Insulin storage
Keep unopened insulin containers in the refrigerator. Once an insulin package is opened, it's okay to store it at room temperature for as long as the label instructions permit.
Just be sure to keep it away from too much heat or cold and out of bright light and sunlight. Never use insulin after the expiration date on the label. If your insulin looks discolored or lumpy, don't use it.
Disposing of diabetes supplies
All needle tips and syringes are disposable which means you should use them only once and throw them away. Put all syringes and needles in a container that has a screw on or tight-fitting lid. Pharmacies also sell a special "sharps" container for needle disposal. Many states have laws on the proper disposal of these sharps. Talk to your pharmacist or local waste authority about how to correctly dispose of them.
Types of insulin
Insulin comes in different types that work for shorter or longer times.
Regular insulin is clear. It is short-acting, which means it starts to work pretty quickly, and ends its action in a few hours.
NPH is cloudy. It starts working more slowly than Regular and lasts longer.
Rapid-acting insulin analogs are clear, work very quickly, and last a short time.
Premixed insulin analogs are cloudy. The rapid-acting insulin analog part of the premix starts working right away. The intermediate-acting part provides longer-term insulin coverage.
Long-acting insulin analogs are clear. They start working slowly and provide coverage for up to 24 hours.
