Rapid Responses to:

PRACTICE: R Pryce Diabetic ketoacidosis caused by exposure of insulin pump to heat and sunlight BMJ 2009; 338: a2218 [Full text]

Rapid Responses: Submit a response to this article

Rapid Responses published:

Insulin Storage

prasanna Rao Balakrishna   (11 January 2009)

Put an indicator on the bottle

Hilary M Hearnshaw   (13 May 2009)

Insulin Storage 11 January 2009
prasanna Rao Balakrishna, SpR Manchester Send response to journal: Re: Insulin Storage	In general most manufacturers suggest that unopened Insulin cartridges and vials have a shelf life of 24 to 30 months when stored between 2 – 8 degree C. The Insulins should never be frozen or kept next to the freezer compartments. Once opened it is recommended that they are kept in their outer cartons to protect from direct sunlight and should be stored at room temperature, less than 25 degree C ideally and in any case never above 30 degree C. Competing interests: None declared
Put an indicator on the bottle 13 May 2009
Hilary M Hearnshaw, Retired researcher in diabetes care Warwick Medical School, CV4 7AL, UK Send response to journal: Re: Put an indicator on the bottle	Several years ago I attempted to persuade several insulin manufacturers that they should try to put an indicator on the container which changed colour permanently if the insulin had been left outside the desirable temperature range, and may have become unreliable to use. Then the user would know this had happened. Currently, as for the young lady whose insulin pump had been exposed to heat and sunlight, there is no way of knowing whether this has happened. Sadly none of the manufacturers were the slightest bit interested in this suggestion. I hope that the item in BMJ might stimulate some action on this issue. Competing interests: None declared