Do you toss insulin after 28 days?

[Shenandoah]

Just curious if everyone throws away their insulin after 28 days (or whatever your doc told you)? If it's been refrigerated at all times except to give the shots, does it still lose it's potency?

I'm still using the same insulin that I was given at the hospital on dec 26th and I've been telling my ex that we need new insulin but he claims we don't need to replace it every 28 days. Since he's the one with the insurance on Gavin and I can't afford to buy it every month (I would if I really needed to, gavin's health comes first), but I really need to make sure that we need to replace it. Gavin has been running high (mid 200s) for 2 days now regardless of him getting his lantus and novolog after every meal. I even gave him a little extra novolog after dinner to see if it would bring his sugar down lower.

I'm just trying to convince him that it is probably the insulin and not his lantus dose and he is saying that it wouldn't lose it's potency exactly at or a few days after the 28 day mark.... Have I mentioned that I hate D?

[wilf]

All insulins except Levemir should be replaced monthly, Levemir every month and a half. It is best to pick an easy to remember date like the 1st of each month.

Looks like you're going through the experience of having your child stuck inexplicably high - just like we did early on, until we figured out our stinginess in trying to use up the insulins was the problem.. It is just not worth trying to save a few pennies. Switch the insulins.

[Sarah Maddie's Mom]

I would agree with Ex that insulin isn't suddenly going to lose it's potency like clockwork on the 28th day. That said, it's the repeated punctures and the possible introduction of bacteria into the vial that leads to the 28 day rule. Hanas says, "At room temperature insulin will lose less than 1% of it's potency every month." p.117 Type 1 Diabetes He goes on, interestingly to say, " Storing it at room temperature makes the preservative more effective at killing any bacteria.":rolleyes: News to me...

Chances are you are seeing highs due to, increased need for insulin, undercounting carbs, too little activity, stress or illness.

I would also make a point of asking endo for insulin every time you visit office ;)

[Momof4gr8kids]

We throw ours out every 28 days.... However since we have 2 pumpers use the same bottle we don't see 28 days anymore.

When I saw the title (I am a bit tired and goofy mind you) I thought, why would we toss the bottles? They are glass, and could break.... Yeah, not my brightest moment!

[Shenandoah]

Well he has been complaining of a sore throat but really doesn't have any other symptoms of being sick and acts like his normal goofy self during the day. We just got through the whole mess of adjusting his lantus dose and at 3 units it was holding him steady throughout the night but now he's been high during the day argh! I've been giving him about 40 carbs per meal and 1 unit of insulin for each meal (basically 1:40) and it was working fine for a few days until yesterday at lunch, since then he's been running high.

I'm calling in his numbers tomorrow and hopefully the endo can figure out his doses :( But I wanted to rule out the insulin problem because I think that will be the first thing that the endo asks.

[Abby-Dabby-Doo]

According to the instructions you toss it after 28 days. I do, to take the insulin being bad out of the picture. There is enough to wonder about, why throw that into the equation?

[DDsmom]

Our endo said to replace it every 30 days. I have seen a pattern--when we are close to the 30 days, he will have slightly higher numbers. He is on Lantus and Novolog--and I was told to make sure I at least replace the Lantus on time. The Novolog isn't as bad as the Lantus, I guess. We usually do both at or about 28-30 days.

[owensmom]

When in any kind of doubt throw it out - on day 1 or day 30. Does it look cloudy? Are there any particles floating? You should always, always have extra vials, cartridges, test strips, etc. available - Get it threw your ex's head that this is your child's life - its not worth taking chances. Sorry that he's a self prescribed MD, so is my husbands ex.

I'm sure that insurance will reimburse if you pay out of pocket now to get what your child needs. If his plan uses direct pay drug cards can he have one issued in your sons name - we are no longer talking about an occassional prescription.

[lilkittykt]

My daughter and I are both pumping, so a bottle of insulin does not last anywhere near 28-30 days. But when we were on shots, I absolutely tossed the bottle every month- I would take a thin sharpie marker and write the date we took it out of the fridge on the bottle

[Sandy's mom]

I was told 30 days. This is our first month into it. So I just planned on using our dx date, the 6th and replacing everything on that date always. I like the idea of using the sharpie though.

Seems wasteful to throw those nice Lantus solostar pens out though...:p

[Amy C.]

You may not use all the Lantus in 28 days, but it does go bad around then. I discoved it would loose its potency around 24 or 25 days -- consistently.

Novalog may last longer, but I wouldn't play around with the Lantus.

[khannen]

Yes and no.... Lol
On the first of every month, I hand over whatever is left of Shealyn's current Novolog vial to my father who lives with us. He pays a ton for his insulin so any extra bit helps him out greatly. He says it's still 'good enough' for him. With his ratios, the remainder doesn't last long anyway so it's not like it's used for another month or anything.

[georgia]

we change both humalog and lantus at the beginning of each month (about, your post just reminded me to change!!) I just don't want to worry about bad insulin, there are enough other factors to consider as it is! Does your ex's insurance cover it? We get two bottles a month of each and it is covered. The endo wrote up as one for school and one for home, but we sent one bottle back and forth so we don't fill it each month. My daughter takes about 8-10 units daily and we do throw away alot, but I want anything I put (or inject) into my daughters body to be good!

[Mom2Will]

I've got to say, I've thrown away insuling b/f the 28th day just in case it was the culprit for highs. My endo will give us insulin at our appts. just ask, they usually have a lot that is not ever used.

[kiwikid]

I used Lantus MONTHS longer than the 28 days stated. I kept it in the fridge and only removed the amount needed for that days injection. We were paying $120 per vial and couldn't justify throwing 3/4 of a vial out after a month :(.

[Laurie]

Its been about 2 months since dx for us, and I have found that Dylan's numbers do start creeping up if the insulin is old (usually right around 28 days, lol). It looks like we will be replacing about every 28 days.

[Nancy in VA]

We usually could go a little longer than 28 days with the Humalog, but when we were on Lantus, I couldn't use it more than about 23 days before it would start creeping up. And we checked it enough times to confirm it.

Now with the pump and replacing the daily Lantus dose with Humalog, we haven't had a vial/cartridge that has lasted us 28 days.

[coni]

We replace the Lantus on the 28th day. We do not refrigerate the Lantus once opened, however.

I mark the calendar for 30 days for the Novolog, but do not throw it out unless the I:C ratio isn't working well. I have used the same bottle of Novolog for a few months before (in an attempt to save money) without any problems.

[twodoor2]

We chuck it after 28 days, both vials. The Lantus would lose strength for us if we left it unrefrigerated.

[rtread]

I never throw out a bottle of insulin. We use it till it is used up. Never had any problems.

Rania

[MamaC]

I have a bottle of Novolog here that we opened on 10/10/07. We've used 1.5 units, last time earlier this month (.5 unit) and it was still powerful enough to drop him like a rock. Like from 500+ to 30. In less than 3 hours, if I remember correctly.

Lantus usually lasts about 5 weeks for us with no noticeable degradation.

Becky

[twodoor2]

I have a bottle of Novolog here that we opened on 10/10/07. We've used 1.5 units, last time earlier this month (.5 unit) and it was still powerful enough to drop him like a rock. Like from 500+ to 30. In less than 3 hours, if I remember correctly.

Lantus usually lasts about 5 weeks for us with no noticeable degradation.

Becky

If you read some of the adult diabetic forums, many adults do notice a degradation of Lantus if kept out of the refrigerator. It seems to be more sensitive to room temperature, or temperature variations, than Novolog. This may not be as noticable in a small child who is very insulin sensitive.

[hawkeyegirl]

I replace them both every month.

[MamaC]

This may not be as noticable in a small child who is very insulin sensitive.

How about a 6' 160# 15 year old? LOL

We keep all the insulin in the fridge, and the Lantus runs out just around the 5 week mark.

Becky