• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

URGENT insulin advice please!

C

chocoholic

Well-Known Member
Messages
831
Location
United Kingdom
I cannot believe I've been so stupid but I have, so I need some urgent advice please. As I was making my lunch, started to feel a bit wobbly and reading was 3.8. Decided to eat lunch as usual but take 3 units of insulin AFTER I'd eaten as didn't want blood sugars to drop any further and with Novorapid it does say you can inject after eating (though it's something I haven't ever done). Now the problem bit. After eating, I went to inject Novorapid and realised the pen cartridge was empty. God knows how I didn't realise it had even got so low. (I think it's 'cause my mixed insulin pen lasted longer than these cartridges and I normally notice.)Anyway, I've obviously immediately taken out a new cartridge from the fridge but I need to know HOW LONG before it is okay to use the insulin.I've read the leaflet through for guidance but unless I'm missing it, I cant find any info on how long it takes to reach a level suitable for using.I presume it has to get to room temperature but how do I know when that is? How long will that take?
If it's a few hours, would you advise exercising to make sure I don't go madly high or just sit tight and keep testing?
Dumb housewife of the year award is mine this year!
 
Hi chocoholic,

This is what I found out through a google search.


For better injection comfort and insulin efficiency, it is advisable to take the insulin out of the refrigerator a minimum of one hour prior to injection: cold insulin increases the pain of the injection and slows down the insulin absorption.

Any insulin vials or cartridges which are not open should be stored in the refrigerator between 2o and 8oC. Any open insulin vial or cartridge can be safely stored at room temperature for up to one month (please refer to insulin manufacturer's recommendations).
Click to expand...

http://www.bddiabetes.co.uk/dyn_en/insulin_storage.html
 
You are wellcome.

Not being an insulin user I didn't know what to look for really so I just typed in "insulin storage" and it was the first one in the list. That's what I call lucky. :D
 
You can use the insulin out of the frridge, but it might sting when injecting because it is cold..

If you find your self in this position again, is just warm the cartridge a bit by rolling it between your hands gently, this will being it tempreture to near body temp and stop it from stinging when injected
 
this may only be relevant for pump users, but I thought I'd throw it in: filling a reservoir with fridge-cold insulin increases the likelihood of air bubbles forming in the reservoir later on. And it can hurt like hell!
 
when i was first given insulin i was told that its better to use a room temp to avoid stinging when injecting but you can inject it straight from the fridge without any issues..... thats what the dr said!
 
i remember having to store the insulin in the fridge, and having to use it straight from there. There were no issues with poor performance. In the hospital recently I was given it cold and straight from the fridge. I think it's more to do with it sometimes stinging (although I can't say I'd noticed that - could just feel it more when cold) than about anything else :)

Wouldn't you have got a faster response by calling your diabetic specialist, or even a normal GP than posting on a forum that may not get a reply straight away? Just curious :)
 
Wouldn't you have got a faster response by calling your diabetic specialist, or even a normal GP than posting on a forum that may not get a reply straight away? Just curious Sweet3x
Click to expand...
:lol: I take it that's not serious Sweet3x. I'll have to introduce you to my health-care team, sometime. :roll:
Actually, I prefer to ask members on this forum because I know I WILL get a quick response and I trust their advice more than my medical lot. That's probably not how it should be but it's how it is.


Leaflet with Novorapid definitely states insulin should not be given straight from the fridge but it just didn't say how long it needs to be left out before usage.I left it for an hour and all was well.
 
When I first injected, I had a vial that was kept in a fridge, out the fridge load the syringe and inject..

I've not used novorapid but my husband does, and he will use it out of the fridge, he was using vials of novorapid until about a year ago, and it never seemed to effect his control...

I can't see how the tempreture of a fridge is going to effect how it works, if the fridge tempreture did then surely this would be a perment damage? I know that if insulin freezes then this can damage your insulin...

Kegs

I take my vial of insulin out of the fridge the day before filling my pump cartridge, as yes if you fill the cartridge with cold insulin you do tend to get more problems with bubbles occuring.
 
Back
Top