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| | | From: Bookerhill (Original Message) | Sent: 9/10/2004 1:46 AM |
I was reading some info from BD as to why a person should not re-use pen needles and syringes. They claim that today's finer needles are more prone to breaking off under the skin. Since I take 4 injections a day I was thinking about re-using my syringes and pen needles but I don't fancy having one break off under the skin. I currently use a 1/2 cc, 31 guage syringe and a 31guage, 6mm pen needle. Has anyone had any problems with the needles breaking? Cheers Booker |
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Im on the pump now, but i use to re-use syringes. I would clean the needle with alcohol and then stick em in the freezer in a platic bag. The only problem I had was that by the third time, it really hurt cuz the needle would become dull. Never had one broken under my skin though. |
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| | | From: kat s | Sent: 7/20/2005 9:36 AM |
I've reused until they've gone blunt and never had any problems - the reason I was told that they were advising you to use them only once, was because the needle becomes rougher with each use, and so you are more likely to get bumps and bruising on your injection sites - which then obviously make the insulin harder to absorb. I do change my needles a lot more now (though that is mainly 'cos they are now free on prescription!) - have noticed a little less bruising, though when you hit a blood vessel you hit a blood vessel (always when you are wearing white or light coloured clothing too!) and then you always get a bump/bruise! |
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| | | From: Bar | Sent: 7/21/2005 4:31 PM |
I reuse my lancet for weeks. I reuse the needles but I cap and refrigerate them between uses. Bar |
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I always change my lancets and pen needles that goes for lantus and novolog. I do not want to take any chances of infections. |
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I realize this is a very old post, but I just couldn't help but comment that it is nice to meet a rich diabetic, rofl. I am like several others here. I use the needles till they bounce back off the skin when I try to inject, lolololol. Same for the lancets. I think the trick is in the fact that we are immune to our own "germs" if there are any, which is why we don't get into trouble reusing these things. Carole |
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| | From:  sg_53 | Sent: 2/6/2006 12:34 PM |
I have a neighbour who is also diabetic. One day he took his blood sugar and instead of the regular reading he was expecting it was much higher. He was upset as you can imagine. His wife asked him when he'd changed his needle last and he said it had been quite a while. She told him to change it and try again. Sure enough his reading was were it was supposed to be. Don't know why this happened but thought I would mention it. Sally |
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I just switched from reusing needles until they were obviously blunt. After reading what Dr. Bernstein (Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes solution Revised and Updated) writes about it, I changed my mind. I now set aside two needles (one for each type of insulin) to use only for pumping air into the vials, and still reuse the needles I use for injecting--filling them, injecting, then making sure they are empty by pumping them into the air two or three times. Bernstein says the problem is contaminating the insulin in the vial and spoiling it. That did it for me. He suggests not reusing needles at all, but knows some people will, for whatever reason, so he provides a good method. |
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Pre pumping I used needles until they hurt bad enough that I threw them out. in 26yrs of having diabetes I've never had a needle bend or break in my skin and I would often inject thru my clothing too. It's a personal decision, what ever you are comfortable with I supposed but I wouldn't hesitate to use a needle more then once.
now as far as lancets go.... my current one is going on two months old lol I guess I should change it soon
parrot |
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| | | From: Julie | Sent: 4/15/2006 7:42 PM |
For insulin, I would re-use a needle about one hundred times. The only reason I stopped at that point was because the numbers had rubbed off so I didn't know how much I was taking. Now that I am taking Symlin, the rubber stopper is much thicker than the insulin one. I can only re-use a needle about 25 times or less. Then it just is so dull it won't poke thru the skin anymore. Julie |
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| | | From: UssTRex | Sent: 4/30/2006 1:19 PM |
I always change my needle and lance, but then I only inject once a day. What cost to much is the test strips! I wish somebody make a reuseable test strip or no strip required meter that doesn't cost an arm or leg to purchase. |
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I take insulin 4 times a day and I would never use a needle twice. I have a pen and I change the needle each time . I change lancetes every 4th time. Saphire |
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well i take 4 needles a day and i use them over and over....never had on break .......but i think on my part it just laziness......all my diabetic supplies are free through my husband medical...no excuse for not changing them.... but i do know you risk the chance of contaminating your insulin....... |
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I have never reused a needle and I pay only about $12.00 for 100, which is cheap I think. Here is what I read online about reusing needles: | Risks of Needle Reuse |  | The harm you can cause yourself by reusing a needle is much greater than any convenience or cost savings. The tips of needles may become damaged after just one injection. Even though you can't see this damage with the naked eye, it's still there - and it may become worse each time you reuse. There are a lot of good reasons not to reuse syringe or pen needles: - The tip of a reused needle can be weakened to the point where it breaks off and gets stuck under your skin.
- A reused needle doesn't inject as easily or as cleanly as a new one and can cause pain, bleeding, and bruising.
- 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).
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