HHS Broadcast News Service

09/05/2005

This is FDA Commissioner Les Crawford with an important message on insulin safety for people in the area hit by Hurricane Katrina.

Diabetes patients in the Katrina area may not have been able to refrigerate their insulin. Product labels from all three U.S. manufacturers recommend that insulin be refrigerated. But the available insulin products may be left un-refrigerated – at up to 86 degrees for up to 28 days – and still maintain potency.

In general, insulin loses its strength as its temperature rises and depending on how long it is exposed. Patients may still need to use available insulin even though storage temperatures exceeded 86 degrees. But the temperatures may make the insulin less potent, and this could result in loss of blood glucose control over time.

Insulin from various manufacturers is being made available. Patients who get this insulin should discard older supplies that had not been properly refrigerated.

I’m FDA Commissioner Les Crawford. This message is brought to you by the FDA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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Last revised: September 5, 2005

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