Addressing Challenges in Insulin Storage: An Ethical Dilemma among Physicians

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Insulin is a temperature-sensitive protein; hence, its potency is highly dependent on appropriate storage. Ideally, insulin should be stored in the refrigerator, but when in use it can be stored at room temperature for up to four weeks. However, room temperatures vary widely across regions and countries, and all rural areas of developing countries like India are not electrified. This study explored physicians’ perception of alternative methods for appropriate storage of insulin, such as indigenous storage methods like clay pots. METHODS: A Study was conducted among 188 Indian physicians attending a diabetes conference in December 2018 to evaluate the feasibility of indigenous storage methods. RESULTS: It was observed that although the use of alternate indigenous methods like clay pots was recommended by them, the proportion was low. The awareness of literature on these methods for insulin storage validation was also less than 50%. Owing to the lack of validation studies on indigenous methods, nearly 80% of the physicians felt that they were not confident to recommend them. Besides, the study results highlighted the necessity of conducting an adequate number of validation studies on indigenous methods in the Indian setting, considering their scarcity. CONCLUSION: This is the first time we highlight ethical dilemmas through a study among physicians when they advise non-refrigerator methods for insulin storage, in the event of a lack of electricity supply. It is hoped that results from these studies would highlight ethical dilemmas among physicians and would motivate researchers in this field to conduct studies to validate alternative methods of insulin storage.