We normally keep our insulin in two batches. The big batch is all the “reserve” insulin, which we keep in insulin containers in a fridge. The small batch is the “current” insulin, which includes, for us, the most recently open pen and cartridge boxes of short- and long-acting insulin.
So far, we have kept the current insulin in ad hoc containers: ziplocs, tupperware, or nothing… After having it fall accidentally too many times on the floor, we finally decided we would find an appropriately sized container for it, that will adequately protect it from shock and contact with other fridge goods. After some experimentation, we found this almost ideally sized Lock & Lock container:
It is about 1.0" longer than the 2.32 cup container.
Outside dimensions: 8.1" x 5.3" x2.0"
The present 3.38 cup container is a bit bulkier than the 2.32 cup container (in particular in length). Where the 2.32 cup can fit vertically where we keep it, the 3.38 cup container cannot. However, in terms of bulk they are not radically different.
The 4.23 cup container is exactly as long and wide as the 3.38 cup container, but it is quite a bit taller (0.7"):
Outside dimensions: 8.1" x 2.3" x 2.7"
Right now, I am thinking that we may keep on using the 2.37 cup container in the main fridge for the “current” insulin, but start using several 4.23 cup containers for bulk insulin storage. Or we may keep on experimenting:-)
What are your favorite insulin storage containers?
I’ve seen at least one person post a picture of like 200 vials in some container that looked similiar to one of your boxes above. I’d love to know what people use for storing insulin vials. If anyone has suggestions, I’d love to hear about it. Right now I have all of our vials in the bags we picked them up in from CVS. Also, if you do take them out of boxes, etc., do you somehow mark them to make sure they are used in FIFO (first in, first out) order?
We have a lot of surplus insulin vials now because we’re honestly just not using it as quickly as we get it. From what I’m reading, though, expired insulin works just fine so we’re going to continue to use it in FIFO order until we run into an issue. I fear more than anything (probably like a lot of people) that, as sole income earner, if something happens to me wth will happen to Liam (all my boys for that matter, but medically important atm is Liam). So I’m going to horde everything and throw nothing away. In the event of the worst possible situation, I’ll have medical supplies to fall back on in the event I can’t work. These are the kinds of thoughts that keep me awake at night. Responsible for a family of 7 so making sure I don’t take any unnecessary risks that could put them in jeopardy.
I don’t know what kind of j@ck@$$ would have something like that…
But anyway, a good source for boxes like this are art supply stores and back-to-school sales. I think the ones above were meant for pens and pencils at some point. They work really well.
So, let’s say you have more in one of the stacks than you actually use during 1/2 of a year. Say you marked 50 vials (don’t know what you use so making a huge and probably wrong guess) for “2nd half of 2019”. Then say 2020 came around and you still had 12 vials. What would you do with those?
We are using the vials at a rate so we won’t run into the problem. We currently have about 9 vials that have second half of 2019 on them. We use about 1.5 vials per month. Every quarter it seems like the new vials we receive have about a 2 year expiration on them from when they arrive.
With that said, I would, without hesitation use the expired insulin. Only when I saw that it was less effective than expected would I start to use “fresher” insulin.
Thanks!