All unopened insulin should be kept in the refrigerator at 36°- 46°F (2.2°-7.7°C). Once insulin is in use, it should be kept at room temperature (less than 86°F/30°C). If insulin is not stored properly, it may not work effectively, which could cause unpredictable glucose values.
• Make sure the type of insulin you received is what your health care provider ordered.
• Be sure to prepare your insulin as instructed.
• Examine your insulin. If it does not look right, do not use it.
• Check the expiration date (before opened).
• Check the use-by date (after opened).
• Insulin will spoil if it gets above 90°F (32.2°C) or if it freezes.
• Insulin bottles and pens should not be left in a car.
• Cooling packs are available for traveling.
When should insulin be discarded?
These are signs that insulin has gone bad and should be discarded.
• Clumps of insulin are sticking to the side of the bottle.
• Clear, rapid-acting insulin becomes cloudy.
• The insulin is past the expiration date.
Optimal Duration of Storage of various Insulins
| SANOFI AVENTIS | HOW LONG IN-USE INSULIN LASTS AT ROOM TEMPERATURE |
| Insulin glulisine (Apidra) pen or vial* | 28 days |
| Insulin lispro (Admelog) pen or vial | 28 days |
| Glargine (Lantus) pen or vial | 28 days |
| Glargine U300 (Toujeo) pen | 42 days |
| Glargine/Lixisenatide (Soliqua) | 14 days |
| NOVO NORDISK | HOW LONG IN-USE INSULIN LASTS AT ROOM TEMPERATURE |
| Novolin R vial* | 42 days |
| Novolin N vial* | 42 days |
| Novolin 70/30 vial* | 42 days |
| Novolin 70/30 pen | 10 days |
| Aspart (Novolog) Mix 70/30 pen Aspart (Novolog) Mix 70/30 vial | 14 days 28 days |
| Aspart (Novolog) pen or vial | 28 days |
| Aspart (Fiasp) pen or vial | 28 days |
| Determir (Levemir) pen or vial* | 42 days |
| Degludec (Tresiba) pen (U100 or U200) | 56 days |
| Degludec/Liraglutide (Xultophy) | 21 days |
* These insulins must be stored below 77°F (25°C)
| ELI LILLY | HOW LONG IN-USE INSULIN LASTS AT ROOM TEMPERATURE |
| Humulin R vial (U 100) | 31 days |
| Humulin N pen or vial | 14 days |
| Humulin 70/30 pen or vial | 10 days |
| Lispro (Humalog) Mix 50/50 pen or vial | 10 days |
| Lispro (Humalog) Mix 75/25 pen or vial | 10 days |
| Lispro (Humalog) pen or vial (U 100) | 28 days |
| Lispro U200 (Humalog) pen | 28 days |
| Humulin R U500 pen or vial | 28 days |
| Giargine (Basaglar) pen | 28 days |
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