FAQ on diabetes meds

October 9, 2015

We discuss the most common concerns people have about their insulin medication's side effects as well as tips to tell if insulin has gone bad and how to keep the shelf life longer.

FAQ on diabetes meds

I'm worried about side effects from my new meds. What can I expect?

Diabetes medications are generally safe and work quite well.

  • Discuss specifics of each of your medications with your doctor or pharmacist, and read the package insert after you pick up your prescription.
  • Since drugs can interact with other medicines — prescription or otherwise — and since some diabetes pills do not sit well with alcohol, be sure to heed your doctor's (or pharmacist's) advice.
  • Common side effects of some drugs are hypoglycemia (when blood-sugar levels fall too low), stomach upset, skin reactions, bloating and weight gain. Certain drugs, over time, can damage your liver.

Can insulin go bad?

Is it cloudy? Past the expiration date? You need to know when not to use a vial of insulin. If you use insulin, you probably know already that some types — rapid-acting, regular and long-acting — should be clear, while intermediate-acting insulin and insulin mixtures should look cloudy.

But did you know that even a bottle that looks right shouldn't be used after it's been open for a certain amount of time? This can be four weeks for many types, but as little as 10 to 14 days for some types and as much as 42 days for others. In one recent report, using expired insulin led to fasting blood-sugar readings 50 points higher.

Follow these storage and safety tips:

  1. Don't use insulin that's discoloured, contains particles or crystals, has "frosting" on the inside of the bottle or is cloudy when it should be clear.
  2. If your insulin doesn't look the way it should, don't use it. Return it to the pharmacy for a replacement or refund.
  3. Store unopened, unused insulin in the refrigerator. It's good until the expiration date. Read the label to see how long an opened vial, cartridge or pen kept at room temperature can be used.
  4. Don't let insulin freeze, keep it away from sun and excessive heat, and handle it gently because hard shaking could cause crystals to form.
  5. If you get your insulin by mail, ask your mail-order pharmacy how they protect it during shipment in hot and cold weather.
The material on this website is provided for entertainment, informational and educational purposes only and should never act as a substitute to the advice of an applicable professional. Use of this website is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy.
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