General information, not an individual diagnosis. Ask a healthcare professional if you are unsure about your situation.
Cold can affect both insulin and glucose-testing equipment, but in different ways. For an adult with diabetes, plan storage and transport by reading each product’s own instructions rather than assuming one temperature is suitable for everything.
French health insurance states that insulin can freeze at too low a temperature: if crystals form, it is unusable and ineffective. If you are unsure about exposure to cold, consult the leaflet or ask a pharmacist how to assess the product concerned.
Glucose meters, test strips, electrodes and control solutions can become less reliable after exposure to cold. A device may also show an error. A reading obtained under these conditions can be inaccurate: check the storage, transport and use conditions for each item.
If you change meter or test strips, read the new instructions: their temperature conditions may differ from those for your old equipment. Also protect pens, pumps and catheters from temperature changes and moisture, following the device instructions.
For transport that requires cold storage, clarify how to maintain the specified conditions without freezing the medicine. French health insurance recommends avoiding direct contact with an ice pack and checking that the system maintains the temperature throughout the journey.
After unusual exposure, note the product, conditions and duration if known, then ask a pharmacist for advice with the box or leaflet. Do not stop or change your treatment on your own: ask your care team how to continue your care.
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