Insulin how long does it keep

Will it expire if it is appropriately stored? And is it even suitable to use insulin after the insulin expiration date? Does Insulin Expire? Insulin has two expiration dates. One expiry date is printed on the bottle or pen, which is one year after the purchase date. This expiration date is only valid if the insulin is unopened and stored properly.

The other expiration date is 28 days after opening the insulin. Whichever comes first, the insulin will be expired after that. As many medications expire , insulin also expires.

But this is not the same with insulin. Insulin expiration dates depend on different conditions. The conditions include if the insulin is opened, refrigerated, and at what temperature the insulin is stored.

Because of these variables, it can be tricky to understand when and how insulin actually expires. Expiry, in general, means a date, a period, or a condition, after which anything cannot be used. It can confuse some at first that insulin has two expiration dates that can sometimes vary.

In general terms, one is the expiration date that comes with the insulin vial or pen and the other one, which comes in the paper that comes along with the insulin. Unfortunately, the expiration date on this thick paper is something that can easily be overlooked, often mistaking it to be just instructions. This means that if the insulin is kept unopened in the refrigerator, the insulin will start to degrade after this expiration date. Light can make insulin break down and then it will not work well to lower your blood sugar.

Never use insulin if expired. The expiration date will be stamped on the vial or pen. Remember if not in the fridge, the date on the vial or pen does not apply. You must throw away after 28 days since outside the fridge.

Write the date on the insulin vial on the day you open it or start keeping it outside the fridge. This will help you remember when to stop using it. Throw the insulin away 28 days after opened or since kept out of the fridge. Inspect your insulin before each use. Look for changes in color or clarity. Look for clumps, solid white particles or crystals in the bottle or pen. Insulin that is clear should always be clear and never look cloudy. Administration of insulin Storage of insulin Insulin learning guides Insulin Errors Errors with insulin Getting your prescription from your doctor What types of errors can happen with insulin?

Insulin safety in your home Insulin Pen Safety U insulin errors Insulin safety during a hospitalization What else do I need to know? Medication Safety Alerts. And when refrigerating, it has to be kept between An opened disposable insulin pen will last for only four weeks maximum regardless of the temperature it is stored in. For example, rapid-acting insulin, like Humalog and Novolog spoil more quickly than regular and NPH insulins.

As always, if in any doubt, consult your doctor. Opened vials of the following insulins and mixtures are stable at room temperature for 28 days between the temperature 77 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit or under refrigeration between the temperature 36 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit.

In contrast to this, opened vials of insulin detemir Levemir are stable for up to 42 days at the above-recommended temperature conditions. One common thing to remember when refrigerating any insulin types or brands is that they should not be allowed to freeze. According to research conducted by the European Association for the Study of Diabetes meeting in Berlin, it was reported that home refrigerators might experience unexpected temperature fluctuations.

If, at any point, you end up with frozen insulin, do not use it. This is because freezing temperature above the recommended refrigerating temperature will break down the insulin. So the insulin will not work well in reducing your blood sugar levels.

So discard frozen insulin and replace it with fresh supplies. Find out more information on that here. The views on using insulin while cold do vary. While this might be an issue in more remote areas, one tip is to put the insulin vial in a plastic bag, tie a rubber band around it and insert it in an earthen pot or a wide-mouthed bottle filled with water.