Debunking the myths...

[hodgsonsurvivor]

Okay...I'm sorry to all those that I said "phooey" to about getting infections from reusing needles and injecting through clothes. (I didn't really say that...that was just my opener :D ) I was telling my mom about some of the posts I've read here and was just chuckling about how I did all of these things. She so flipped out on me! :eek: So, I've had to solemnly swear that I'll change my lancets at least once a day (since I'm testing at least 3 times a day now), I'll stop injecting through my clothes, and that I'll wash my hands whenever I test my sugar or take my insulin. :o I made the mistake of saying how inconvenient all of that was! Why did I say that???? :eek: She was like "Let me tell you about inconvenient...when you get an infection in your finger and it falls off and you don't have it anymore...that's INCONVENIENT! And, if you get an infection in your injection site and it's not caught or cured in time and you have to have an amputation...imagine how INCONVENIENT that is." I mean...gees...inconvenient is not what I meant! :o Not sure, what my point was then or what it is now...just sharing. lol I remember posting to a couple other posts about the subject and many of us say we do the same things...I guess it's serious. ;)

[Subby]

I gotta say... I don't like that style of over exagerration myself. A finger falling off or being amputated from using a prick over again? Don't think so! Reminds me of the time I was 7 and my mother told me my hand would drop off if I didn't push my quicks back! If you have some big susceptibility to infections, fair enough, but if you don't, it's way over-reaction.

I change mine every few weeks or even months if I forget. Any sign of getting blunt and painful is usually the time I do so. I test upward of 10 times a day, have done for years. Last time I had a finger infection from a prick was about 8 years ago when I seemed to be extra suseptible to infection for a time. I used to change it a lot more often back then, too!

As for you Mom it's probably part of her expressing her worry for you in general. It's a sign of love too. Just don't let it interfere with your life too much and firmly but politely stand your ground now and then - you are your own person!

[HuskerMychal]

I am with Subby. I change my lancelet when I feel it is a bit dull or it starts to hurt. And I do inject through my clothes when the situation warrents. I dont at home but if I am out to dinner or at the mall and need to I will. No one needs to see my round belly LOL. It might cause a mass exodus or something

[SuzySushi]

Mixed feelings on this one. My husband was diagnosed with Type 1 as an adult. He tested his blood sugar upwards of 10x daily and took multiple insulin shots. He usually didn't bother to wash his hands before testing (unless they were visibly dirty or he knew they had touched something that would skew the results). He changed lancets only when he felt they were dull. He never used alcohol swabs at injection sites, he often reused needles, and he sometimes injected through his T-shirt or pants leg if he was in a public place.

He had diabetes for almost 30 years (he passed away in July -- ironically, from a brief bout with walking pneumonia!) and in all those years and punctures, he had only one infection caused by lack of sterile procedure. An injection site on his belly formed a small wound that wouldn't heal properly -- apparently the bacteria had followed the path of a hair follicle and got waaaaaay under his skin. A plastic surgeon had to clear the infection out.

Our daughter also has Type 1 diabetes, diagnosed three years ago, just before she turned 9 years old. I am scrupulous about making sure that she washes her hands before each blood test (unless she feels low and it's an emergency), that she wipes the top of the insulin bottle and the injection site with alcohol, that she never reuses needles, and that she changes lancets at least once a day. I'M HER MOM, DARNIT!!!! :T

[ant hill]

This reminds me of the Diabetes Educator and the un kind jokes that they do and intimidate you into thinking that you are dumb. :mad:
The lancet I would change if I find blunt. ;) Back in the deep 70's I have had horrible memories of those lances that they use to get blood from and thank god they're gone ;):D and the nurses enjoy pricking fingers and again intimidate you that you are a naughty diabetic. :(

[BlueSky]

I have been testing and injecting for 31 years, and I haven't had an infection in spite of reusing lancets and needles. But my T1 daughter has had cellulitus twice, which started at injection sites where needles were re-used. The difference between us was that my control has always been reasonably good, whereas hers was terrible at the time of these infections. I haven't changed my ways, as I make sure that my control continues to be good and that my immune system is working properly.

[Psycho Penguin]

I am glad to hear reusing needles and lancets is not as bad as they make you think, because I do the same thing. I have been doing it since February and haven't had any problem besides a little bit of a bruise on my abdomen.

[Subby]

It's important the two aren't lumped in as the same though. An 8ml syringe in the stomach is a different league to a 1-2ml prick in the finger. I used to reuse syringes a few times myself with no apparent problem, but not beyond a few times. If you reuse a syringe over and again, putting aside potential hygiene problems, you're going to be causing more damage under the skin from a blunt needle. I don't know what a reasonable max for a needle is, but it's not going to be anything near a prick.

As for injecting through clothes - this is common, mainstream, practise, I'd see no reason to stop it (I didn't like the actual idea of it myself for some reason, but not for cleanliness reasons).

And as for washing your hands before every test... c'mon, if you want to put a dampener on the efforts I take to take tests and keep my BG in check, having to visit the bathroom every time would probably kill it right off.

[drummingfool]

Now ill admit to not changing out lancets, but I NEVER reuse needles. I got a staph infection from needle reuse. I highly suggest against it.
As far as washing my hands when I test, yea. I do. But not from fear of infection, but simply to get an accurate reading. My hands tend to sweat, and sweat has sugar in it. I dont want to get a high false reading, bolus too much and go low. I dont wash my hands to inject though.

I also dont like injecting through my clothes, but thats my thing. When it comes to injection im pretty clean. Lancets...eh. Not a biggie. Ive got a lancing device that hold a drum of 6 lancets that you rotate by rotating the bottom of the device, so whenever they show signs of bluntness I rotate to the next one. pretty handy, I go through about 1 drum a month or so, and Ive got more drums than I know what to do with. I guess Im just "drumming fool"...

hehe. :)

[soso]

It's important the two aren't lumped in as the same though. An 8ml syringe in the stomach is a different league to a 1-2ml prick in the finger. I used to reuse syringes a few times myself with no apparent problem, but not beyond a few times. If you reuse a syringe over and again, putting aside potential hygiene problems, you're going to be causing more damage under the skin from a blunt needle. I don't know what a reasonable max for a needle is, but it's not going to be anything near a prick.

As for injecting through clothes - this is common, mainstream, practise, I'd see no reason to stop it (I didn't like the actual idea of it myself for some reason, but not for cleanliness reasons).

And as for washing your hands before every test... c'mon, if you want to put a dampener on the efforts I take to take tests and keep my BG in check, having to visit the bathroom every time would probably kill it right off.

Hmmm.. now there you make a good point..
I am a b**ger for reusing my needle and lancet for ages, even after it starts hurting and I have bruises... My DH complained to our Dr about my habits and she sided with me! However, it's no good me moaning about the bruises and pain if I am using blunt needles..and dont you find you sometimes touch the needle with those silly little thin caps when you put them back on the needle? Can't help....

I will reform and see how I do...
not washing though....

[andypoo]

Leave it to a "mom" to jolt you into reality! My mom always does this to me,and I "listen" and then do what I want anyway. I used to always use alcohol swabs and change needles for testing each and everytime I tested,but since I've been on this forum i've changed my habits(bad influences)lol! just kidding!. I re-use my lancets and I don't use alcohol swabs,I've never had a problem,yet,with this procedure,BUT,I always wash my hands. Probably to the point of being obsessive-compulsive,so that may be the reason,(go figure) I've had the big "d" for 40 years and I've never had any infections as far as injection sites or finger sticking. And as far as "mom" goes she does this because she loves you,and you know what I'm a mom and I do the same thing to my grown children,it's just natural.

[art]

Let'd face it.
Without our mom's we would all be slobs.

Art

[type1girl]

I Wouldn't suggest using the needle more than once. or clean it if you are reusing. I got a horrible STAPH infection from resuing needles (a couple years ago). I was hospitalized for 2 weeks and on iv antibiotics for a month. It was bad! I also think i may have knicked a vein when injecting into my leg because the infection was in my blood stream.

[jillrapp]

I have the lancet drum as well and only rotate it for a fresh poke when it becomes blunt. I change a drum of 6 about once every 2-3 weeks and I test from 5-8 x's/day.

I won't re-use a syringe - as I don't want to put a 'dirty' needle back into an insulin bottle. I do, however, re-use pen needles. Those I use for 2-3 injections before replacing. (I do take them off each time and replace before each shot.)

[KCP]

I reuse lancets cos i always lose them so can never replace them.. but i dont tend to notice when they get blunt anyway.
As for syringes i replace them when it hurts to you them...

I guess im bad.. lol

[DanG]

I won't re-use a syringe - as I don't want to put a 'dirty' needle back into an insulin bottle.

I re-use a syringe everyday. I load up one syringe with as much as I think I will need, inject only what I need and leave the rest for the next time I take insulin. Other than that, I agree - no used (dirty) needle goes in to the insulin vial.

[KCP]

Thats an interesting way to do it Dan. Id always be scared that id inject too much at once doing that, but hey, whatever works right?? :D