Eddy,
I kept 2 syringes - a 50u for basal insulin and a 30u for bolus insulin. I also used the 30 for both sometimes without any obvious issue.
This is a discussion on reusing syringes within the Diabetes forums, part of the Living with Diabetes category; Thanks to those who have posted about positive (or lack of negative) experiences with syringe reuse! I started reusing lancets ...
Thanks to those who have posted about positive (or lack of negative) experiences with syringe reuse!
I started reusing lancets early on, and now tend to use a given lancet until it's painful or ineffective -- typically about a week. However, I was worried about a dirty needle contaminating a vial of in$ulin, and had held off.
So far, so good. I'm maintaining separate syringes for Levemir and for bolus, and cleaning needles after use by pouring rubbing alcohol over them. When I have an empty vial, I'm going to refill it with 91% rubbing alcohol, label it clearly, and have a little "syringe cleaning kit".
Reusing syringes should chop another $50/mo off my "cost of living". Now, then, I just need to try those $0.30/ea test strips about which someone posted a few weeks back... bigger 0.7 microL blood sample required, but I can deal with that...
Eddy,
I kept 2 syringes - a 50u for basal insulin and a 30u for bolus insulin. I also used the 30 for both sometimes without any obvious issue.
Type 1 since 1988
Pumping since 2002
CGMS since 2010
I never used any of my syringes (when i was using them) and have never used a pen needle more than once (apart from a couple of occasions when i had no unused ones.)
However i guess it's a different situation for you; through the NDSS (which is run by Diabetes Australia and funded by the Federal Government) we obtain all of our pen needles and syringes completely free of charge. Yes, $0.00 for however many boxes you need. So i guess that is the main reason i use them strictly as 'single use'.
However many people i know overseas use them multiple times, sometimes one per week.
If it works which it obviously is for you, then no harm done![]()
Alex
Type 1 & proud - since March 1989.
ALEX'S BLOG & WEBSITE: http://diabetes-youth.com/
Animas 2020 with NovoRapid since 22 May 2008.
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Even though all meds are free at source for diabetics in the UK, I always reuse syringes. One disposable syring lasts me a week. Waste not want not is my attitude.![]()
Sue
Pumping using bovine insulin. (Pump kindly donated by Solox)
I used to use syringes until they weren't sharp anymore, almost to the point of punishing myself. It's not that I couldn't afford to change more often, I just didn't see the point. I also never kept one syringe for Lantus and a different one for Humalog. I certainly wouldn't want to share a syringe with someone else though.
Jan
Type 1 for 33 years
Lantus, Humalog,
Quinapril (ACE), Synthroid, Zocor