Has your insulin ever frozen? Tell us how you handled it in the comments!

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- 5 minutes ago
  
  Janis Senungetuk likes your comment at
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  The resources I use in managing my glucose levels once sick is my own personal experience after living with t1d for 46 years
- 5 minutes ago
  
  Janis Senungetuk likes your comment at
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  Just did what makes sense to me- eating less carbs, watching blood glucose more often and taking corrections as needed. Also some level of activity if possible.
- 5 minutes ago
  
  Janis Senungetuk likes your comment at
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  Been type 1 since the early 80's learned self management as therapies changed. Unless hospitalized(which I never am anymore) I decide how much insulin to put in my body based on my on going experience with the 1000's of reasons I may need more or less of it. I do love my pump, insulin and CGM so I guess I have to tell the doctor what I do once a year. .. I just keep throwing info and facts he isn't up on till he gets a glazed over look on his face and writes my scripts. I find the most inconvenient part of diabetes is all the people that want to help but don't know much about everyday life with the disease. And NO I do not want to join a discussion group!
- 8 minutes ago
  
  Janis Senungetuk likes your comment at
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  Many times I have needed to adjust insulin intake amount in order to cope with illness, but only rarely needed outside help. In the early 1970’s I made some mistakes managing influenza. My BG went very high (no meter available for testing at home), and I ended up in the hospital then.
- 9 minutes ago
  
  Janis Senungetuk likes your comment at
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  Except for those brand new at this, we all know the drill. We know that we need to be flexible, make adjustments, and pay attention.
- 10 minutes ago
  
  TEH likes your comment at
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  only time that I have been sick was when I got COVID during Jan '22. my sugars were going crazy high and I couldn't understand why but when I tested positive for COVID, in retrospect it made sense.
- 10 minutes ago
  
  TEH likes your comment at
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  Except for those brand new at this, we all know the drill. We know that we need to be flexible, make adjustments, and pay attention.
- 16 minutes ago
  
  Pauline M Reynolds has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  1. Contact primary care physician. 2. Only time I had an intestinal infection, I kept a can of sugar Sprite by my side and drank it according to my BG's.
- 16 minutes ago
  
  Pauline M Reynolds has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  1. Contact primary care physician. 2. Only time I had an intestinal infection, I kept a can of sugar Sprite by my side and drank it according to my BG's.
- 16 minutes ago
  
  Pauline M Reynolds has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  1. Contact primary care physician. 2. Only time I had an intestinal infection, I kept a can of sugar Sprite by my side and drank it according to my BG's.
- 16 minutes ago
  
  Pauline M Reynolds has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  1. Contact primary care physician. 2. Only time I had an intestinal infection, I kept a can of sugar Sprite by my side and drank it according to my BG's.
- 16 minutes ago
  
  Pauline M Reynolds has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  1. Contact primary care physician. 2. Only time I had an intestinal infection, I kept a can of sugar Sprite by my side and drank it according to my BG's.
- 16 minutes ago
  
  Pauline M Reynolds has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  1. Contact primary care physician. 2. Only time I had an intestinal infection, I kept a can of sugar Sprite by my side and drank it according to my BG's.
- 16 minutes ago
  
  Pauline M Reynolds has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  1. Contact primary care physician. 2. Only time I had an intestinal infection, I kept a can of sugar Sprite by my side and drank it according to my BG's.
- 16 minutes ago
  
  Pauline M Reynolds has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  1. Contact primary care physician. 2. Only time I had an intestinal infection, I kept a can of sugar Sprite by my side and drank it according to my BG's.
- 16 minutes ago
  
  Pauline M Reynolds has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  1. Contact primary care physician. 2. Only time I had an intestinal infection, I kept a can of sugar Sprite by my side and drank it according to my BG's.
- 16 minutes ago
  
  Pauline M Reynolds has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  1. Contact primary care physician. 2. Only time I had an intestinal infection, I kept a can of sugar Sprite by my side and drank it according to my BG's.
- 16 minutes ago
  
  Pauline M Reynolds has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  1. Contact primary care physician. 2. Only time I had an intestinal infection, I kept a can of sugar Sprite by my side and drank it according to my BG's.
- 16 minutes ago
  
  Pauline M Reynolds has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  1. Contact primary care physician. 2. Only time I had an intestinal infection, I kept a can of sugar Sprite by my side and drank it according to my BG's.
- 16 minutes ago
  
  Pauline M Reynolds has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  1. Contact primary care physician. 2. Only time I had an intestinal infection, I kept a can of sugar Sprite by my side and drank it according to my BG's.
- 16 minutes ago
  
  Pauline M Reynolds has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  1. Contact primary care physician. 2. Only time I had an intestinal infection, I kept a can of sugar Sprite by my side and drank it according to my BG's.
- 16 minutes ago
  
  Pauline M Reynolds has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  1. Contact primary care physician. 2. Only time I had an intestinal infection, I kept a can of sugar Sprite by my side and drank it according to my BG's.
- 16 minutes ago
  
  Pauline M Reynolds has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  1. Contact primary care physician. 2. Only time I had an intestinal infection, I kept a can of sugar Sprite by my side and drank it according to my BG's.
- 16 minutes ago
  
  Pauline M Reynolds has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  1. Contact primary care physician. 2. Only time I had an intestinal infection, I kept a can of sugar Sprite by my side and drank it according to my BG's.
- 16 minutes ago
  
  Pauline M Reynolds has commented in the same post you commented in :
  When you experience an illness that makes your blood glucose levels more difficult to manage (whether because you are unable to eat, the stress of being sick, or any other reason), what resources do you refer to for help managing your blood glucose levels while sick? Please select all that apply to you.
  1. Contact primary care physician. 2. Only time I had an intestinal infection, I kept a can of sugar Sprite by my side and drank it according to my BG's.
Clear All

Has your insulin ever frozen? Tell us how you handled it in the comments!

With COVID-19 rates at an all-time high across the country, are you or your loved ones with T1D doing any of the following for your holiday gatherings? Select all that apply.

Sarah Howard

15 Comments

Shannon Barnaby

In a hotel room refrigerator. I threw it away.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Lawrence Stearns

Tried using it. Blood sugars went out of control. Threw out the remainder.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
connie ker

Mail order pharmacies pack insulin in frozen plastic bags to keep it cold, but in winter time that is concerning, but it has never arrived frozen.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
James Dexter

I was winter camping and the insulin softpac and 2 vials of insulin liquid froze solid during the night. In the morning I warmed them with body heat and subsequently used them with no ill effects and no apparent change in effectiveness.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Eve Rabbiner

Almost – from a motel in-room fridge. Now I use the fridge to freeze my own ice packs and keep the insulin in an insulated case.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Mark Fuller

I let it thaw back to room temperature. I used it going forward with no issues.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
carl adams

The tube on my pump froze and snapped off once.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Maureen Helinski

My husband put a new bottle in the freezer instead of frige. I thawed it out and used it a while.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Dennis Dacey

On a skiing trip, left a imal derivative NPH insulin in luggage in vehicle. It frozen almost solid. Tucked it in armpit until thawed and didn’t have any ill effects.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Megen Blackburn

My insulin froze on a business trip after I placed it in the refrigerator in my hotel room. I was so worried that I ruined it that I went to CVS and paid out of pocket for a whole new bottle.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Mara Pentlarge

I was winter camping and never thought about the possibility of my insulin freezing. When it did, I freaked out, thought about hiking out by myself, then thought better of that idea. I spent the next 24 hours being scared and not eating much carbohydrate. Lots of frozen cheese, vegetable soup before they added pasta, etc.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
George Lovelace

I used to Order my Apidra from a Pharmacy in Canada and I’m in Texas. They didn’t “Cold Pack” the shipments so I would try to order after they were coming out of their ‘frozen temps’ but before my temps were going into the 80’s. Not sure it was frozen but the Apidra was almost as solid as a jelly. They replaced it

2 years ago Log in to Reply
KarenM6

Never had it freeze like an ice cube. But, I’ve had situations where the refrigerator (small hotel ones) were too cold and I had to replace the ruined vials. The first time it happened, I learned not to trust hotels’ small refrigerators and started testing them with a glass of water. If the water froze, then I was able to tell if the dial was set too high and either get a new frig or reset the dial. The second time it happened, I don’t remember how my “fix” failed… but it did and I had to get another vial. Then, I was in a situation for months where I couldn’t control the refrigerator temp and just hoped for 5 or so months that all would be well. I made it through, sooo… musta been ok or not bad enough to really kill the insulin. These days I have the cooling devices when I travel so that refrigerators aren’t as necessary. And, well, covid put a stop to traveling, too.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Lizzi Skywalker

I was about 10 or 11 when my family and I went on vacation to the wisconsin dells – The Great Wolf Lodge – when we got to the room that we were staying in, I unpacked my insulin and not knowing that the little box in the fridge up top was the freezer section. (Never stayed in a hotel or anything of that sort before) at lunch time time when my insulin was due I got it out of the fridge [freezer] my humalog was frozen. Almost like a slushie consistency. I freaked and stated crying. After I pulled myself together, I realized all I really could do was let it thaw out and hope that it still works. Fortunately it did still work! 🙂 Never put my insulin near the freezer part of the fridge EVER again.

2 years ago Log in to Reply
Leona Hanson

We moved to Gunnison on the worst winter they had gotten in years and my insulin froze sitting on the table I ended up throwing it away and asking churches for help to get more insulin they were very nice they knew how cold it was and we lived in a fifth wheel not much money for alot of propane so not much heat so ended up putting the insulin in my clothes so it wouldn’t freeze again

2 years ago Log in to Reply