New research into insulin safety temperatures could be game-changing for those who have diabetes and live in developing countries.
For those who use insulin, it is well known that once a vial is opened it should be stored in a fridge until it expires.
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But doctors working in a camp in northern Kenya noted they were seeing a lot of people with diabetes-related conditions.
Further investigation showed that one of the main problems was that without refrigeration for their insulin, many people’s lives revolved around going to and from the hospital to receive it.
Recognising this was not sustainable, they approached researchers at the University of Geneva who agreed to look at insulin storage temperatures.
During their study, they tested the effectiveness of insulin in 77 to 99 degrees Fahrenheit, the same temperatures that people in the camp would experience.
They found the insulin remained effective once opened, even at the camp’s tropical temperatures, and remained safe to use up to four weeks.
This finding could have a severe impact on people who live in hot countries and have no access to electricity and refrigeration.
Speaking to the publication Insider, Professor Leonardo Scapozza, from the University of Geneva’s School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, said: “Every protein goes towards degradation when it’s heated, but there are proteins that can go back when you cool them down again, and insulin seems to be one of them.”
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Mohamed Hussein Bule, a refugee from Somalia who works as a teacher at a primary school in Dagahaley, said this findings has had a positive impact on his life.
The 27-year-old said: “I was supposed to pick up insulin at the hospital early in the morning to take home, then go to work. I was missing a lot of classes. Now, I take a vial in the morning and record my glucose, and continue with the program as my day continues. I don’t even feel like a patient with diabetes now. I’m very glad to be on the program.”
