Eyal Wormser
Type 1 diabetic, M.sc in chemical engineering and developer of the BreezyPacks insulin cooling cases
Discover how heat causes insulin degradation and how to manage it. Don’t let diabetes hold you back. Plan ahead and protect your insulin without worry.
The impact of heat on insulin effectiveness often goes overlooked. For people with diabetes, especially type 1, managing insulin is vital. Yet, in cooler climates, hot days or vacations can impair insulin function due to temperatures over 30°C.
However, this doesn’t mean that insulin users need to restrict themselves from certain climates or activities. Recognising the issue and planning ahead can enable us to handle this challenge effectively and manage our diabetes regardless of the weather.
How to verify insulin heat degradation
Recognising insulin degradation is vital to dealing with it. Many sources advise that insulin might become discoloured or cloudy and change its consistency after getting exposed to hot weather — but that isn’t always the case, and insulin might lose effectiveness without any visual indication.
If your insulin seems to be less effective than usual at lowering blood glucose levels, isn’t expired and has spent time in temperatures that might have exceeded 30°C, it is likely heat degradation. The best way to verify this is by using a different insulin vial that wasn’t stored in the same conditions. If your glucose levels seem to react better to that vial, get rid of the suspicious insulin.
If your insulin seems to be less effective
than usual at lowering blood glucose
levels, isn’t expired and has spent time
in temperatures that might have exceeded
30°C, it is likely heat degradation.
Prevent insulin heat exposure
The best solution to this issue is to plan ahead. If your insulin will stay in permitted temperatures, heat degradation should not be an issue. Avoid leaving your insulin in hot places such as in a hot car, in direct sun or next to heat sources including heaters or vents in a plane or car. If avoiding exposure to hot temperatures (over 30°C) is not an option, you’ll need to keep your insulin cool using another method.
Compare insulin storage solutions
The way you store your insulin can be the difference between fully functional insulin and high blood glucose levels that can ruin your vacation and harm your health. Generally, there are three kinds of solutions available:
- Powered coolers, such as mini fridges: these can keep your insulin fridge-cold but are costly, not as portable and require a power source.
- Insulated cases: these can help your insulin last longer and are the cheapest option around, but to truly keep your insulin cool, you’ll need to use them with an icepack, requiring freezer access.
- ‘Passive’ cooling cases: a mid-priced option that offers the simplest solution and is the best fit for travel situations. These include water-activated cases that require soaking in water and newer solutions like BreezyPacks, which use a chemical transformation to keep your insulin cool every day and regenerate at room temperature overnight.
Don’t let diabetes stop you
At BreezyPacks, we’ve heard many stories of people letting diabetes hold them back for years, avoiding activities they would like to do, bailing on trips and letting diabetes manage their lives. As a type 1 diabetic myself, I truly believe that things don’t have to be this way. I’m pleased that our products have enabled me, and others, to do what we love, explore the world and live our lives to the fullest.
