# My insulin experiment for Michel...Relax everyone! **URL:** \ **Category:** Insulin\ **Tags:** preparedness\ **Created:** [March 30, 2017, 4:45pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/my-insulin-experiment-for-michel-relax-everyone/271 "2017-03-30T16:45:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ClaudnDaye](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/claudndaye/32/5_2.png) [@ClaudnDaye](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/ClaudnDaye)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 6:44pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/my-insulin-experiment-for-michel-relax-everyone/271/22 "2017-03-30T18:44:51Z")
Maybe just voodoo? ---
**Author:** ![Bradford](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/bradford/32/30_2.png) [@Bradford](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Bradford)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 6:52pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/my-insulin-experiment-for-michel-relax-everyone/271/23 "2017-03-30T18:52:57Z")
Has anyone here heard of flash freezing insulin? Basically the process of freezing (the slow way) creates a crystalline structure that damages the insulin molecule (making it less effective or non effective)… I know there was an older study that showed that you could flash freeze insulin in liquid nitrogen, then store it regularly in the freezer–bypassing the damaging aspects of typical freezing. I do not think this was done with modern insulin, however, and cannot find any mention of anyone ever trying. Theoretically, there would be no expiration date. ---
**Author:** ![Sam](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/sam/32/10595_2.png) [@Sam](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 6:54pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/my-insulin-experiment-for-michel-relax-everyone/271/24 "2017-03-30T18:54:33Z")
Sounds like a great experiment for a blog post… if we only had a scientist to properly carry out a legit experiment… know any? ---
**Author:** ![Chris](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/chris/32/382_2.png) [@Chris](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Chris)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 7:04pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/my-insulin-experiment-for-michel-relax-everyone/271/26 "2017-03-30T19:04:23Z")
I haven’t heard of this, but I would love to get a hold of a used medical freeze dryer to try and create some lypholized insulin for long term storage. I suspect that as long as you use liquid nitrogen to freeze you will be fine. You may need a deep freeze to keep for long term storage though not sure about that. In our old lab we would have stored at liquid nitrogen temps for long term storage. ---
**Author:** ![Bradford](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/bradford/32/30_2.png) [@Bradford](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Bradford)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 7:11pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/my-insulin-experiment-for-michel-relax-everyone/271/28 "2017-03-30T19:11:46Z")
I didn’t consider lyophilizing insulin. Very good idea. We usually keep our long term storage in our lab at -80C. I read in the old study that once the samples are flash frozen, normal below freezing temperatures are sufficient for storage. ---
**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/eric/32/9209_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Eric)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 7:15pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/my-insulin-experiment-for-michel-relax-everyone/271/29 "2017-03-30T19:15:57Z")
> [@Sam](#): > > … if we only had a scientist to properly carry out a legit experiment… I don’t know about a scientist, but I can round you up a human guinea pig to test on… Actually, now that I think about it, if you promise donuts, maybe Doc would be game too! ---
**Author:** ![Chris](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/chris/32/382_2.png) [@Chris](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Chris)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 7:20pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/my-insulin-experiment-for-michel-relax-everyone/271/31 "2017-03-30T19:20:38Z")
I would be worried about very long term storage at normal freezer temps, I did some work long ago with an apo-enzyme, and whenever we stored it above liquid nitrogen temps, the enzyme wasn’t as active after being re-constituted. Our guess was even at freezer temps enough movement of the proteins was allowing some of it to degrade. ---
**Author:** ![Michel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/michel/32/387_2.png) [@Michel](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Michel)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 7:23pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/my-insulin-experiment-for-michel-relax-everyone/271/32 "2017-03-30T19:23:15Z")
> [@Chris](#): > > even at freezer temps enough movement of the proteins was allowing some of it to degrade. Interesting ---
**Author:** ![mikep](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/mikep/32/149_2.png) [@mikep](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/mikep)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 7:24pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/my-insulin-experiment-for-michel-relax-everyone/271/33 "2017-03-30T19:24:43Z")
Eric - this is great stuff. ---
**Author:** ![docslotnick](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/docslotnick/32/75_2.png) [@docslotnick](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/docslotnick)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 7:50pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/my-insulin-experiment-for-michel-relax-everyone/271/34 "2017-03-30T19:50:35Z")
Donuts? I’m in! ---
**Author:** ![Eric](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/eric/32/9209_2.png) [@Eric](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Eric)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 9:01pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/my-insulin-experiment-for-michel-relax-everyone/271/37 "2017-03-30T21:01:49Z")
> [@Michel](#): > > do you mind if we split this thread? And while you are at it, make a donut one for Doc and me. ---
**Author:** ![Irish](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/irish/32/57_2.png) [@Irish](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Irish)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 4:56am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/my-insulin-experiment-for-michel-relax-everyone/271/38 "2017-04-04T04:56:13Z")
I remember reading that the flash freezing method only worked on older insulins? If I find a link, I’ll post it here. But if it does work, I’m all in for a chocolate donut! [Previous page](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/my-insulin-experiment-for-michel-relax-everyone/271.md?page=1)