Insulin questions

Call your doctor or pharmacist. Insulin & diabetes is nothing to mess with.

Yes, after using the first time, it must be used within a certain time. It slowly loses its effectiveness after that.

Talk to your pharmacy.

Thanks!

You are welcome emmiesmon. I had to use it for a cat for a number of years. They use human insulin. Made for interesting conversations when I bought it.

Hello, I was on Lantus for 10 months. With the vial, which I kept refrigerated continuously, it lost effectiveness after about 15 days. I switched to pens, the pen effectiveness was also 15 days, so one box of pens was good for 75 days, I still ended up tossing quite a bit of insulin either way. I found the pens are more cost effective because you get 5 pens equal to 1500 units vs the 1000 units in the vial. Pens have to be kept at room temperature after you open one. I ended up switching to Levemir because it has a much longer effective life after opening either the vial or the pens. One box of Levemir pens lasts approximately 360 days on a low dose of course. Levemir is somewhat less expensive upfront as well. I also found, for me, Levemir is more effective. Lantus is also NOT the preferred basal insulin Dr. Bernstein recommends because of a study in Germany linking it to cancer. I do tend to take Bernstein's advice seriously. The expiration dates on either the pens or the vials only pertain to unopened vial or pen, once opened, the preservatives degrade as does the insulin itself. Hope that helps. CatLoverDogsToo

On 7/12/2014 addiegal said: I hope this is the answer to your highter BS readings...with insulin as with many medicines it is so important to maintain full effectiveness. My mother was a diabetic on insulin. I would get a new refill...see if that doesn't help.

I'm hoping this is the reason too. Was extremely ill last night and this morning. Severe nausea and diarrhea..sweating all over. So thankful I didn't work today. My little min pin knew something was wrong, and has been by my side constantly. I have to admit I've been scared. My clinic is closed on the weekends, and no way could I get an appt for some time. I'll just have to tough it out, thanks for your input. I have several refills and threw the last one out! You always help me feel better, you're so sweet Addie!

On 7/12/2014 Cat Lover Dogs too said:

Hello, I was on Lantus for 10 months. With the vial, which I kept refrigerated continuously, it lost effectiveness after about 15 days. I switched to pens, the pen effectiveness was also 15 days, so one box of pens was good for 75 days, I still ended up tossing quite a bit of insulin either way. I found the pens are more cost effective because you get 5 pens equal to 1500 units vs the 1000 units in the vial. Pens have to be kept at room temperature after you open one. I ended up switching to Levemir because it has a much longer effective life after opening either the vial or the pens. One box of Levemir pens lasts approximately 360 days on a low dose of course. Levemir is somewhat less expensive upfront as well. I also found, for me, Levemir is more effective. Lantus is also NOT the preferred basal insulin Dr. Bernstein recommends because of a study in Germany linking it to cancer. I do tend to take Bernstein's advice seriously. The expiration dates on either the pens or the vials only pertain to unopened vial or pen, once opened, the preservatives degrade as does the insulin itself. Hope that helps. CatLoverDogsToo

Thanks so much..I follow Dr. Bernstein too, but I've had good luck with the Lantus. Will talk to my doctor when I see her this fall~ I was using the pens but the vials work better for me. Guess we're all different. I kept my pens in the frig!