Is an icebox cool enough for insulin 24/7?
My cat is the diabetic in the family. I stored his insulin in a cooler for the first time, yesterday and last night, and was surprised how much warmer it was than the S&B fridge. Is it really going ...
Forum Discussion
In 37 years of practice, I've never had an animal with an infection due to insulin injection/contamination, and that's with inexperienced owners, lots of hair on the patients, and infrequent (never) bathing :).
The following is the Plumb's warning about care of veterinary insulin:
While not seeing infections, I do notice pretty regularly a decrease in glucose control/regulation when getting down to the end of a bottle. Whether this is due to the date getting close to expiration, poor mixing during use over time resulting concentrations on insulin not consistent with label, or temp effects, I'm not sure. But, I'd recommend NOT to try to use every last drop in the bottle, but don't worry about the cooler or RV fridge.
Doug, DVM
The following is the Plumb's warning about care of veterinary insulin:
Plumb's wrote:
Stability/Storage
Manufacturers of insulin recommend that all insulin products be stored in the refrigerator but protected from freezing temperatures (do not store at temperatures <36°F (<2°C). Freezing may alter the protein structure, decreasing potency. Particle aggregation and crystal damage may be visible to the naked eye or may require microscopic examination. Higher temperature (>86°F; >30°C) extremes and direct exposure to sunlight should be avoided (such as might occur when insulin is stored in a car glove compartment or on a window sill), since insulin transformation products and fibril formation may occur. Manufacturers recommend a maximum of 30 days storage at room temperature (except for detemir, which is 42 days). The manufacturer’s label for ProZinc® does not contain a discard date for punctured vials other than the expiration date on the vial. Pet owners should be advised to visually inspect and discard any unused insulin if there are visual signs of contamination before each use.
While not seeing infections, I do notice pretty regularly a decrease in glucose control/regulation when getting down to the end of a bottle. Whether this is due to the date getting close to expiration, poor mixing during use over time resulting concentrations on insulin not consistent with label, or temp effects, I'm not sure. But, I'd recommend NOT to try to use every last drop in the bottle, but don't worry about the cooler or RV fridge.
Doug, DVM
