Rating

	My Rating: 1 ratings 5 stars (1) 4 stars (0) 3 stars (0) 2 stars (0) 1 stars (0)

Email

	Email this page to a friend Friend's Email: Your Name: Your Email: Enter the code shown: Submitting Send Email

You know what they say: “Mistakes happen.” You know what else they say: “Learn from your mistakes.” This is especially important when it comes to managing your diabetes — especially just after you’re first diagnosed, as some mistakes can be more serious than others. Luckily, we’ve got your back. Here a few common teachable moments we hope you won’t experience as you’re learning to manage your diabetes — and the lessons you can take away from them to care for your condition like a pro.

Management Mistake: Improper insulin storage

When it comes to insulin, you can say, “I can't live without it,” and be speaking literally. It’s life saving. It’s essential. It also requires careful handling. Storing insulin at an extreme temperature (for example, in a freezer or a hot, stuffy car) is a no-go. But so is room-temperature storage if you buy in bulk and want your extra supply to last, says Grace Tom, RN, a nurse specializing in diabetes care at Alta Bates Medical Center in Berkeley, CA.

Mistake Managed!

Tuck your extra insulin into the fridge for optimal storage. If the relatively cold temperature makes injections more painful, Tom says room temperature is an option, but only once insulin has been opened: “Opened insulin can sit out for short periods of time — no more than a month.” Insulin is a protein, and like any protein, can spoil. Although spoiled insulin won’t poison you or make you sick, after a while, bacteria may grow in it that can render it ineffective, which is dangerous for blood sugar levels. Your best bet? Clear some room in the crisper for all your unopened insulin.

Published on April 20, 2015.

-By Katie Lewin. Katie is a Bay Area­–based health and lifestyle writer.