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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Diabetes / August 2007Newbie question: Do you re-use lancets?
I am supposed to test 3 times a day. This is not the "greenest" issue, but somehow I do find it quite wasteful to discard a lancet after one use. I talked to nurses and staffers about it and every reason they gave me (would get dull, risk of infection, etc) should apply to shaving blades as well and most people don't throw those away after one shave. So, for a reality check here: Do you re-use your lancets? How many times? > So, for a reality check here: Do you re-use your lancets? How many > times? Yes, until they start to really hurt, from getting dull :) For me that's ~5 times. >> So, for a reality check here: Do you re-use your lancets? How many >> times? > >Yes, until they start to really hurt, from getting dull :) >For me that's ~5 times. I change lancets every 6 months or so. That's hundreds of uses for each one. They're not expensive -- I just don't want to be bothered changing them. >I am supposed to test 3 times a day. This is not the "greenest" issue, > but somehow I do find it quite wasteful to discard a lancet after one [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > So, for a reality check here: Do you re-use your lancets? How many > times? I use one lancet for many months. I don't keep track of how long it has been in there. I just know it's time to change when it starts hurting. You do need to change if you are testing someone else's blood though. : I use one lancet for many months. I don't keep track of how long it has : been in there. I just know it's time to change when it starts hurting. : : You do need to change if you are testing someone else's blood though. Yes I do understand this. I forgot to mention that I would be the only one using this meter. BTW, how do you keep the exposed needle between tests? Wraps it in an alcohol pad; just clean before re-use; or something else? > : I use one lancet for many months. I don't keep track of how long it has > : been in there. I just know it's time to change when it starts hurting. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > BTW, how do you keep the exposed needle between tests? Wraps it in an > alcohol pad; just clean before re-use; or something else? Mine is not exposed. I don't clean it and you NEVER want to put alcohol on it. They are lubed with something and alcohol will remove that. Mine is retractable so it is covered with plastic. "Julie Bove" <juliebove@verizon.net> wrote in message news:ftUti.2204 > I use one lancet for many months. I don't keep track of how long it has > been in there. I just know it's time to change when it starts hurting. At first, I changed mine every time - which was a pain (....yeah, I know - pain...right). It was a relief to find out everybody here was just as lazy as I am so, guilt free, I stopped changing them so often. Which reminds me, this ones been in there about 6 months... probably time, huh? John >At first, I changed mine every time - which was a pain (....yeah, I know - >pain...right). It was a relief to find out everybody here was just as lazy >as I am so, guilt free, I stopped changing them so often. Which reminds me, >this ones been in there about 6 months... probably time, huh? Check with Ted, but many of us follow the St. Swithun's Day rule... Do it that day and on the winter solstice, and you are good to go... I have used only about 4 in the last couple of years... I do make sure my finger about to be pricked is relatively clean. The real bite is the cost of strips... Will, T2 I stopped finger sticking more than 2 years ago......use my upper forearm now.....no pain and BS is not much different than finger. The finger gives a more accurate test of current blood sugar. But you can test forearm and finger and compare the difference. Mine is sometimes about less than 20 difference, and sometimes the same. http://diabetes.webmd.com/guide/how-test-blood-glucose Blood glucose levels in the fingertips show changes more quickly than those in alternative testing sites. This is especially true when your blood glucose is rapidly changing, like after a meal or after exercise. It is also important to know that if you are checking your sugar at an alternative site while you are experiencing symptoms of hypoglycemia, you should not rely on these test results. >>At first, I changed mine every time - which was a pain (....yeah, I know - >>pain...right). It was a relief to find out everybody here was just as lazy [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Will, T2 >I stopped finger sticking more than 2 years ago......use my upper forearm >now.....no pain and BS is not much different than finger. The finger gives >a more accurate test of current blood sugar. But you can test forearm and >finger and compare the difference. Mine is sometimes about less than 20 >difference, and sometimes the same. I would think it wouldn't matter which way you tested, as long as you always test the same place. Once you got used to the reading always being higher... using testing, as a tool, would be the same.... wouldn't it? John >I stopped finger sticking more than 2 years ago......use my upper forearm >now.....no pain and BS is not much different than finger. The finger gives >a more accurate test of current blood sugar. But you can test forearm and >finger and compare the difference. Mine is sometimes about less than 20 >difference, and sometimes the same. I would think it wouldn't matter which way you tested, as long as you always test the same place. Once you got used to the reading always being higher... using testing, as a tool, would be the same.... wouldn't it? John >>I stopped finger sticking more than 2 years ago......use my upper forearm >>now.....no pain and BS is not much different than finger. The finger gives [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >test the same place. Once you got used to the reading always being higher... >using testing, as a tool, would be the same.... wouldn't it? Yes, I think so - as long as you built in a lower trigger number. For instance, if my finger stick goes above 7 on a pp, I go and exercise. As alternate sites are slower, that trigger might need to be, say, 6.5 - because your eyes are faster than your forearm. You would also need to be doing a lot of mental translation when everyone else is talking about pp numbers, but not fasting ones, or you'd be in worse control than they are. Nicky. T2 dx 05/04 + underactive thyroid D&E, 100ug thyroxine Last A1c 5.6% BMI 25 >I stopped finger sticking more than 2 years ago......use my upper forearm >now.....no pain and BS is not much different than finger. The finger gives >a more accurate test of current blood sugar. But you can test forearm and >finger and compare the difference. Mine is sometimes about less than 20 >difference, and sometimes the same. I would think it wouldn't matter which way you tested, as long as you always test the same place. Once you got used to the reading always being higher... using testing, as a tool, would be the same.... wouldn't it? John >>I stopped finger sticking more than 2 years ago......use my upper forearm >>now.....no pain and BS is not much different than finger. The finger gives [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > John As you can tell.... I really like this post......hahaha John (cross post sending issue with OE) Hi RPS I've read all your questions but I'll reply to them all here for simplicity. First, I'll presume that you are newly diagnosed type 2, please correct me if I'm wrong. >I am supposed to test 3 times a day. At this early stage, I'd see that as a bare minimum. Read these two links to see why I say that: http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/NewlyDiagnosed.htm http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/2006/11/when-to-test-one-hour-or-two-hour.html > This is not the "greenest" issue, but somehow I do find > it quite wasteful to discard a lancet after one use. So do most of us. I toss mine when it starts to hurt; I think I changed the last one on St Swithuns day: http://tinyurl.com/2yhnk7 >I talked to nurses and staffers about it and every reason they gave me >(would get dull, risk of infection, etc) should apply to shaving blades >as well and most people don't throw those away after one shave. > >So, for a reality check here: Do you re-use your lancets? How many >times? Between 50 and several hundred. And I do nothing to store it, apart from leaving it in my Soft-clix. Your other questions: >Naively, I would think that as my goal is to burn BG, > it makes most sense to exercise when it is likely to be high, > ie, a little after eating. Is that true? It's what I do myself - so I must agree:-) >Is there a book, or a very short list, that you consider > to be the best on the subject of diabetes? The First Year, Type 2 Diabetes, An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed. Author: Gretchen Becker. ISBN 1-56924-646-0 For more books and useful links, see: http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/2006/10/books-and-links.html Finally, I'm not aware of any meters that will test both A1c and BG's. Best to continue with a BG meter that suits your needs and get the "home" A1c tests that I believe are available over there - or just get it from your path lab. In among all those links, you may have missed the most important one, so I'll repeat it: http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/NewlyDiagnosed.htm Cheers Alan, T2, Australia. d&e, metformin 1500mg, ezetrol 10mg  SignatureI have no medical qualifications beyond my own experience. Choose your advisers carefully, because experience can be an expensive teacher. http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/ Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter. : First, I'll presume that you are newly diagnosed type 2... Yes, indeed. : >I am supposed to test 3 times a day. : At this early stage, I'd see that as a bare minimum. Read : these two links to see why I say that: : <http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/NewlyDiagnosed.htm> : <http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/2006/11/when-to-test-one-hour-or-two-hour.ht : ml> FYI, the second link seems broken. My doctor wants me to test 3 times a day (fasting, 2 hours after lunch, and before going to bed), so that is the minimum indeed. I could buy extra strips and test more on my own. Thank you for the information and links provided below. : > This is not the "greenest" issue, but somehow I do find : > it quite wasteful to discard a lancet after one use. [quoted text clipped - 41 lines] : Cheers Alan, T2, Australia. : d&e, metformin 1500mg, ezetrol 10mg >: First, I'll presume that you are newly diagnosed type 2... > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > >FYI, the second link seems broken. Your newsreader cut html in two:-) Try http://tinyurl.com/26js9o Cheers, Alan, T2, Australia. d&e, metformin 1500mg, ezetrol 10mg Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter. -- http://loraltraveloz.blogspot.com/ latest: Mossman Gorge in the Daintree Rainforest http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/ latest: Self-Testing and Type 2 Management >>Naively, I would think that as my goal is to burn BG, >> it makes most sense to exercise when it is likely to be high, >> ie, a little after eating. Is that true? True, but with a couple of caveats: you need some time to digest first, and it's generally not recommended that you exercise if your sugars are really high (over 240.) Some people find vigorous exercise raises their BG, so you might want to test a few times when you're starting out. I confess, I never worry about this. I exercise an hour after eating, which allows for digestion and is also my BG peak time. > So, for a reality check here: Do you re-use your lancets? How many > times? Hundreds of time. Mebbe even thousands. I change my lancets before and after I test someone else's bg. That probably occurs 2 or 3 times a year, so is pretty much the only time I change them. I reuse pen needles too - 3 or 4 times each. More than that and they get painful. I don't reuse syringes for vial insulin - it's too expensive to ruin a bottle over a cheapo syringe. >I am supposed to test 3 times a day. This is not the "greenest" issue, > but somehow I do find it quite wasteful to discard a lancet after one [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > So, for a reality check here: Do you re-use your lancets? How many > times? I change mine once a month. Lou >I am supposed to test 3 times a day. This is not the "greenest" issue, >but somehow I do find it quite wasteful to discard a lancet after one [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >So, for a reality check here: Do you re-use your lancets? How many >times? many of re-use lancets. especially if we use various lancing devices to hold them. we simply do not expose the lancet to anything but our own clean skin at the time of testing. of course standard hygiene and safety rules applies. 1. never test anyone with a lancet you have used or test yourself with a lancet used by someone else. 2. always clean testing sight. Soap and water is best. alcohol doesn't clean as well as soap and water and long term use tends to dry and crack the skin. SignatureMåck©® Deltec CoZmore Pumper Type 1 since 1975 http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org http://www.diabetic-talk.org http://www.insulin-pumpers.org http://www.pandora.com enter "Jason & Demarco" "To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." ...Theodore Roosevelt (o ô) --ooO-(_)-Ooo-------------------- "I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve." ....Bilbo Baggins DISCLAIMER If you find a posting or message from me offensive, inappropriate, or disruptive, please ignore it. If you don't know how to ignore a posting, complain to me and I will be only too happy to demonstrate... . : 2. always clean testing sight. Soap and water is best. alcohol : doesn't clean as well as soap and water and long term use tends to dry : and crack the skin. I have been washing with soap and water. A bit worried that "fruity" handwashing soaps my SO loves may contaminate the test, I even bought a plain soap for me. However, I have also been mimicking what I saw my nurse do in the lab: rub the test site with an alcohol pad before testing and keep one pressed on it after pricking. I thought that was to avoid infection. Is all of this unnecessary when testing at home and washing hands in advance? >: 2. always clean testing sight. Soap and water is best. alcohol >: doesn't clean as well as soap and water and long term use tends to dry [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] >Is all of this unnecessary when testing at home and washing hands in >advance? yes it's unnecessary. If you tend to keep bleeding, you may need to adjust your lancing device to a smaller depth. and simply wash after testing if possible. your nurse has standards to follow that she is not allowed to alter from. Those standards are set by the hospital and OSHA(in the USA). That does not mean that every step in the process is all that effective. And is geared to preventing the spread of blood bourn pathogens in an environment where they are easily passed if one is careless. SignatureMåck©® Deltec CoZmore Pumper Type 1 since 1975 http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org http://www.diabetic-talk.org http://www.insulin-pumpers.org http://www.pandora.com enter "Jason & Demarco" "To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." ...Theodore Roosevelt (o ô) --ooO-(_)-Ooo-------------------- "I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve." ....Bilbo Baggins DISCLAIMER If you find a posting or message from me offensive, inappropriate, or disruptive, please ignore it. If you don't know how to ignore a posting, complain to me and I will be only too happy to demonstrate... . In alt.support.diabetes RPS <rps@null.void> wrote: : M?ck?? <trolls@renotworthsaving.net> wrote: : : 2. always clean testing sight. Soap and water is best. alcohol : : doesn't clean as well as soap and water and long term use tends to dry : : and crack the skin. : I have been washing with soap and water. A bit worried that "fruity" : handwashing soaps my SO loves may contaminate the test, I even bought a : plain soap for me. : However, I have also been mimicking what I saw my nurse do in the lab: : rub the test site with an alcohol pad before testing and keep one : pressed on it after pricking. I thought that was to avoid infection. : Is all of this unnecessary when testing at home and washing hands in : advance? Yup! It is unnecessary and when I was first diagnosed I was told by the nurse showing me how to test that soap and warm or hot water was preferable to alcohol pads. You don't need to pres on the finger tip after testing as, unless you are not a clotter or are on coumadin, it will clot very quickly. If something interruptms me between lancing and ttesting I often have to make a new hole as the clot has formed already. By the way, have you scheuled an appointment with an opthtamologist, not an opomitrist for a fully dilated retinal exam? I is good idea to make sure that no little retinal problems have started that coul dbe fixed easily adn for a base line fo rthe doctor. You shouldn't get anew perscription until you get your blood glucose stable, as your eyes may vary quit a bit as the numbers go up and down. Wendy- wearing her "eye police" hat. Please excuse my typos as I am visually challanged. : Yup! It is unnecessary and when I was first diagnosed I was told by the : nurse showing me how to test that soap and warm or hot water was : preferable to alcohol pads. You don't need to pres on the finger tip : after testing... Great! If I can get away with soap + water, plus maybe a kleenex at most, I'll just save the alcohol pads for special occasions like travel. : By the way, have you scheuled an appointment with an opthtamologist, Yes, my doctor saw to that and sent me to a specialist in diabetic eyes etc. Fortunately my eyes are ok. I do wear glasses as I have for years, >: Yup! It is unnecessary and when I was first diagnosed I was told by the >: nurse showing me how to test that soap and warm or hot water was [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >Yes, my doctor saw to that and sent me to a specialist in diabetic eyes >etc. Fortunately my eyes are ok. I do wear glasses as I have for years, Forget the alcohol. I still have my original pack; they get used to clean my meter and soft-clix occasionally. Cheers, Alan, T2, Australia. d&e, metformin 1500mg, ezetrol 10mg Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter. -- http://loraltraveloz.blogspot.com/ latest: Mossman Gorge in the Daintree Rainforest http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/ latest: Self-Testing and Type 2 Management rps, the alcohol swabs are not necessary. with doing all the steps you were told to do you will be spending far to much time on this procedure imo. I use scented soaps and they do not affect my bgs. I either use hand sanitzier or wash my hands before every test, the alcohol will dry out your skin. Loretta > : 2. always clean testing sight. Soap and water is best. alcohol > : doesn't clean as well as soap and water and long term use tends to dry [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > Is all of this unnecessary when testing at home and washing hands in > advance? Do not use alcohol! It is drying to the skin and can cause infection. The nurse only uses it because she is testing person after person. At home, use soap. Any soap will do unless it has some form of carbs in it like milk or honey. I suppose it's possible that a "fruity" soap has real fruit in it, but it's not likely. More likely it is just a scent. >: 2. always clean testing sight. Soap and water is best. alcohol >: doesn't clean as well as soap and water and long term use tends to dry [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] >Is all of this unnecessary when testing at home and washing hands in >advance? Don't use alcohol. It toughens the skin, and to be polite, it isn't very effective as a disinfectant either. It takes prolonged alcohol exposure to kill bugs, not 10 seconds, more like 10 minutes. The reality the main disinfecting impact of the alcohol swab is mechanical, and soap and water does it at least as well. The reality is your body learned how to deal with most of the bugs that live on the skin long ago. About 10 years ago there was a trial in which some patients swabbed with alcohol before injection, and some actually injected right through their clothers. The trial failed to show ANY difference in skin infection rates between the groups. Keep in mind that a Drs office isn't the same as at home. Drs offices, and hospitals have the nastiest bugs in the world (having nearly died of a Hospital acquired MRSA infection last year), but most of what is around the house and on your skin, your immune system deals with quite easily. So there are reasons to be more careful in a hospital or drs office setting. Those aren't the bugs your body is accustomed to dealing with. Now if you have HIV, or are otherwise immuno compromised, re-use of lancets, or failing to wash before injections may not be such a good idea, but for most people, it just doesn't make any difference. I reuse lancets, and needles until they get dull. No, I don't get 4 months, but I easily get a week... >>: 2. always clean testing sight. Soap and water is best. alcohol >>: doesn't clean as well as soap and water and long term use tends to dry [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > Keep in mind that a Drs office isn't the same as at home. Drs offices, > and hospitals have the nastiest bugs in the world I remember what someone told me once: the worst thing to touch in a hospital is... doorknobs. They're touched by EVERYONE, doctors, nurses, patients, guests, and no one gives a second thought to handling them. Jay > Is all of this unnecessary when testing at home and washing hands in > advance? Yes. Washing is quite sufficient. Sometimes my timer goes off to remind me to test when I'm in the car or something where there's no sinak around. Frankly, I just suck on my finger a minute to make sure there's no food residue on it to screw up the results. This assumes my finger is *relatively* clean to begin with - I wouldn't do this if I'd just checked the oil, for instance. I've never gotten an infection from testing. >Yes. Washing is quite sufficient. > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > >I've never gotten an infection from testing. I call that the KFC method. Finger-lickin' good. It's as near as I get to KFC these days:-) Cheers, Alan, T2, Australia. d&e, metformin 1500mg, ezetrol 10mg Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter. -- http://loraltraveloz.blogspot.com/ latest: Mossman Gorge in the Daintree Rainforest http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/ latest: Self-Testing and Type 2 Management I test 4 times a day. I use the same lancet. I change lancets every day. >I am supposed to test 3 times a day. This is not the "greenest" issue, > but somehow I do find it quite wasteful to discard a lancet after one [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > So, for a reality check here: Do you re-use your lancets? How many > times? > I am supposed to test 3 times a day. This is not the "greenest" issue, > but somehow I do find it quite wasteful to discard a lancet after one [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > So, for a reality check here: Do you re-use your lancets? How many > times? I believe my current lancet has only been in use about four months. I see no reason to switch until they become dull. Personally I don't feel its worth any risk from infection so for my 13 years with diabetes I've always used new lancets or new needles each time. I can only recall two occasions reusing a lancet and that was because I forget to fill my case when I left home and only had one with me for two tests. Needles are a little more expensive but my lancets cost one cent each. To save money by reusing a lancet at that level of cost would push me from my current status of 'cheap' to 'cheap bastard' ;-) The BD web site has a page about reuse (and yes I know they have a vested interest in it). Its about their needles but the same would seem to logically apply to lancets. There are two points that stand out to me: http://www.bddiabetes.com/us/main.aspx?cat=1&id=266 1) The tip of a reused needle can be weakened to the point where it breaks off and gets stuck under your skin. 2) Studies have shown that there's a link between needle reuse and the appearance of lumps of fatty tissue that can form at an injection site (lipodystrophy). >I am supposed to test 3 times a day. This is not the "greenest" issue, > but somehow I do find it quite wasteful to discard a lancet after one [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > So, for a reality check here: Do you re-use your lancets? How many > times? >Personally I don't feel its worth any risk from infection so for my 13 years >with diabetes I've always used new lancets or new needles each time. I can [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >save money by reusing a lancet at that level of cost would push me from my >current status of 'cheap' to 'cheap bastard' ;-) Hey - I accept that I am a cheap bastard. However, I do not re-use lancets based on cost, purely on convenience. It takes three times as long for me to do a test when I add lancet-change and disposal. When I was following Jennifer's test advice that was simply impractical. I found that re-uding the lancet had no negatives so I continued the practice. >The BD web site has a page about reuse (and yes I know they have a vested >interest in it). Its about their needles but the same would seem to >logically apply to lancets. There we differ. The same does not logically apply at all. A lancet and a needle are different gauges, different construction, are used for different purposes and go to different depths. > There are two points that stand out to me: > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >appearance of lumps of fatty tissue that can form at an injection site >(lipodystrophy). Cheers, Alan, T2, Australia. d&e, metformin 1500mg, ezetrol 10mg Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter. -- http://loraltraveloz.blogspot.com/ latest: Mossman Gorge in the Daintree Rainforest http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/ latest: Self-Testing and Type 2 Management >I am supposed to test 3 times a day. This is not the "greenest" issue, >but somehow I do find it quite wasteful to discard a lancet after one >use. I change mine about every six months. Also, change it if testing someone else, before and after. Cheri >I am supposed to test 3 times a day. This is not the "greenest" issue, >but somehow I do find it quite wasteful to discard a lancet after one [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >So, for a reality check here: Do you re-use your lancets? How many >times? I re-use lancets until they become dull...genearally a week. I also test three times a day.... and I don't pay for them. Good luck. >>I am supposed to test 3 times a day. This is not the "greenest" issue, >>but somehow I do find it quite wasteful to discard a lancet after one [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > I re-use lancets until they become dull...genearally a week. I also > test three times a day.... and I don't pay for them. Good luck. Is it possible to dip the tip of the lancets in a bit of alcohol and clean them? Jay Jay, you could do that, but it would negate the fact that you have to have clean hands, You will be sterilizing the lancet but there could be the remainder of food on your hands that you dont see and give you higher numbers. Loretta > Jay, you could do that, but it would negate the fact that you have to > have clean hands, You will be sterilizing the lancet but there could be > the remainder of food on your hands that you dont see and give you > higher numbers. > > Loretta Of course I wash my hands (well, most times anyway). I was thinking more of sterilizing the lancet tip to prevent infections. Jay Jay, in eight years I have never sterilized a lancet and I havent had any infections. ymmv but i have never heard anyone say that that got an infection from reusing a lancet. Loretta >Jay, in eight years I have never sterilized a lancet and I havent had >any infections. ymmv but i have never heard anyone say that that got an >infection from reusing a lancet. > >Loretta Same here, except it's only been three years for me (+10 on pills before insulin). > Of course I wash my hands (well, most times anyway). I was thinking more > of sterilizing the lancet tip to prevent infections. I've yet to hear of anyone becoming infected from a lancet. >> Of course I wash my hands (well, most times anyway). I was thinking more >> of sterilizing the lancet tip to prevent infections. > >I've yet to hear of anyone becoming infected from a lancet. The only report that I am aware of is this one: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00046679.htm However, the problems reported there were all related to multiple testing of several patients in nursing homes or hospitals sequentially. The lancets were changed for each patient; however the end caps of the lancet device were not, or, when they were, the used and unused end caps were mixed. Therefore, it was not lancet re-use that caused those infections but poor end cap hygiene. A point worth noting for those of us who test friends and relatives. I always change lancets for those occasions but I've not changed end caps. I do clean the end cap between people but I'll take a little extra care in future. I have yet to see any reports of infection from personal repeated re-use of lancets. Cheers, Alan, T2, Australia. d&e, metformin 1500mg, ezetrol 10mg Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter. -- http://loraltraveloz.blogspot.com/ latest: Mossman Gorge in the Daintree Rainforest http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/ latest: Self-Testing and Type 2 Management : Of course I wash my hands (well, most times anyway). I was thinking : more of sterilizing the lancet tip to prevent infections. I was at peace with just re-using the lancet without such steps once I realized it is no different from re-using my shaving razor. Perhaps because t is viewed as a routine activity rather than a medical one, nobody ever bother with "sterilizing" their razor the second time. > Is it possible to dip the tip of the lancets in a bit of alcohol and clean > them? That would remove the protective coating and make them hurt. >>>I am supposed to test 3 times a day. This is not the "greenest" issue, >>>but somehow I do find it quite wasteful to discard a lancet after one [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > >Jay NO!!! that will result in the protective coating being stripped off and it won't clean them simply by dipping them. In order to actually clean, sterilize, something with alcohol you have to soak it in alcohol for a period of time. SignatureMåck©® Deltec CoZmore Pumper Type 1 since 1975 http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org http://www.diabetic-talk.org http://www.insulin-pumpers.org http://www.pandora.com enter "Jason & Demarco" "To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." ...Theodore Roosevelt (o ô) --ooO-(_)-Ooo-------------------- "I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve." ....Bilbo Baggins DISCLAIMER If you find a posting or message from me offensive, inappropriate, or disruptive, please ignore it. If you don't know how to ignore a posting, complain to me and I will be only too happy to demonstrate... . Hi welcome to our group As to the answer to your quesrtion, I reuse, reuse and reuse them again. I woudl say I use about two or three a week and I test six to eight times a day. I think you will find that most of us do reuse the lancets Loretta > Hi welcome to our group As to the answer to your quesrtion, I reuse, > reuse and reuse them again. I woudl say I use about two or three a week > and I test six to eight times a day. I think you will find that most of > us do reuse the lancets > > Loretta I change mine every Easter whether it needs it or not... Ratty It is alleged that RPS claimed: > I am supposed to test 3 times a day. This is not the "greenest" issue, > but somehow I do find it quite wasteful to discard a lancet after one [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > So, for a reality check here: Do you re-use your lancets? How many > times? When I was given my meter a couple months ago, the Diabetes Educator told me that the Official Recommendation is to change every use for reasons of cleanliness. But unless you're sharing the lancet, it should be good for at least a week. She said that after a week, you would start pushing the risk of infection and sharpness. I seem to be changing the lancet about every 10 or so days. As for the comment about changing it when it starts to hurt... it always hurts. How much depends on which finger and where on the finger. SignatureJeffrey Kaplan www.gordol.org The from userid is killfiled Send personal mail to gordol "Water. Fascinating. I never touch the stuff myself." (Amb. Mollari, B5 "A Voice in the Wilderness I") >As for the comment about changing it when it starts to hurt... it >always hurts. How much depends on which finger and where on the >finger. Mine rarely hurts. Time I re-posted this: http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/2006/10/painless-pricks.html Painless Pricks One of the common objections to testing blood glucose more frequently is a fear of pain from testing. If you are suffering pain when you test - then you are doing it incorrectly. This is some advice I passed on to some friends, based on my own experience. As always, check with your doctor if in any doubt. Wash your hands in warm water first, and shake them to get the circulation going. Check your lancet - it should be adjustable. Mine is Soft-clix, made by Roche and is usually painless. I get an occasional tiny sting, and it lets me know if it's getting blunt sometimes, but I've tested well over 5000 times in the past 5 years without any trauma. That's from a guy who was, and is, needle-phobic. Start with the second lowest setting (1 or 1.5), hold it firmly against your skin on the side of a finger near the tip. Don't flinch when you release the button. The button releases a spring-loaded tiny needle which makes a tiny hole in your skin and instantly retracts. Incidentally, using the sides has two advantages - there are less nerve-ends than on the pads, and it doubles the number of test-points so you can rotate through the positions. Massage gently (milking a cow) until a drop of blood forms sufficient to put on the test strip. If this setting doesn't provide an adequate quantity, move the lancet setting up one notch for the next one. If you got a large sample and it hurt a little, go to the lower setting. And that's all there is to it. Sometimes it helps to shake your hands a little more, or warm them up if it's cold. The manufacturers advise changing the lancet needle every time; I change mine when I remember or if it gets a bit blunt. You do what you are comfortable with, subject to doctor's orders. Cheers Alan, T2, Australia. d&e, metformin 1500mg, ezetrol 10mg I have no medical qualifications beyond my own experience. Choose your advisers carefully, because experience can be an expensive teacher. http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/ Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter. |
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