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Insulin is a naturally occurring, glucose-lowering hormone used by many people with diabetes to control their blood sugar. In people with type 1 diabetes, supplemental insulin makes up for the insulin that is not produced by the body. People with type 2 diabetes may need to take insulin if they cannot maintain adequate blood sugar control with other medications.

Insulin is manufactured to be identical to the insulin produced by the human pancreas. These synthetic insulins can work from a few hours (rapid-acting insulin) to a whole day (long-acting insulin). They are typically injected via a needle or pen.

All insulins must be stored with care to ensure that they remain safe and effective. Improper storage could result in the breakdown of insulin, affecting its ability to effectively and predictably control your blood sugar level.

Depending on the type of insulin you are prescribed, there may be some subtle differences in how best to store it and how long it will last once open. Ask your doctor or diabetes educator for specifics on how to store your own insulin prescription.

Here are some general rules that reflect best practices for properly storing insulin:

Finally, if you have any doubts, start a new vial or pen to avoid unpleasant surprises.

As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.

No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

Type 1 diabetic for 30 years. I’ve never had issues with insulin going bad until earlier this year when i used FIASP. I had it at room temp and within a week it had brown clumps. Since then i’ve started using a Frio. Insulin prices and medical costs are thru the roof. I’ve lost most any respect for medical system. Their role in society is to use their superior knowledge to help their fellow man. Its now turned into using that superior knowledge to find the sick on the ground and get every last cent from him.

Safe & effective use of insulin requires being able to afford it. Something the US system of providing health care and the pharmacuticial industry is making more & more difficult for more people.

I have been taking insulin for 35 years and had in both hot and cold places for extended periods with zero adverse affects.

I was diagnosed as type 2 last year, my weight was 125kg, my doctor wanted me to start insulin and encouraged a diet with an alarming amount of carbs, so I went to boots and bought a blood sugar tester that I used every day, and started on a Atkins type diet. I.e no carbs….. and when I say no carbs I really mean none. So lots of meats and fish, eggs etc. I gradually started loosing weight at a rate of 3kg per month and Im now 94kg, I have never taken insulin and in a few months I will be my target weight. my lifestyle can never go back to carbs, but I can have some nowerdays without my blood sugar increasing, so if I want a curry I can have a Nan bread with it but no rice chips etc. And to be honest when you cut out carbs you can eat a lot of really tasty things that help lose weight a fry up without the beans is fine, lamb chops and kebabs without the bread etc. The only downside is because of the extra fat intake I need to be doing daily cardio. I really believe doctors are offered too many incentives by drug companies and tend to love writing prescriptions instead of encouraging a positive change in our lifestyles.

Linda: excellent job and good reminder to all of us that lifestyle modification is FIRST and should always be prescribed and renewed at every single visit (no matter what!).

Sound advice, but the big challenge with this is the insurance company restriction on refills. I often have vials/pens on the edge of the 28 days, but discarding means a gap in insurance coverage for refills (covered for x units per day). Expensive. Outlandish wish would be for some way to measure insulin effectiveness to know if it’s expiring. Currently it involves convincing the doc to prescribe a higher daily dose than I really need…

Agree. Please address with your MD.

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Living Well with Diabetes helps you better understand and manage your diabetes. It includes detailed, updated information about medications and alternative treatments for diabetes, and a special section on weight-loss strategies. You’ll also learn the basics of how your body metabolizes sugar, how and when to monitor your blood sugar, and how to cope with both short- and long-term complications of the disease. Most importantly, you’ll see that it’s not just possible to live with diabetes — it’s possible to live well.

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