How to Store Insulin: How Long It Lasts Out of the Fridge, by Type
Unopened insulin goes in the refrigerator at 36 to 46°F until its expiry date. Once in use, most pens stay at room temperature, below 86°F, for 28 days, and Toujeo and Tresiba last 56. Never use insulin that has frozen. The table below follows the FDA’s storage data by product.
Your label wins. This is a summary of FDA storage data checked on 2026-10-22. Storage rules differ by product, by device and by strength, and can change. Read the leaflet in your box or ask your pharmacist.
Storage by insulin type
| Insulin | In-use pen or cartridge | In-use vial | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humalog (lispro) | Pens and cartridges: below 86°F, up to 28 days; do not refrigerate after first use | Vial: fridge or below 86°F, up to 28 days | |
| Admelog (lispro) | SoloStar pen: below 86°F, up to 28 days; do not refrigerate | Vial: fridge or below 86°F, up to 28 days | |
| Lyumjev (lispro-aabc) | Pens: below 86°F, up to 28 days; do not refrigerate | Vial: fridge or below 86°F, up to 28 days | |
| Fiasp (aspart) | FlexTouch: fridge or below 86°F, up to 28 days. PenFill: below 86°F, 28 days | Vial: fridge or below 86°F, up to 28 days | PumpCart: discard after 4 days in the pump or 18 days total at room temperature |
| Apidra (glulisine) | SoloStar pen: at or below 77°F, up to 28 days | Vial: fridge or at or below 77°F, up to 28 days | Lower temperature limit than most |
| Lantus (glargine) | SoloStar pen: below 86°F, up to 28 days; do not refrigerate | Vial: fridge or below 86°F, up to 28 days | Discard if frozen or overheated |
| Basaglar (glargine) | KwikPen: below 86°F, up to 28 days | Not applicable | Unopened at room temperature also 28 days total |
| Semglee (glargine-yfgn) | Prefilled pen: below 86°F, up to 28 days | Vial: fridge or below 86°F, up to 28 days | |
| Rezvoglar (glargine-aglr) | KwikPen: below 86°F; 28 days combined unopened and in use | Not applicable | |
| Toujeo (glargine 300 units/mL) | Pens: below 86°F, up to 56 days; do not refrigerate | Not applicable | Longer than U-100 glargine (28 days) |
| Tresiba (degludec) | FlexTouch: fridge or below 86°F, up to 56 days | Vial: fridge or below 86°F, up to 56 days | 56 days either way |
| Humulin N (NPH) | KwikPen: below 86°F, up to 14 days; do not refrigerate | 10 mL vial: fridge or below 86°F, up to 31 days | Unopened at room temperature counts toward the same days |
Not listed here: some products, including the biosimilars, have storage rows that the FDA table marks for verification against current labels. Look them up in the leaflet or on DailyMed.
For every insulin
- Unopened: refrigerator, 36 to 46°F. Do not freeze. The FDA says unopened vials or cartridges kept at 59 to 86°F stay usable for up to 28 days.
- Protect from direct heat and light, including cars, windowsills and bags in the sun.
- Write the date you started a pen or vial on it, and discard on the day the label says even if insulin remains.
- In a pump: follow the pump maker’s limits. The FDA says to discard insulin in the infusion set after 48 hours unless the maker says otherwise, and to throw away pump insulin exposed to temperatures above 98.6°F.
- Different strengths (U-200, U-300, U-500) have their own rules, and concentrated pens must not be used with a syringe. Follow your care team’s instructions.
Traveling or in the heat? See insulin cooling case and TSA and diabetes supplies.
Frequently asked questions
How long can insulin be out of the fridge?
It depends on the product. For most pens in use the FDA label says below 86°F for up to 28 days, for Toujeo and Tresiba 56 days, and for Humulin N KwikPen 14 days. The table lists the main ones. If yours is not listed, read the leaflet or ask your pharmacist.
Should I keep my insulin pen in the fridge?
Keep unopened pens in the refrigerator at 36 to 46°F until the expiry date. Once a pen is in use, most labels say to keep it at room temperature and not to refrigerate it after the first use. Some vials and Fiasp and Tresiba pens may be refrigerated.
What if insulin freezes?
Do not use it. Every label we read says to discard insulin that has frozen, and the FDA says not to use frozen insulin.
What if it got hot?
Heat above the label limit can reduce how well insulin works. The FDA says that in an emergency you may still need to use insulin stored above 86°F, keeping it as cool as possible, and to replace it once you have properly stored insulin. Ask your pharmacist or care team.
How long can insulin stay in a pump?
The FDA says insulin in the infusion set should be discarded after 48 hours unless the pump maker says otherwise, and lists reservoir limits of about 6 to 7 days for some products. Follow your pump’s instructions.
Information only, not medical advice. Your care team may set different targets for you, and only a lab test ordered by a clinician can diagnose diabetes or prediabetes. See our medical disclaimer.
Sources
- FDA: FDA-Approved Insulin Products (storage table, checked 2026-10-22)
- FDA: Information Regarding Insulin Storage and Switching Between Products in an Emergency
Last reviewed: by the Diabetes Blogs editorial team. Information only, not medical advice.
