Is it safe for insulin to be dispatched by post?

Author: VioVet
Published: Sunday 20th January 2013
Updated: Friday 7th February 2020

Is it safe for Caninsulin to be dispatched by post, particularly regarding cold storage?

As a precaution, we post out insulin in a cold pack, which should keep the product cool for a period of 3 days. However, the fact is that Caninsulin (along with other forms of insulin) is not as temperature sensitive as many people believe. If you read the data sheet from the manufacturer which accompanies the product, you will see that they are confident that it can be stored at room temperature for 28 days. Long-term storage is advised to be at fridge temperature, but they are happy once the product is in use, for it not to be fridged at all. (This has some benefits for patient comfort - the insulin is not cold when injected. Some human hospitals apparently do not fridge their supplies once they are in use. It is important to discard any remaining product once the vial has been broached for 28 days. This is mostly due to potential contamination concerns in fact.)

Other theoretical concerns for insulin being sent by post are prolonged contact with the rubber stopper in the top of the vial, and repeated shaking. Both of these things can cause some degradation of the insulin and reduction of efficacy. However these concerns have been evaluated by various manufacturers and large scale users of insulin, and the degree of degradation in normal circumstances is insignificant. We are confident that Caninsulin can safely be sent by post.

VetMedsDirect

VetMedsDirect has been working alongside VioVet to bring you a wider range of products, including prescription medications. VetMedsDirect has been owned and run by VioVet since 2015, and has been operating since then from the same premises in Luton, Bedfordshire.

VetMedsDirect has now been fully merged with VioVet. If you had an account with VetMedsDirect you can securely login with your same details on the VioVet website and there will be no delay or disruption to the supply of your pet products.

Thank you for being a VetMedsDirect customer, we are confident that you will be just as satisfied with what VioVet can offer you and your pets!

If you'd like more information about the company merge, you can read more on our blog.