How long is insulin good unrefrigerated

[shelaghc]

It's Christmas eve and my refrigerator isn't working.

Most likely it'll have to be replaced. A friend is seeing if he can get me something to tide us over.

Merry freakin' Christmas.....

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

If it's not TOO cold outside, leave it out there.....but make sure it doesn't freeze

If you leave the door to the non-working fridge closed as much as possible, it should stay cold for awhile.

It won't ruin your insulin to get to room temp....it may poop out on you a little sooner than you expect though so if the numbers start to go up with no other reason, suspect the insulin

 

[Critter Mom]

Hi Shelagh,

For future reference it's worth investing in a Frio insulin pouch. You soak the pouch in water when it's needed and it keeps the insulin cool via evaporation (no risk of freezing). Ideal for situations like this. (Been there ... )


Mogs
.

 

[Red & Rover (GA)]

If you end up using a cooler filled with ice, make sure the insulin is not in direct contact with the ice. An airtight baggie and some bubble wrap will do.

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

No cooler? Plastic bag in a cardboard box, ice from 7-11 on Christmas day. Also been there. Thanks for nuthin' Santa!

 

[shelaghc]

I put the insulin in its box, then put the box on top of one of those little frozen things you put in a kid's lunch box to keep their lunch cool.

Insulin isn't in direct contact with it and it only stayed frozen for a couple of hours.

But here's the incredible thing:

I started calling friends anyone had a mini-fridge to get me through a week or two.
The first one I called, when I told him about my concerns for Jester's insulin, said he would buy me a mini-fridge - the dorm sized kind, he said.

He sent his wife to meet me at Best Buy - I was expecting one of those itty-bitty ones, which would have been fine.

When I met his wife and their 8YO daughter, they were standing in the appliances department in front of refrigerators.

She told me to pick one out - no arguments. A full-sized refrigerator, along with the mini-fridge to get me by until the big one could be delivered.

And the mini-fridge is actually big enough to hold a fair amount of food as well, not just the kind that could fit on a counter.

I couldn't stop crying for almost half an hour. Still keep getting weepy. I could never have paid for something like this and my landlord set up my lease so he's not responsible for the appliances in the apartment. The woman who lives above me hasn't had a working stove for years and she refuses to pay for one (she uses a convection oven, a hot plate, and a microwave).

Still can't wrap my head around this......

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

Still can't wrap my head around this......

Good friends are hard to come by, hold on tight.
Sorry for stating the obvious before.

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

Merry Christmas!!!

It sounds like Santa made arrangements for you to have a wonderful friend right when you needed them!!

 

[shelaghc]

Sorry for stating the obvious before.

Not so obvious.
I didn't actually think of that - I just always keep it in its box to just in case.
I appreciate knowing I did the right thing!

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

ice in a bag in a box.... keeps beer cold too. Of course you did the right thing!

 

[shelaghc]

Hi Shelagh,

For future reference it's worth investing in a Frio insulin pouch. You soak the pouch in water when it's needed and it keeps the insulin cool via evaporation (no risk of freezing). Ideal for situations like this. (Been there ... )


Mogs
.

Looks like Amazon carries them too!

 

[Critter Mom]

they were standing in the appliances department in front of refrigerators.

She told me to pick one out - no arguments.

Sending mega to your wonderful friends. You're such a kind and caring person, Shelagh, and it's good to hear that you've got people there to care for you.

Christmas blessings to all of you.



Mogs
.

 

[Critter Mom]

Looks like Amazon carries them too!

Bonus!


Mogs
.

 

[shelaghc]

If it's not TOO cold outside, leave it out there.....but make sure it doesn't freeze

If you leave the door to the non-working fridge closed as much as possible, it should stay cold for awhile.

It won't ruin your insulin to get to room temp....it may poop out on you a little sooner than you expect though so if the numbers start to go up with no other reason, suspect the insulin

@Chris & China
It's funny you mention this. The vial of insulin is practically brand new. I got it from someone here through the supply closet. It had never been used and she got it through DKIN but her vet changed their insulin before she could start using it.

Jester's BG has been going up slowly but steadily ever since I started him on that vial (it's been pink/purple for days now) and I've been getting a bit concerned about it. Is there any other way to determine the viability of insulin? Would the vet have some other way to check it out?

 

[Tracey&Jones (GA)]

Wow..now that is a Christmas miracle!

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

Jester's BG has been going up slowly but steadily ever since I started him on that vial

when did you start this new vial? (it's a good idea to add that info into your notes if you don't already)

 

[shelaghc]

when did you start this new vial? (it's a good idea to add that info into your notes if you don't already)

I did put it in the notes. Thought it was worth keeping a record of - Dec 20th.

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

I think you have a valid point....it does look like maybe this vial isn't as potent

It might be worthwhile to get a fresh bottle (although I'm sure that's not what you want to hear right now)

 

[shelaghc]

Crap - I paid someone for this.
No, it's not what I want to hear. And not something I can afford right now after just having paid for it.

Since it came from DCIN, even through someone else, do you think they might replace it free of charge?

 

[shelaghc]

And am I doing Jester any good by giving him that insulin at all?

Double crap - I couldn't get him a new prescription until Tuesday anyway. Tomorrow is Christmas and I don't have a prescription!

 

[Callie & Patches]

Prozinc shouldn't be pink. What is the expiration date on the box? It is normally slightly cloudy, but I haven't noticed any color to it. Yours still seems to be working. You could contact DCIN to see if you qualify. It's too bad that this happened. Callie's vials last more than 3 months.

The person who got their Prozinc from DCIN shouldn't have charged you for it except for shipping. They got it free. Not good people! Makes me mad.

 

[shelaghc]

Prozinc shouldn't be pink. What is the expiration date on the box? It is normally slightly cloudy, but I haven't noticed any color to it. Yours still seems to be working. You could contact DCIN to see if you qualify. It's too bad that this happened. Callie's vials last more than 3 months.

The person who got their Prozinc from DCIN shouldn't have charged you for it except for shipping. They got it free. Not good people! Makes me mad.

The insulin isn't pink - it's still cloudy. Expry is September 2018 IIRC.

I was on the phone for nearly an hour with a vet from an emergency clinic talking about Jester, giving him all my data on when he was diagnosed, his medical history, his BG numbers and insulin doses, etc.

What he told me is that it seems as if this insulin vial may be less effective.

He suggested that tomorrow, when I'm able to do a mid-cycle test and if Jester's BG is still in the 300 range, to give him 1.5U instead of 1.

 

[shelaghc]

The person who got their Prozinc from DCIN shouldn't have charged you for it except for shipping. They got it free. Not good people! Makes me mad.

I just heard from the person who sold me the insulin. She didn't get the Prozinc from DCIN, she got her current insulin from them. I misunderstood.

But I'm in a bind - Jester's BG was 389 this morning, and I don't have spare money for more insulin. A friend paid for that vial for me.