this post was submitted on 26 Nov 2025
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Insulin is not permanently shelf stable, and will still expire in the fridge.
Diabetics usually start with a long-acting insulin to keep blood sugar from naturally rising plus a fast-acting insulin for corrections and to compensate for food.
The old style of just giving 2 long-acting shots of mixed insulin is mostly obsolete, except for legacy patients, some pregnant patients, and other special cases I can only theorize.
A good number of diabetics only use fast acting insulin in a pump, receiving microdoses every minute.
To switch brands of insulin, much less therapies in any circumstance requires a doctor's visit.
With all that said, the insurance company will often replace a medication in the event of an accident, typically only once a year.
Without that, a patient might be able to find a charity they will assist them.
You also may be able to travel to the next state over where the cost of insulin is regulated.
Failing all other options, it is better to check yourself in to the hospital as your sugar begins to rise and tell them that you cannot control your blood sugar.
I don't think I ever had insurance in the US where checking into the hospital for any amount of time would cost less than $800 out of pocket.
Unless I had already reached my annual deductible, that is.
It's no longer about saving money at that point.
"Hey good news! After about 35% of your annual income is spent on medical bills on top of your triple digit monthly premiums... That health insurance starts to kick in!"
(Until it resets at the end of the year. Teehee!)
The deductible system is ridiculous.
Ah well that's good, at least there appears to be some options.
I've heard of clandestine labs making patented insulin and selling it cheap too, and I'm all for a good grey market.
Not sure about that, and not sure if I could trust that.
Another option is to have the doctor prescribe insulin pens or another brand of the same kind of insulin. It's technically a different prescription and the insurance company usually covers it.
The subs would be R and NPH, not the old mixed formulas like 70/30.