This last summer with the higher temperatures I really struggled with persistent high blood sugars and eventually managed to narrow it down to the insulin itself (Novorapid) not working well. I changed from having my insulin delivered by post in a chilled pack, back to my local pharmacy because I wasn't convinced it was staying properly cold en route to me. This solved a lot of the issue but I was still getting occasions towards the end of a reservoir where I started to need 10-20% extra to keep under control. As the temperatures dropped, everything started to work better.
Then I went to work in Qatar for 7 weeks. Given my prior experience I bought some frio packs and transported my insulin out in those and then stored it in the fridge in my hotel room. Whilst not always at 5oC, the fridge was keeping everything much cooler than the room ambient of 23C (I recorded the occasional spike to 15C after putting things in and out). Everything went well for the first 3-4 weeks and then I started to find my blood sugars were creeping up. Temps over there in the autumn are similar to a UK summer, so it wasn't crazy hot, and at no point was the insulin above the recommended temperature(30C max). The last 2 weeks have been a real struggle and I flew home with double bolus for each meal and 130% basal. Changed immediately to a new vial kept at home and all went back to normal.
Has anyone else had any similar experiences? It seems that the official temperature ranges suggested for Novorapid are not actually correct and I'm having major issues at much lower temperatures. I'm due to go back out for 8 weeks in January so need to find a workable solution.
Then I went to work in Qatar for 7 weeks. Given my prior experience I bought some frio packs and transported my insulin out in those and then stored it in the fridge in my hotel room. Whilst not always at 5oC, the fridge was keeping everything much cooler than the room ambient of 23C (I recorded the occasional spike to 15C after putting things in and out). Everything went well for the first 3-4 weeks and then I started to find my blood sugars were creeping up. Temps over there in the autumn are similar to a UK summer, so it wasn't crazy hot, and at no point was the insulin above the recommended temperature(30C max). The last 2 weeks have been a real struggle and I flew home with double bolus for each meal and 130% basal. Changed immediately to a new vial kept at home and all went back to normal.
Has anyone else had any similar experiences? It seems that the official temperature ranges suggested for Novorapid are not actually correct and I'm having major issues at much lower temperatures. I'm due to go back out for 8 weeks in January so need to find a workable solution.