Insulin When the Fridge Is Off: An Outage Plan

If someone in your house uses insulin, an outage plan has to include it. The good news: insulin is more forgiving than most people think. The bad news: heat and freezing both ruin it.

This is general information. Your insulin's package insert and your pharmacist have the exact rules for your product.

01How long it lasts out of the fridge

Many insulins can be kept at room temperature (roughly 59 to 86°F) for a limited time once they're out of the fridge, often about 28 days, though it varies by product. Check the insert for yours.

So in a typical 2- or 3-day outage, insulin you're using is often fine at room temperature, as long as the room isn't hot.

02What ruins it

• Freezing. Frozen insulin should not be used, even after it thaws. Never put it directly on ice or in a freezer.
• Heat. A hot car, a sunny windowsill, next to a space heater.
• Direct sunlight.

03Keeping it cool without freezing

• Insulated cooling cases made for insulin (some use water-activated gel that stays cool for days without ice or power).
• A cooler with ice packs, with the insulin wrapped in a towel so it never touches the ice.
• The coolest room in the house in summer; away from the heater in winter.

04Before the storm

• Refill on time. Don't let your supply run low in storm season. Keep a few days' extra on hand going into the holidays, when pharmacies close early. See the home first aid kit checklist.
• Have a cooling case ready with the insulin you use every day.
• Backup supplies: pen needles, syringes, test strips, lancets, glucose tabs.
• Charge your meter, CGM receiver and pump. A small power bank helps. See what a power station won't run.
• Write down doses and your doctor's and pharmacy's numbers on paper.

05If you're not sure it's good

Look at it. Clumps, crystals, frosting on the glass, or cloudy insulin that's supposed to be clear: don't use it. Call your pharmacist. Many states let pharmacists give emergency refills during declared disasters.

06Other cold medicines

Some other medicines need refrigeration too. Ask your pharmacist which of yours do, and how long they're good at room temperature.

Photo by stevepb on Pixabay.

Related: Home Oxygen, CPAP and Other Medical Devices: Call Before the Storm