial/pen?
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error I said yes but read it wrong. no I never refrigerate after opening because it is used up before 30 days
I don’t want my insulin to degrade while in my pump, refrigerating the vial seems an easy way to slow that down.
Don’t have
Someone left a comment here that made me start keeping it in the fridge. I just fill the syringe for my Omnipod about an hour ahead to let the insulin get to room temp and put the vial back.
Inkeep my open Fiasp in the kitchen frig for easy access. I keep the rest of my 3 month supply in the (overflow/drink) frig in the basement.
It’s a matter of keeping my insulin all in one place. Makes it easy.
I always keep my insulin refrigerated, up until it goes into my insulin pump. I’ve been doing it that way for 46 years.
When left for college in 1970, I found no refrigeration available in my dorm. So I changed my ways and never went back.
I use ViVi caps which keep the insulin from heating or freezing after opening. I purchase them from tempra-med. And surprised to hear more T1D’s or people using insulin don’t know about them.
I refrigerate Toujeo but keep Humalog out.
Yes almost always. When it goes with me and I don’t have a case it goes in my Frio pack.
Watch out for hotel fridges. It can freeze. That happened to me recently. I would have been better off not refrigerating.
I have never refrigerated the insulin I am currently using. Been doing this since 1974. Cold insulin leaves bumps of insulin under my skin – no thank you!
Decades ago, I was told to keep my opened vial at room temp. Since cold liquids hold more air, this was supposed to minimize bubbles that can emerge in cartridges and tubing as insulin warms up.
I said other because I normally do not, since it should be at room temp. when filling an insulin pump. Though when I travel I do put my open vial in in an insulated cooler bag.
This needs to be separate questions for vials vs pens. You can’t refrigerate open pens but you can refrigerate open vials. I also put a sandwich baggie over the top of my open vial and secure it with a rubber and or zip tie before putting it in the fridge.
I meant rubberband. Autocorrect aagghh
Well, they’re different aren’t they. Pens are meant to be carried around with you, so when I was on MDI I rarely put the current one back in the fridge. Vials are not, so yes I always put them back in the fridge after opening.
I keep my Lantus in the refrigerator, but carry my NovoLog pen in my pocket in a TempraMed Insulin Pen protector. A Lantus vial lasts me a month (rather than changing each 28 days) and a NovoLog pen last about 2 1/2 weeks.
I only refrigerate the remainder boxes of my insulin pens not the one I am presently using
My answer depends on what type of insulin (I’m MDI): basil insulin from a vial always stays in the fridge, bolus insulin in my pen never does.
Generally no unless the temp inside is too hot.
During summer heat, I use a Frio gel pack using “evaporative cooling,” as it dehydrates. Have used them for years for a pump and then pens. They keep the insulin cool, but not refrigerated.
I have always refrigerated my insulin and continue to do so.
No valid reason to do so. I do not live in a sustained high heat region/climate/environment. Unless one does refrigeration is not necessary.