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Insulin Pen Damaged

A

azizdhl

Well-Known Member
Messages
64
hi guys,

if my lantus or novorapid pen were damaged duo to any reason like high heat or something..

1. are they like going to cause a hypo and frequent peaks or causing a high increase in my BG?

2. after first injection of a new pen.. which one is better to keep in the door of the refrigerator or keep it outside where I live in a city with 35-40 C?

3. If the pen was facing a 35C for like 30min is that going to damage it?
 
edit: Forget this one, I only know for sure about novorapid and fiasp: 1. It decreases in action, so you'd need more insulin. (Thanks for the warning, @SamJB )
2. If it's above about 28 C i'd keep it in the fridge or use a frio bag. The only reason to keep it outside of the fridge is for practical purposes (you don't keep a fridge in your back pocket or handbag) and because the insulin might sting when cold. Easily solve by warming it in your hands or just don't care if it doesn't sting too much.
3. Not sure. If it goes cloudy, it's definitely off, if not and you decide to use it, be wary of high bg.
 
Last edited:
Hi @azizdhl, The information pamphlet in the box with either of your pen insulins has a heading like: After using your Lantus or Novorapid Pen: Storage: store ----- pen that is nor being used at between 2 and 8 degrees C in a refrigerator (not in or too near the freezer section or cooling element). You can keep the ----- Pen you are using outside the refrigerator for 4 weeks below 30 degrees C. Discard this --- Pen after 4 weeks even if there is still insulin in it.
The --- Pen must not be frozen or exposed to excessive heat or light. Protect the ------ Pen from light by keeping the cap on between uses.
From the temperature range you quote, it sounds like the insulin pens you have out of the refrigerator may need to by kept insulated in an insulated bag/box of some sort with or without ice.
Readings from thermometer kept with the insulin in this insulated bag will help guide you about how much insulation and ? ice you may need.
Best Wishes !!
 
During this summers high heat in the UK I kept my bolus in a FRIO pouch and my basal in the fridge. My basal is meant to last 6 weeks after use begins. Never got it to last beyond 3 weeks before it decreased in effectiveness. Last one went for the full 6 weeks. I shall continue to store in the fridge. Haven’t found any stinging to be honest.
 

Please ignore any advice to have more insulin, if exposed to high heat!!!!

Lantus insulin can be thought of as lots of molecules of short acting insulin stuck together, which gradually break up throughout the day in your blood to give you a continuous supply of background insulin. If exposed to high heat, it will break the molecules up, whilst in the pen meaning that you will basically be giving yourself short acting.

If you take more Lantus that Novorapid, then you'll end up with a massive hypo followed by no background insulin and subsequent high BGs.
 
Thanks, I didn't know. I've called Novo Nordisk to ask about insulin that had possibly gotten too warm, but that was about novorapid and fiasp. They told me it would work less than normal, so I automatically assumed this would go for all insulins. Yeah, I know, I shoud have thought before speaking.
 
No worries, I learned the hard way on Lantus!
 
I thought the way Lantus/glargine worked was that the molecules were separate in the pen anyway, because it's soluble in the solution in the pen but significantly less so at body pH. When injected, pH changes and it crystallises out, to then very slowly released. (this would also explain Toujeo, because the extra concentration would probably lead to bigger crystals). Heat shouldn't make a difference to that mechanism. Heat will however do the normal knackering of the protein, common to all insulins.
 
As far as I understood it needs to react with subcutaneous fat to form those delaying chrystals. Should some Lantus reach the blood stream before having formed chrystals it acts very quick. Please correct me if I'm wrong, and I'm sorry this went off topic too.
 
I thought the fat thing was mostly about the physical absorption of the insulin - get any of the insulins directly in the blood and they'll act a lot faster, but there's a delay when they go into fatty tissue as it takes time for them to move out. It's also a much safer place to inject than a vein. However I'm not an expert in these things, and mostly rely on Wikipedia to check what I know
 
I have never really understood why the pen in use has to be stored outside a fridge. If the temperature goes above 25c I put both my Novopen and Lantus pen in the fridge. I do the same when I am on holiday rather then risk my insulin going off.
 
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