Keeping Insulin Safe During a Heat Wave

Sometimes when you are traveling or even at home or work, your insulin will be subjected to temperature extremes, including freezing, or heat wave temperatures. Since insulin is very sensitive to temperature changes, it needs to be protected.

If you are just going for a short trip during the winter, then the safest place to keep your insulin is inside its case, on the inside of your coat. As long as you don't get overheated, your body temperature will keep your insulin warm enough. However, don't have it too close, or the temperature can get too warm for it. If you'll be in a heated car, not outside, then keeping it in your usual bag or pocket might be warm enough. Just don't store it right next to a heat source. Its a good idea to have some kind of insulin around insulin in any extremes to keep it from getting too warm or too cold so pack it in some sort of insulated pack or bag whenever the temperatures might go outside optimum ranges. Insulin can be very expensive, plus you don't want to be without a vital medication when you need it. Planning is essential.

For summertime, you should check the temperature range that is safe and have a plan for keeping your insulin in use cool during heat waves. You can store your supply in the fridge (as long as your fridge doesn't freeze things). However, for your insulin pen in current use, you need something portable, so read on.

One word about ice. NEVER use ice directly next to your insulin. It WILL freeze enough to make it useless. If you plan to pack your insulin in a cooler with your lunch, make sure your insulin is as far away from the ice pack as possible to avoid freezing it. I wrap a clean kitchen towel around my pen case. I put the ice on the other side of the cooler, as far from the insulin as possible. The towel keeps the insulin pen case where I put it, and protects it if it should shift in transport.

Once you open it, insulin is fine at average room temperatures, however, if its hot enough to use an air conditioner, then you probably need to take precautions about the heat. All insulin packaging comes with an insert that tells you the safe temperature range for your product. Always check the recommendations in the insert.

If you'll be traveling, or live where there are heat waves during the summer, I strongly advise you to get a FRIO wallet for your insulin.

Frio uses water evaporation to keep insulin and other temperature sensitive medications at a cool temperature without risk of freezing during a heat wave, without relying on any type of refrigeration. The wallets are small enough to carry with you, and you can also get larger ones for supplies needed over an extended period such as a vacation.

Frio can be used anywhere that you have access to clean water, its very portable, and simple to use, and you can even get one for a pump if you have one.

I've been using water evaporation to keep my insulin pens protected during heat waves for several years now, and have never had a problem. Frio is a reliable product and the concept is simple and effective.

I highly recommend it!

Here's the link: http://www.frioinsulincoolingcase.com/

I have no association with Frio, other than being a happy customer.

Freezing: As far as I know, the simplest way to tell if insulin has frozen, is to look for changes in appearance. It might have become cloudy or have particles in it that are not normally present. There might be a crack in the cartridge. If there are no observable changes, I test my insulin by using it. If it doesn't bring my  blood sugar down as it normally would, then it has indeed been frozen. The same applies to extreme heat. It renders insulin useless. I don't know of any other way to test insulin other than sending it back to the company.

I once sent insulin to the company to be tested, and it was fine, but instead of returning it, they threw it out! There goes my money! So now I just test by using it. This is how I test it, its up to you to decide if you want to do this or not. Consult your doctor first or call the company and follow their advice.

This blog is for entertainment purposes only. Always follow the advice of your doctor or diabetes nurse educator, or your endo.

Tips for Insulin Users

 

Injecting Insulin

 

 

 

As always, this Blog is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult your doctor or diabetes nurse educator before making any changes to your diabetes care routine. I am NOT a doctor, I am a diabetic, and this is what works for me. Talk to your doctor first, before trying anything new.

This subject comes up fairly frequently and over the years I've learned a few things that might help you with your insulin injections, especially Lantus, which has a tendency to burn.

 More than you ever wanted to know about injecting insulin:

 

If you're using Lantus, you have probably discovered that it can burn like crazy!

Lantus burns most when it's cold. To avoid this problem, you can keep it at room temperature up for to 28 days with no problems unless you live in a hot climate or the temperature rises over 86°F (30°C). If the temperature may go higher, then you need to either store it in the fridge during the heat wave, or use a FRIO wallet. 

 

In summer heat waves I use a FRIO wallet to keep my insulin cool but not cold enough to burn. FRIO wallets work by the cooling process of water evaporation. Its cheap and it works, and there's no risk of freezing your insulin like there can be if you use freezer packs. Frozen insulin is useless, so don't risk freezing it by putting it next to a frozen ice pack!

For more info about Frio products click here: http://diabetesfrio.com/

In any case, even if you store it in the fridge, it should be tossed after 28 days of being open and in use. It looses its effectiveness after that.

TIPS for all insulins:

To reduce bruising inject more slowly, and don't move the needle while it's in. Moving it or jiggling it can cause a lot of bruising, ask me how I know!

After injecting, hold the needle in place for 20 seconds, then withdraw smoothly. Holding it reduces leakage when you withdraw the needle.

 

Don't inject near bruises, it causes absorption problems. Avoid veins and capillaries too, there is an increased risk of bruising and bleeding but there's also a risk of sudden hypoglycemia from injecting into a capillary or vein. This is very dangerous and must be avoided.

Don't reuse needles, it adds to the bruising/bleeding problem. Dull needles tear the skin instead of just piercing it. Today's needles are not as thick or sturdy as the needles used in previous decades. They don't hold up well enough to reuse. There is also a risk of infection with reusing needles.

If you want to see what a used needle looks like:
http://www.bd.com/ca/diabetes/english/page.aspx?cat=14501&id=14766

Now do you really want to shove that dull dirty needle into your sensitive skin?

I've found that a supplement called bioflavonoids helps reduce bruising. It strengthens the cell walls. Ask your doctor about trying it.

For more information on Lantus:  http://www.lantus.com/resources/default.aspx

From the Lantus website:

16.2 Storage

LANTUS should not be stored in the freezer and should not be allowed to freeze. Discard LANTUS if it has been frozen.

Unopened Vial/ SoloStar disposable insulin device:

 

Unopened LANTUS vials, cartridge systems and SoloStar device should be stored in a refrigerator, 36°F – 46°F (2°C – 8°

C). Discard after the expiration date.

 

Open (In-Use) Vial:

Vials must be discarded 28 days after being opened. If refrigeration is not possible, the open vial can be kept unrefrigerated for up to 28 days away from direct heat and light, as long as the temperature is not greater than 86°F (30°C).

 

Open (In-Use) SoloStar disposable insulin device:

 

The opened (in-use) SoloStar should NOT be refrigerated but should be kept at room temperature (below 86°F [30°C]) away from direct heat and light. The opened (in-use) SoloStar device must be discarded 28 days after being opened.