How long does insulin last?

Our question this week was:

How long does insulin last?

Answer

Hi – thanks for your email. The expiration of insulin varies based on several factors including the type of insulin and the manufacturer. Most insulin's expire in 30 to 90 days. There are several factors that can affects its "shelf life" including exposure to light, use with other insulins (some are mixed), lack of appropriate refrigeration, and eventually…the chemical instability of the product that can occur with time.

Before you use the insulin – make sure that the color is the same and there are no abnormalities. Follow the recommendations on the bottle for best results regarding the shelf life.

There are some insulin's that are made in smaller vials – so if you are using small quantities in a month – consider asking the pharmacist if it is available in smaller portions (which are generally less expensive).

Best of luck,

Dr. Debra

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