Comments on: Reusing Lancets [Part 1] http://bloggingdiabetes.com/2008/12/reusing-lancets-part-1/ A Blog About Real Living with Diabetes Sat, 24 Jul 2010 23:26:00 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: J Fishwick http://bloggingdiabetes.com/2008/12/reusing-lancets-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-97 J Fishwick Fri, 02 Jan 2009 22:18:49 +0000 http://bloggingdiabetes.com/2008/12/reusing-lancets-part-1/#comment-97 Thanks Tony, one of my 09 resolutions was to learn more about my diabetes so finding your blog has been a timely step in that direction. I won't tell you how often I change my lancets and syringes as I feel I would fall in to your "lying" category! I think my attitude towards diabetes has been "stuck" for a while, I'm from the uk and very anal about counting carbs, it's how they used to do it way back and I'm just used to it now. I'm still vague as to the risks of reusing syringes and would be interested to know more about the insulin getting contaminated, I've never heard of that. Good luck with your resolutions, I'll be reading regularly to see how your getting on!! Thanks Tony, one of my 09 resolutions was to learn more about my diabetes so finding your blog has been a timely step in that direction. I won’t tell you how often I change my lancets and syringes as I feel I would fall in to your “lying” category! I think my attitude towards diabetes has been “stuck” for a while, I’m from the uk and very anal about counting carbs, it’s how they used to do it way back and I’m just used to it now. I’m still vague as to the risks of reusing syringes and would be interested to know more about the insulin getting contaminated, I’ve never heard of that.
Good luck with your resolutions, I’ll be reading regularly to see how your getting on!!

]]> By: Tony http://bloggingdiabetes.com/2008/12/reusing-lancets-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-95 Tony Fri, 02 Jan 2009 21:52:42 +0000 http://bloggingdiabetes.com/2008/12/reusing-lancets-part-1/#comment-95 J.Fishwick - Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment! In an optimal world I think lancets would be used once. Realistically, as I have learned recently (un/fortunately), they can be used more than once safely. Long term, I think your fingers, if that is where you test, will be better off by changing the lancet more often than once a month or so. I have been going about a day at most with no noticeable negative impact, which is going to save me money in the long run. Syringes are a different beast, in my opinion. The risk of contamination of the insulin is probably the reason I wouldn't reuse them. I have only broken a needle once and it was by doing something stupid. So I doubt the risk of it breaking off due to reuse is all that high. I am speaking in general with no concrete evidence in the following statement - I think we become very complacent with diabetes from having it so long. I test and stick and pump sometimes without even thinking about it. Part of the motivation for me to start this blog was to break out of my own routine and learn, change, and gain excellent control of my diabetes. Thanks again and hope to see you back here soon! Tony J.Fishwick – Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment! In an optimal world I think lancets would be used once. Realistically, as I have learned recently (un/fortunately), they can be used more than once safely.

Long term, I think your fingers, if that is where you test, will be better off by changing the lancet more often than once a month or so. I have been going about a day at most with no noticeable negative impact, which is going to save me money in the long run.

Syringes are a different beast, in my opinion. The risk of contamination of the insulin is probably the reason I wouldn’t reuse them. I have only broken a needle once and it was by doing something stupid. So I doubt the risk of it breaking off due to reuse is all that high.

I am speaking in general with no concrete evidence in the following statement – I think we become very complacent with diabetes from having it so long. I test and stick and pump sometimes without even thinking about it. Part of the motivation for me to start this blog was to break out of my own routine and learn, change, and gain excellent control of my diabetes.

Thanks again and hope to see you back here soon!
Tony

]]> By: J Fishwick http://bloggingdiabetes.com/2008/12/reusing-lancets-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-94 J Fishwick Fri, 02 Jan 2009 21:38:27 +0000 http://bloggingdiabetes.com/2008/12/reusing-lancets-part-1/#comment-94 Recently found this blog and have really enjoyed reading some of the posts this morning, I've been type 1 now for 24years, since I was 14 and have always reused my lancets and needles and have never had any issues. I'm really interested to here what the "risks" actually are when reusing, when they feel uncomfortable I change them, that's pretty much my gauge for when I need a new one. Maybe I've been type 1 for too long and have dropped in to some bad habits but this has been my routine for a long time now. Recently found this blog and have really enjoyed reading some of the posts this morning, I’ve been type 1 now for 24years, since I was 14 and have always reused my lancets and needles and have never had any issues. I’m really interested to here what the “risks” actually are when reusing, when they feel uncomfortable I change them, that’s pretty much my gauge for when I need a new one. Maybe I’ve been type 1 for too long and have dropped in to some bad habits but this has been my routine for a long time now.

]]> By: Blogging Diabetes - Reusing Syringes & Lancets - My View [Part 5] http://bloggingdiabetes.com/2008/12/reusing-lancets-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-52 Blogging Diabetes - Reusing Syringes & Lancets - My View [Part 5] Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:16:22 +0000 http://bloggingdiabetes.com/2008/12/reusing-lancets-part-1/#comment-52 [...] Reusing Lancets [...] [...] Reusing Lancets [...]

]]> By: Blogging Diabetes - Reusing Syringes - Insights from the Net [Part 4] http://bloggingdiabetes.com/2008/12/reusing-lancets-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-51 Blogging Diabetes - Reusing Syringes - Insights from the Net [Part 4] Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:09:11 +0000 http://bloggingdiabetes.com/2008/12/reusing-lancets-part-1/#comment-51 [...] Reusing Lancets [...] [...] Reusing Lancets [...]

]]> By: Blogging Diabetes - Reusing Syringes [Part 3] http://bloggingdiabetes.com/2008/12/reusing-lancets-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-50 Blogging Diabetes - Reusing Syringes [Part 3] Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:05:12 +0000 http://bloggingdiabetes.com/2008/12/reusing-lancets-part-1/#comment-50 [...] Reusing Lancets [...] [...] Reusing Lancets [...]

]]> By: Blogging Diabetes - Reusing Lancets - Insights from the Net [Part 2] http://bloggingdiabetes.com/2008/12/reusing-lancets-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-42 Blogging Diabetes - Reusing Lancets - Insights from the Net [Part 2] Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:21:30 +0000 http://bloggingdiabetes.com/2008/12/reusing-lancets-part-1/#comment-42 [...] Reusing Lancets [...] [...] Reusing Lancets [...]

]]> By: Tony http://bloggingdiabetes.com/2008/12/reusing-lancets-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-29 Tony Tue, 09 Dec 2008 02:42:41 +0000 http://bloggingdiabetes.com/2008/12/reusing-lancets-part-1/#comment-29 Jill - I also wanted to say thanks for the inspiration to write this series. I came up with the idea after posting a comment to your blog a week or two ago. Jill – I also wanted to say thanks for the inspiration to write this series. I came up with the idea after posting a comment to your blog a week or two ago.

]]> By: Tony http://bloggingdiabetes.com/2008/12/reusing-lancets-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-28 Tony Tue, 09 Dec 2008 02:38:26 +0000 http://bloggingdiabetes.com/2008/12/reusing-lancets-part-1/#comment-28 Jill, thanks for the comment. I really can't explain why it never crossed my mind to reuse the lancets. I guess I've been trained to follow Doctor's orders. When I was on syringes, I may have used one twice if I was in a bind and had to. Otherwise, I agree with you and never used them more than once. I think you will be interested/shocked at tomorrow's post. I'm not trying to over hype the post... it's eye-opening. Also, I will share my personal thoughts on Friday about reusing lancets and syringes. Let me say this, I think there is an argument for both sides. Thanks again! Jill, thanks for the comment. I really can’t explain why it never crossed my mind to reuse the lancets. I guess I’ve been trained to follow Doctor’s orders.

When I was on syringes, I may have used one twice if I was in a bind and had to. Otherwise, I agree with you and never used them more than once.

I think you will be interested/shocked at tomorrow’s post. I’m not trying to over hype the post… it’s eye-opening.

Also, I will share my personal thoughts on Friday about reusing lancets and syringes. Let me say this, I think there is an argument for both sides.

Thanks again!

]]> By: Jill http://bloggingdiabetes.com/2008/12/reusing-lancets-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-27 Jill Mon, 08 Dec 2008 22:55:51 +0000 http://bloggingdiabetes.com/2008/12/reusing-lancets-part-1/#comment-27 Tony, This was one topic that I questioned recently as well! I know when we first came home from the hospital we changed the lancet with every use. Well after a few weeks, when Kacey would test, she'd just grab her kit and not change it out. At first I scolded her for it and then I asked myself ....why? ...why am I yelling at her for not changing the lancet? I should be freakin happy she went on and tested without me asking her to! So now I don't stay on her about it and I just change it out every few days...which seems to be more than most do! I figure since she is the only one using the lancet then theres really no big deal. As far as needles....reusing those is a flat out NO-NO in my house! I won't ever reuse a pen needle or a syringe. We use them...unscrew them and toss them in a milk jug thats labeled DO NOT TOUCH! I don't want to take the chance on reusing them. I know there have been several times that just taking the cap off I've bent them or they snap off. Thats just too risky for me! Tony,
This was one topic that I questioned recently as well! I know when we first came home from the hospital we changed the lancet with every use. Well after a few weeks, when Kacey would test, she’d just grab her kit and not change it out. At first I scolded her for it and then I asked myself ….why? …why am I yelling at her for not changing the lancet? I should be freakin happy she went on and tested without me asking her to! So now I don’t stay on her about it and I just change it out every few days…which seems to be more than most do! I figure since she is the only one using the lancet then theres really no big deal.

As far as needles….reusing those is a flat out NO-NO in my house! I won’t ever reuse a pen needle or a syringe. We use them…unscrew them and toss them in a milk jug thats labeled DO NOT TOUCH! I don’t want to take the chance on reusing them. I know there have been several times that just taking the cap off I’ve bent them or they snap off. Thats just too risky for me!

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