Storing insulin at home
Your doctor or diabetes nurse will work out how much insulin you need to have at home to last you 1 or 2 months. Always try to have at least one spare pen, cartridge or vial available to use.
Keep your disposable insulin pens, cartridges or vials in the fridge until you start using them. Keep them away from the freezer section or cooler element inside the fridge. If the insulin freezes you'll need to throw it away.
Insulin that you're using
Once you start using a new disposable pen or cartridge, you can keep it out of the fridge at room temperature for up to 4 weeks.
Injecting cold insulin straight from the fridge can be painful, so it's best to let it warm up to room temperature before you use it.
Keep your insulin pen out of direct sunlight and away from radiators. If it gets too warm the insulin may not work properly.
Biphasic insulin that has been kept out of the fridge for longer than 4 weeks may not work properly, so you'll need to return it to your pharmacy to dispose of it. You can write the date that you took it out of the fridge on the packaging, to help you remember.
Travelling with insulin
Taking insulin will not stop you from travelling, but it's important to plan ahead.
If you're away from home, it's a good idea to take an extra supply of insulin with you.
If necessary, keep it in a cool bag while travelling, but be careful not to put it next to an ice block so that it does not freeze.
If you're going on holiday:
- pack extra medicine – speak to your diabetes nurse about how much to take
- find out how you can get insulin in the place you're visiting, and take a recent prescription with you
- carry your insulin in your hand luggage if you're flying
- take a letter from your GP or diabetes care team to say you have diabetes and need to take your insulin and your equipment such as insulin pens and needles onto the plane (you may need to pay for the letter)
- let the airline know well in advance if you use a glucose monitor (a sensor that you wear attached to your body to check your blood glucose) – you can also download a medical device awareness card from the Civil Aviation Authority website
- if you'll be crossing several time zones, ask your doctor or diabetes nurse how to adjust your insulin doses
Find out more from Diabetes UK about travelling with diabetes.