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Anyone having problems with Apidra (pens) not lasting very long?

S

staffsmatt

Well-Known Member
Messages
319
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi all,

Just wondering if any Apidra pen users had noticed they they weren't lasting very long once out of the fridge (I'm talking 1.5 / 2 weeks tops)?

I've noticed a few times that my blood levels start climbing after I've been using the same pen for 1.5 / 2 weeks (I keep it out of sunlight and at the right temperature when in use and in the fridge until I start using it).

I've tried a different box received from the chemist at a different time so it's not like the whole box got too hot at some point or something....

The trouble is I'm having cold after cold at the minute so it's hard to say for definite that it's the apidra not the colds! Levels do seem to go better when I start a new pen though...

Thanks!

Matt
 
The insulin should last up to 4 weeks out of the fridge Matt, have you tried keeping your pen in a Frio wallet to see if that makes a difference?

Your cold won't help matters as we become more insulin resistant when unwell and tend to use more insulin anyway, try using the Frio wallet and see what the result is.
 
Yeah could do, just weird that I've never had the problem before (been using it for about ooh 5 years) I'll have have look into a frio wallet and see if that sorts it. Like you say though could it be cold too. Nothings ever clear cut is it!
 
No there never is, you could check with the manufacturer of Apidra and see if there's been any issues of late.
 
I use Apidra cartridges and always throw them away between 18 - 20 days however much is left. There is no way Apidra lasts for a full 28 days out of the fridge. I also carry it permanently in a Frio wallet.

I had so much trouble with it a few months back that I filled in the contact form on Sanoffi's web site. They contacted me by phone and asked me for batch numbers and to send them one of the unused cartridges to examine. I never heard any more from them so I assume they didn't find anything amiss.

Smidge
 
Thanks all, Started a new pen this morning to test and levels still went up. Thinking it;s the cold. time to up my basal insulin!

Matt
 
staffsmatt said:
Thanks all, Started a new pen this morning to test and levels still went up. Thinking it;s the cold. time to up my basal insulin!

Matt
Click to expand...

Hi Matt. Is your new pen from a new batch? Trouble is, if it's the same batch it could be a batch problem. If it was collected from chemist at the same time it could be a storage problem during supply and if it is has been stored with others in your fridge, it could be a storage problem in your fridge! When this happened to me, I spoke to my doctor and he wrote me a prescription for another box of cartridges. Started using them and the problem cleared immediately. I had already tried the last cartridge in one box from my fridge and the first from another - but the batch and storage were the same and they had the same problem.

It probably is the cold, but if it doesn't sort itself out, ask for a new prescription.

Smidge
 
Thanks Smidge, didn't think of checking the batch numbers. To be honest though it turned out to be a bit of a throat infection / flu type thing (not really flu as I know you can't get out of bed if you have real flu, but it felt like it!) Ended up ramping up my lantus and and carb ratios (from 1:1 to 2:1!) and that seems to be helping. Just got to wait until I fight it off and start going lo all over the place now!

Matt
 
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