Insulin is a natural hormone that helps your body regulate levels of blood sugar (glucose). As a medication, insulin treats conditions that involve high blood sugar, like diabetes.
Manufactured insulin typically comes in four forms:
- vials for syringes or subdermal pumps
- loaded syringes
- cartridges for insulin pens
- oral inhalers
This article discusses the best way to store all forms of insulin, including arrangements when you travel.
What type of insulin needs to be refrigerated?
All forms of insulin may be better kept in the fridge, with a temperature between 36°F and 46°F. This is particularly useful for unopened insulin to maintain its effectiveness up to the expiration date.
In some cases, insulin in vials or cartridges may not need refrigeration. But this may depend on the brand of insulin it is or your healthcare team’s recommendations.
Even though insulin may keep its effectiveness at low temperatures, you may want to avoid freezing it. Consult with a medical professional before using any insulin that has been previously frozen.
In all cases, keep insulin away from heat sources or direct sunlight.
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How long can insulin be without refrigeration?
If contained in vials or cartridges, opened and unopened insulin may be out of the fridge at a controlled room temperature for 7–28 days, depending on the type of pen. It is essential to keep the room temperature between 59°F and 86°F.
Insulin exposed to temperatures above 86°F may lose effectiveness. The longer you expose your insulin to these high temperatures, the less effective the insulin may become.
You may want to ask your healthcare professional if you may use insulin kept at a temperature above 86°F in case of an emergency.
Can you inject cold insulin?
Injecting very cold insulin may be unpleasant and can cause pain, according to experts. You might experience a burning and stinging sensation at the injection site.
If you refrigerate insulin, you may want to allow it to reach room temperature before injecting it.
How to handle insulin storage when traveling
When traveling, you can keep your insulin in a cold bag with ice. To make sure insulin will not freeze, keep a couple of layers between the ice cubes and your insulin container.
If you plan to travel to a place with extremely low temperatures, consider keeping insulin in a pouch or pocket close to your body to prevent the insulin from freezing and becoming unusable.
If you are traveling by car, check on your insulin often and never leave it in the vehicle. Internal temperatures in a car can quickly reach above 86°F during warmer days.
How to know if you should discard your insulin
You should avoid injecting insulin when it has:
- reached its expiration date
- been frozen or exposed to temperatures higher than 86°F
- turned visibly cloudy
- developed lumps, flakes, or visible deposits of insulin inside the vial or cartridge
- been out of the fridge for more than 1 month
Reading the manufacturer’s recommendations and working with a healthcare professional on guidelines to store your insulin is highly advisable.
Summary
Unopened insulin vials should be kept refrigerated between 36°F and 46°F to help maintain effectiveness until the expiration date.
Opened insulin in vials and cartridges may be kept at room temperature between 59°F and 86°F for up to 28 days, unless otherwise advised by the manufacturer or your doctor.
Avoid freezing insulin or exposing it to temperatures above 86°F. When you travel, keep insulin in a cold bag with ice cubes, adding layers to prevent your insulin from freezing.
If you refrigerate insulin, allow it to reach room temperature before injecting it to avoid stinging and burning at the injection site.
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