[MelodyL]

I am now totally confused.

I was always under the impression that Vials of Lantus and Vials of Levirmir have to STAY refrigerate for as long as you use the product (with syringes).

The other ones (the flex pens), well you store them in the fridge, but when you first use them, they stay at room temperature. (both lantus and levemir pens).

Well, I just was surfing the net trying to make heads or tails of the truth of all this and I stumbled upon a dialogue between some diabetics and their consensus is "Oh, I would NEVER refrigerate the vial of Lantus or Levirmir", I just keep it together with my other insulins in a box on the table"


And one of them said "Or, you could keep the vial of levemir in the fridge, and in the a.m., take a syringe, put the med in the syringe, put the vial back in the fridge and leave the syringe filled with meds on the kitchen table so it will be warm when a shot is taken at bedtime, otherwise it will burn you.

I have never done this in my life. I have used vials for 7 years, recently used the Solostar pen, (took it out of the fridge), kept it at room temp for 28 days, then used a second pen.

My doctor gave me samples of the Levemir pen and a vial of Levemir.

Haven't used them yet, I'm still using the vial of Lantus which I want to use before I start a new product.

Doing well, but if someone who uses either product, well can you tell me how you store each one? In the fridge, all the time, some of the time, none of the time.

I'm very confused now and I"ve been using Lantus for 7 years.

thanks much

Melody

[mrsD]

Once the vials are pierced.... I believe refrigeration is recommended because of sterile conditions are broken. Keeping cool retards growth.
Both types say they can be left out...however. (protect from light and heat).

The pens are not breached. They are sealed so no organisms can get inside.

here is one storage suggestion:

Proper storage of Levemir Vials:

Store new (unopened) vials in the refrigerator, between 36 and 46 degrees F (2 and 8 degrees C). Do not freeze. Store used (open) vials in the refrigerator, between 36 and 46 degrees F (2 and 8 degrees C). If refrigeration is not possible, store at room temperature, below 86 degrees F (30 degrees C). Store away from heat and light. Throw away unrefrigerated or opened vials after 42 days, even if they still contain medicine.

Do not leave Levemir Vials in a car on a warm or sunny day. Do not use Levemir Vials after the expiration date stamped on the label. Keep Levemir Vials, as well as syringes and needles, out of the reach of children and away from pets.

Levemir pen:

Store Levemir FlexPen that are
not being used between 2°C and
8°C in a refrigerator (not too
near the freezer section).

Do not keep the Levemir
FlexPen that you are using, or
that you are carrying as a
spare, in a refrigerator.
You can use it up to 4 weeks at or
below 30°C after taking it out of
the refrigerator. Brief periods
above 30°C, however, are
acceptable.

Discard Levemir FlexPen after
4 weeks even if there is still
some medicine left in it.

The Levemir in Levemir
FlexPen must not be frozen, or
exposed to heat or direct
sunlight. Protect the medicine in
Levemir FlexPen from light by
keeping the pen cap on when
not in use.

Keep out of the reach of
children.

This is from the manufacturer leaflet:
http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=...unIfxb68PlzU4Q

Lantus is similar:
http://www.lantus.com/currently-on-lantus/storage.aspx

[MelodyL]

So I have been doing the correct thing. Keeping vials in the fridge all the time. Keeping pens in the fridge until I use them, then at room temp for 4 weeks.

28 days for Lantus, and it's the same for Levimir? I thought it was 42 days for Levimir.?

Going to check out those links. AND A BIG THANK YOU!!!

Hey MRs. D, today my sugar was 95 at 1 p.m.

How cool.

lol

Melody

[mrsD]

That is great that your sugars are doing well.

So are mine, and I am not taking any Glumetza (metformin) at all!

I have lost some weight, but I don't think enough for that much of a result.

I don't go much below 100 but that is okay with me! I get symptoms of low blood sugar below 100... sweating, shakey, and moody.

I'll be going to the doctor soon... for A1C test, and check up.

[MelodyL]

Originally Posted by mrsD

That is great that your sugars are doing well.

So are mine, and I am not taking any Glumetza (metformin) at all!

I have lost some weight, but I don't think enough for that much of a result.

I don't go much below 100 but that is okay with me! I get symptoms of low blood sugar below 100... sweating, shakey, and moody.

I'll be going to the doctor soon... for A1C test, and check up.

Well, good for you. I'm always trying to get my blood sugar as close to the 100 mark as I can. Some days I get there, some days I don't but lately, I get there more and more so I keep on trying.

Yesterday saw the opthamologist. Years ago I had tiny pinprick hemmorages and I thought I was swatting flies. Never knew it was the tiny bleeds. They resolved. So I had been having great check ups. Last year he told me "you have diabetes for 24 years?, you have the eyes of a person who was just diagnosed with diabetes, not bad at all.

Yesterday when I saw the scans of my eyes, I saw two or three little tiny dots, and I asked "what are these?" and the guy said: 'Oh, that's diabetes but you are not bad at all" and the doctor said the same thing. He said "for 64 years old and a person with diabetes for 24 years you are terrific". I asked him "what about the little dots?" and he explained and he said 'don't worry, keep eating and doing what you are doing". He also said (and he told me this YEARS ago, that I have a very slow growing cataract. I have no vision problems. Actually I have 20/20 vision which I NEVER had growing up. I always wore glasses to see the movies or to see distances. Haven't worn glasses for about 10 years now and I have no idea why. I just need magnifers to see the amount on the insulin bottle. When I used the pen, I didn't need to wear those glasses. But for every day regular stuff I haven't worn glasses in 10 years.

So I shall continue to eat my carrots. and eat my sprouts. Oh, I did ask the doctor "Is there any supplement that I should be taking (in addition to my diet) to help the blood vessels in my eyes" and he shrugged and said 'no, not really". I mentioned lutein and he said "Nah, just keep eating what you are eating"

Mrs. D. I if you know of any supplement that might reverse the little bleeds in the blood vessels in my eyes (I don't have any symptoms), I'd like to hear about it. Doctors don't believe in supplements, this I know.

But we know better.

thanks, Melody

[mrsD]

Most of the supplements that are made for retina health, contain zinc as the basic ingredient. You are probably getting enough of the carotenoids in your sprouts.

A typical product is Preservision:
http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/bau...5-000052196935

[MelodyL]

Originally Posted by mrsD

Most of the supplements that are made for retina health, contain zinc as the basic ingredient. You are probably getting enough of the carotenoids in your sprouts.

A typical product is Preservision:
http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/bau...5-000052196935

I take a zinc (OPTIZINC), once a week. Because I heard that too much zinc can be toxic. My goodness, it's either good for you or it's toxic.

Hard to know what's good for one's body and what is bad.

But I did read one thing on the internet as I was searching for the benefits of supplementation.

One guy wrote "It's far better to get ones vitamins, minerals etc from nutrition, rather than from supplementation"

So I shall continue my sprouting!!!

lol

Melody