Alcohal/Sprit swab

[Rustam]

Doctors have different opinion on the use of swab soaked in Alcohal/sprit/dettol before inserting Insulin syringe.It is also said that it's use before BG test effects on result ! It is a bit confusing for me.Will any one advise me.:stupido:

[JediSkipdogg]

I think it all depends on what kind of "health cleanliness" type person you are in terms of sterility.

The rule of thumb is never insert or prick without a clean location. You should at least do it before you insert a needle to help kill any bacteria in that area of where you insert since the needle will be in you for a few seconds. But then again, they also say don't reuse needles because of that exact reason.

As for the lancet/fingerstick, the same should apply. The reason for this is the same but slightly different. With a BG check you also want the most accurate result, therefore you need to make sure you don't get any contaminates mixed in with the blood. Generally for this a simple hand washing will do, no need for an alcohol swab.

[am1977]

Hmmm, guess I'm a dirty girl (No, I don't mean it in that sense :tongue: ), but I mean I will rarely if ever use an alcohol swab to do a site change- I haven't found that it makes much of a difference, so...:dontknow:

[sweetcheeks]

i always swab my finger before poking.... lol just my thing, cause i tested with some juice/fruit on my finger before and it came back HIGH lol i bout freaked out... so from then on out i used the swab....cause im not always around a sink with soap and water.

so i swab before the stick and after the after the test

but i dont change lancets everytime... maybe once or twice a week.... since i use swab before and after each stick i feel there is a rare chance ill get infection from that stick..

[MYDEAR]

i use alcohol pads before and after i test. and i change my lance once a day.

[Rustam]

My dr says that regular use of Alcohol/Sprit swab makes the skin dry and hard,which ultimatly develops problem in injecting insulin !!Better use a cotton swab soaked in luke water;)