The Diabetes Center of Excellence at Shands at UF

Insulin helps people with diabetes lower their blood sugar.

You may need to take insulin if:

Your pancreas is no longer making any insulin (type 1).
Your pancreas is not making enough insulin (type 2).
The insulin being made is not working well (type 2).

If your doctor starts you on insulin shots he will choose one or more of the insulin types listed below. The different types of insulin are: 1) rapid acting and short-acting, 2) intermediate-acting, and 3) long-acting. Each of these insulins work for shorter to longer times in the body.

Rapid and Short-acting (Lispro, Aspart and Regular) insulins begin to lower blood sugar soon after you take your shot.

Intermediate-acting (NPH and Lente) insulins take longer to start acting, but they last longer.

Long-acting (Glargine and Ultralente) insulins provide a small amount of insulin for a long time. Usually a short-acting insulin is also used at meal times.

Pre-mixed (70/30, 75/25, and 50/50) insulins are short-acting and intermediate-acting insulin mixed together into one bottle.

It is important to know that insulin acts differently in different people. Your doctor may have you use more than one type of insulin. Usually you will start with one, two, or three shots daily. It may take a little time for you and your doctor to find the best insulin plan for you.

Insulin Storage

(Rule of 10/14/28 days)

Generally, insulin should be refrigerated at 36-46 degrees F (2-8 degrees C). Unopened insulin products may be stored under refrigeration until the expiration date noted on the product label.

Opened or unopened vials of insulin may be stored at a controlled room temperature of 59-86 degrees F (15-30 C) for a period of 1 month; unused insulin should be discarded after that time.

Storage guidelines differ for use and storage of:

used (punctured)
unused cartridge insulin (Penfill)
disposable prefilled insulin pens

Insulin cartridges or regular prefilled insulin pens may be kept un-refrigerated for 28 days (1.5 or 3 ml cartridges).

Humalog mix 75/25 may be used for 10 days capped at room temperature (72 degrees F) and out of direct sunlight; Unopened/unused Humalog 75/25 can be stored without refrigeration for 28 days, but it would be best to store it in the refrigerator.

70/30 insulin cartridges or prefilled pens may be kept un-refrigerated for 10 days.

NPH insulin cartridges or prefilled insulin pens may be kept un-refrigerated for 14 days.

Syringes premixed and/or prefilled at home must be kept in refrigerator with needle up or sideways to prevent crystals from clogging the needle. To be used within 21 days.