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If you use an insulin pump, do you currently have unexpired backup long-acting insulin at home?
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I have old pumps as a backup instead of long acting insulin.
I’m on MDI
No. I had long-acting backup insulin in my refrigerator for many years. I reordered backup insulin when my backup insulin expired. However, because of the cost of ordering backup insulin, I have decided to wait until I need it, and order it at that time. Otherwise, I could see if any of my old pumps still function, and use them for a short while.
I do not use an insuline pump.
I have both, an older model insulin pump and long acting insulin. I’ve used the back up pump before but not the insulin yet
I do have long-acting in my fridge, but wonder what happens when it expires… do I order more just in case?? Is it worth it?
sounds like an expensive hobby
It is…definitely expired lol
Just got her on the pump a few months ago so long-acting hasn’t expired just yet. I’ll probably order more back-up long-acting insulin once the max out of pocket is met.
I do not have long acting insulin as a backup, I do however have Humalog and syringes just in case.
Educator at Endo’s office gave me a lantus pen (and pen needles)) “just in case) last visit
When I’ve had pump failures my endocrinologist has been ready to send an immediate Rx for long-acting insulin to my pharmacy.
Since I started
On a pump 12 years ago I have always have unexpired lantus in my fridge.
As it gets closer to expiration date I start giving it away to other people that may use it and order a new Bo’s of lantus pen. My doctor always make sure that I do that.
When I travel I always bring it with me.
Currently I do have an unexpaired backup insulin. This is only because I remember to ask about it when I was at the doctor a couple of weeks. If you asked this a month ago the answer would be no.
I have a prescription for insulin I haven’t filled yet.
My backup Lantus pen expired in 2020 as did my Humalog pen which I continue to use when I need a “belly shot”.—and it still works! I plan on requesting new backups when I visit my doctor in two weeks.
If I need it, my doctor prescribes the pens immediately for me. Only happened once in 25 years.
Always have levemir in frig as backup. Never know when you have to be off pump – medical tests etc.
I do have a script for some that I can pick up if needed
In the last 3 years, due to pump problems I’ve had 2x of needing to test bg every 4 hrs & take humalog for meal bolus & correction bolus. Inconvenient but not end of world. On call Endo did dosing calculations for me.
I try to keep it around but I never use it and it goes to waste. I was in Europe years ago and my pump broke two days before I was leaving. I couldn’t get a replacement before I left so for 48 hours I ate very little, pricked my fingers, and used the quick acting insulin. I now make sure I have long acting when I travel.
You can also request a vacation pump to have as spare when traveling. If you do not use it, you return it unopened to the manufacturer. If you use it, they may need you to return the faulty pump to them. That is what I do for travel abroad.
Insurance will not pay for backup lantus while using a pump (at least mine never would). And I have only once had a problem with a pump, which was not the actual pump, but the infusion set, and I always bring many spare infusion sets when traveling.
Thank the Lord, in 20 plus years of pumping, have never needed long acting insulin as a replacement. I came close last year when my baggage was lost for 5 days on a trip to Madagascar.
No, my pen of backup long-acting insulin expired and since my insurance will no longer cover it, I didn’t get a replacement. I may ask for a new prescription at my next appointment in August.
1. When I travel, I order a “travel loaner” from Tandem for my X2. hey, it’s free! Only issue was at both Schiphol and Dublin they had a fit over the sealed Tandem box and insisted on opening it. I talked the Dutch out of it but the Irish insisted “either you do not board, you leave the box here for us to destroy or we open it. I came up with a solution, i.e you open the box but you sign on the box as opening it, the reason and your badge number. The agreed and Tandem was fine when I returned the opened box with an explanation letter and did not charge me.
2. I also carry my older pre X2 pump fully charged, which still functions, as a back-up. This means exert strips, but it will give my basal so I do not have to deal with the hassle of long term insulin conversion and having it expire. My endo will give me a vial. but the backup pump iOS better since Medicare lives in an alternate reality where no spares are allowed and we are in a universe where everything goes 100% as it should.
3. When I go through Paris, I go to a pharmacy and get a bottle of long duration insulin as a Rx is not required in France. It costs in the $20’s the last time I did it. CBP and TSA never care as my end’s letter covers a list of what I am prescribed to carry and what they cannot X-ray or scan. I carry so much for a month away in my backpack they are gold to get rid of me as they have to go through it all.
4. When all else fails, I can go the 4 hour shot routine with Humalog and finger sticks if I have to.
No, my endocrinologist never prescribed it. In an emergency situation, I could use a new Lantus & new pen cap from my husband. He is a type 2 diabetic of 25 years& we go to same clinic, but, different MD. I am calling my endocrinologist now!
You forgot the ‘I don’t use a pump’ response which would be mine.
Yes, but only because my pump failed in the middle of the night this past weekend and I had to have my endocrinologist paged on-call for a prescription.
I mean, I *think* it’s unexpired….
I will put getting a new RX for basal insulin on my list for my next appointment. 😊
Yes. My endo provider gives me extra sample supplies of both short and long acting pens to use when off pump.
I do not use an insulin pump.
I do not have a long-acting insulin prescription. If my pump fails or my supply order is delayed, I cover with multiple daily injections of my normal Humalog fast acting insulin every few hours. A real pain overnight.
I have long acting that is expired, but I also have two backup pumps!
I don’t use long acting insulin. I do have 5 bottles of Humalog insulin in the fridge.
I answered a definite, yes. I would be terrified not to have it on hand. I have had a pump stop working on at least three occasions, and had to switch to MDI for a day or two until my replacement pump could arrive. This has never happened while traveling, but I also take my back up supplies while traveling. I feel the same way about always having glucagon on hand.
MDI for 39 yrs. No pump for me.
Not using a pump but using Novalog pens expired last year.
No, Pump only for 25 years, early in Pumping 20+ years ago I did use long-acting insulin but none in the 20+ years since
It’s not easy to convert your insulin intake if you don’t use long-Acting Insulin. However, I believe you add up all your Basel numbers and add 20%. That should cover the Long-Acting dose.
But I would just continue using my NovoLog U100 and a syringe.
This is not a long-term condition and dose after testing.
No but I’ll be asking for sample or Rx for one when I see my endocrinologist in August and the thought of having only Novolog to control my blood sugar is scary! I had one in the refrigerator which now is expired but if I had to I’d try it.
I have an expired long-acting pen. Since we don’t travel at all anymore and I’m very seldom out of town due to caregiving, I’ve not seen the need for the long-acting insulin (never had it for 20+ years). My endo is here in town, so if my pump failed and I couldn’t get a replacement in 24 hours, my endo could call in long-acting.
I have 3 expired pens in the fridge from the last time I asked my endo about having some long-acting insulin on hand. I decided that the cost just isn’t worth it. If there comes a time when i need some long-acting, I can call my endo and have a script sent in.
Back when I was on MDI, I ran out of my long-acting and just used my short-acting insulin for 24 hours. I took a small dose before I went to bed. Then got up @ midnight to check my blood sugar and took another small dose. One more small dose at @ 3 am got me through the night with no problems. So, I know that I could do this again, if needed.
I have lantus in case of pump malfunction, but it expired. As long as it’s not cloudy, I’ll use it.
I take pump breaks often so I always have long acting on hand