Reusing Needles

[statdeac]

Needles often remain sharp after one use. Some doctors say that their patients reuse them without a problem. Manufacturers are on a campaign to show that it's really not a good idea, especially if you use the newer, smaller guage (30-31g.) needles.

What do you do?

[Tony]

If I had to I would reuse it. I had in the past when I didn't have any more needles with me. I'm on the pump so I hardly use needles now. I must have 6 boxes left.

[statdeac]

Tony, maybe you could sell your 6 boxes on EBay...lol

[Gina]

is that legal

[Jon]

No, it's not legal.

Usually I have my son throw his needles away after one use. We get them free through the insurance, so there is no point in trying to re-use them. He has re-used needles in the past when I forgot to check his supply before going on a trip. Nothing bad happened.

I have seen the pictures though that they include with the box of syringes. It shows a needle after the first use, and it looks pretty bad.

[Gina]

i thought your not suppose to reuse t he needles anyway...it can cause an infection

[statdeac]

Yeah, depending on the way that it is handled. The skin at the injection site should be clean and the needle should be recapped and never touched. If this cannot be done skillfully due to poor eyesite or coordination, it could be an issue.

Apparently, this is much more common than you would think, as I've had both doctors and nurses who were also diabetics tell me that they did it or knew of people who did without a problem. It's the needle manufacturers who are putting out the education on what happens to the needle after one or two uses. They are the ones who stand the most to gain from increasing compliance.

[Gina]

i would never use needles twice it used to hurt the first time imagine the second oh boy

[statdeac]

Originally posted by Jon
No, it's not legal.

Well, then...there's illegal activity on Ebay. Check out the listing below for an auction currently happening...

GENERIC INSULIN SYRINGE (ACCUSURE) 28 GAUGE 1/2CC 1/2" NEEDLE 100/BOX Buy it now and pay with PAYPAL. Shipping takes 7 to 10 days. Order more than one and I will not charge you additional shipping. This is a very popular brand in the United States. Patient compliance is wonderful. One time use only for these disposable syringes. One box contains 10 packs of 10 for 100 total. Look at my feedback and buy with confidence! Use check out with paypal. New to paypal? Go to this link https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_international-register and choose your country. Make Paypal payment payable to dentech@rocketmail.com Cheers!

I'll tellin' you, Tony, you may be missing out here!!:p

[Gina]

we need an underground system at the forums lol

[Tony]

Wow statdeac is not joking ebay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2516757242&category=3258) You would think they can get in trouble for that. You need a perscription for that. Not cheap $150 a box.

[Gina]

drug addicts lol

[statdeac]

Originally posted by Tony
Not cheap $150 a box.

Wait a minute, Tony. Your not gonna make that much!! If you read the listing carefully, it says $150 for TEN BOXES. Don't count your chickens....:D

[Jon]

I have not read the ad, but I would guess that it is from somewhere outside the US, or you will find that you need a perscription before they can ship it. I also heard that they were selling perscription drugs such as viagra on the internet, and they would do that by having a doctor write a perscription based on a telephone interview or an internet questionaire. Maybe it is something like that.

[Rigel]

I'm using the BD 31G shorts (5mm). I've been reusing once per needle with no probs so far... any more than that and they start to hurt at he injection site.

[Jon]

Notice the disclaimer on EBay at the end of the syringe pages:

"Ebay requires this statement: The sale of this item may be subject to strict regulation by the US FDA and state/local regulatory agencies. If so, do not bid unless you are an authorized purchaser. If the item is subject to FDA regulations, I will verify your status as an authorized purchaser of this item before shipping. Fanciful Folly, Augusta, GA Private Distributor."

However, another seller claims that syringes are an over-the-counter item.

[Gina]

no way it is not over the counter...every junkie would be getting them .... puuuuuuuuuh lease

[snakeye]

I use the BD31G too. I use one 3 times even though I get all supplies from insurance including strips for the optium. But as going and getting them from the hospital is worse than diabetes itself I'd rather plunge em three times!
Nothing wrong so far but if something happens I think I can turn on using them once. Rarely it "cracles" along the way in!

Tip: The faster you plunge it, the less it loses it's sharpness..

[Harold]

Depending on which state you live in, no not a foggy state, they maybe over the counter or by prescroption only. I've purchased several boxes for my mother by just asking for them, no questions ask other than is this what you want.

[statdeac]

I think Harold is right about this. In NC, even insulin is available without a prescription (except for fast acting insulin). See this copy of a state pharmacy drug update from 6 years ago, when Humalog hit the market...


January 1997 North Carolina Board of Pharmacy
Newsletter ON THE WEB
Item 908-Insulin

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Related Article: N/A

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Pharmacists should be aware of a new insulin product, Humalog Recombinant DNA Insulin. One of its medical benefits is its claim to eliminate "clumping," which can be a problem with regular insulin. Intended to replace regular insulin in the marketplace, this item is available by prescription only. This is a significant change for insulin products, which are generally available without a prescription.

[statdeac]

Well, this poll was a bust!!! Look's like it might be an all or nothing kind of thing, but any good stat guy would tell you that we don't have enough responses to guage what the deal is!!

So, if you haven't voted, VOTE!!!

[Gina]

there arent enough type 1s maybe for this poll

[bigsapper]

Addressing two subjects in one thread :D ...

1) I reused syringes (28ga) for years before I went on the pump. Only had a problem twice with syringes too bent to use. (ouch!) I did it even though they were covered by insurance. (nothing is ever truly free). That said, I would never recommend anyone do anything that contravenes their doctor's instructions.

2) For people who believe that syringes are a prescription only item, I would advise you check your state and/or local laws/ordinances. In Texas, they are an OTC item, although you will be asked why you are purchasing them (the old "We reserve the right to refuse to sell, yada, yada, yada thing). However, your insurance may require a prescription to cover it under their policy.

HTH.

Edited because my grammar ain't so good sometimes

[Jon]

You had 8 votes on this poll. If you look at the "are you a type 2" poll, only 8 of the voters take insulin. So my guess is only 8 people who take insulin also participate in polls. Out of 322 members, that makes 2.5% who take insulin and also participate in polls.

[statdeac]

Sounds like a pretty good guess.

[TAutry]

Interesting thread/poll Statdeac!

I have reused when I was down to the last syringe early Monday morning and at other rare occasions without any negative side effects other than a frown from my wife.;) I don't make it a practice, but would not hesitate to reuse once if necessary to cover a short supply or if money was extremely tight.

Cost really hasn't been an issue since I started buying the store brand at Walmart. I can get a box of 100 for less than half the price of BD. The last BD syringes I bought had several with 'failure to draw' syndrome in the box. I haven't had any bad ones from the store brand.

Travis

(Notice how craftily I worded that to avoid doing a commercial?:p)

[Jon]

Yeah, but then you have to shop at Wal-Mart. It's not worth it to me. What do they charge you for syringes anyway? My insurance covers them.

[Mick]

When I'd just gotten out of college and was no longer was under my parent's insurance, I began seriously re-using syringes. I knew it might be many months (In fact, it was almost 3 years) before I had any insurance coverage, so a year before I graduated, I began re-using, to build up a stock. I ended up making a years worth of syringes last for basically 4 years. I never had the slightest problem and, out of habit, I just continued to reuse. Back then the needles were MUCH thicker. Since going on the pen, and the short thinner guage syringes, I don't re-use as much. If I take 30-35 shots a week, maybe I reuse 6-7 pen needles in that week's time. I never re-use my syringes any more.

Michael
T1 since 1965

[webpundit]

My diabetic supplies were not covered by Insurance for quite a while, and out of economic necessity I had to reuse my needles all the time.

Now, finally that my supplies are covered (90% - God bless my company for giving me this insurance plan!), I use the pen needles about 2-3 times before throwing them away. It's a habit I find hard to break...it seems like such a waste throwing them away after one use. I haven't had any problems with even using a needles for almost 3 days (in my non-insurance days). I never re-use my syringes (for Lantus) though. The Lantus shot is painful enough without having to reuse a needle.

Can anybody tell me which is the right gauge needle to be used with the disposable Humalog pens?

[rzrbks]

Harold

Depending on which state you live in, no not a foggy state, they maybe over the counter or by prescroption only. I've purchased several boxes for my mother by just asking for them, no questions ask other than is this what you want.

yup, it depends on the state your in as to whether you need RX or not for syringes

[lgvincent]

I've been reusing the darn thing for years and never had a problem with infection. They do tend to get dull after a few days so I'll change them at that time, or if I drop them. I once dropped a needle into my foot after taking the injection and was afraid I would have problems with it so I went to the doctor to have it looked at and was told that I couldn't infect myself with a needle that only I had used as long as it hadn't touched anything else, so that was when I started reusing the things.

[rzrbks]

lgvincent

I've been reusing the darn thing for years and never had a problem with infection. They do tend to get dull after a few days so I'll change them at that time,

me too. But when they get dull, I switch to injecting into my posterior (Lantus, at night) and that way I can get a couple of more days out of them

[statdeac]

Originally posted by lgvincent
I once dropped a needle into my foot after taking the injection... Ouch!!! I just got a painful visual image of that!;)

[am1977]

I voted "doesn't apply", just b/c now I''m on the pump and don't use syringes. However, when I was using injections, I used to constantly reuse needles. It may have not been the best thing, but for some reason I just felt that they were being wasted if they were thrown away after just one use. That may be just my own crazy thinking.

[lgvincent]

Statdeac, I get these mild "jolts" fairly often and when it happens I tend to drop whatever I'm holding at the time (makes it kind of hard to be around valuable antiques). I had just taken my insulin when it happened so the needle went straight into my foot. It bled real good and hurt just a bit too, but everything came out okay since the needle didn't get dirty before it "bit" me. That was back in the days when I was using the 1/2 inch needles.

[snydermom]

Jeeze ... notice the majority in the Poll say they reuse but the majority in this discussion say they don't?

Hi Gina ... where have you been?

Beth.

[HeatherP]

I use each syringe 2 times. I've been using the same lancet for months. I figure, that since I use alcohol to sterilize my stick/injection site, I can't get sick/infections from myself. I have dropped a syringe on the floor of restaurants a few times, wiped the needle w/ alcohol, and injected w/ no adverse effects - although I wouldn't reccomend doing so on purpose. I do usually try to bring two syringes w/ me in case of such clumsiness, but not always. I have also used syringes more than two times when I'm out and the pharmacy isn't/wasn't open for me to pick up a new box and I was out.

[lgvincent]

Boy, Heather, reusing a syringe dropped on the floor is something I've never done. When I do that, I just throw away the syringe, even when I haven't injected the insulin. I hate to do it but I've always been afraid to do otherwise.
I'll use a lancet for a few days, but not months.

[statdeac]

Originally posted by lgvincent
Statdeac, I get these mild "jolts" fairly often and when it happens I tend to drop whatever I'm holding at the time (makes it kind of hard to be around valuable antiques). I had just taken my insulin when it happened so the needle went straight into my foot. It bled real good and hurt just a bit too, but everything came out okay since the needle didn't get dirty before it "bit" me. That was back in the days when I was using the 1/2 inch needles. Glad to hear that it wasn't serious. Now that you mention it, I think that I get those same mild jolts. This week a broke a wine glass (not mine). In the past two years, I have juggled and dropped my Palm Pilot twice and had to send it in for screen repair. Have you noticed this happens more since you were diagnosed?

[lgvincent]

I'm sorry, I can't really say. I've had diabetes since 1968 and I don't remember if they took place before I developed the disease or not. I've never been able to get a "cause" for this problem. I've had an MRI and a few other tests done but I still don't know why it happens.

[notme]

I use a pump now so I don't reuse anything. Hmmm wonder if you could reuse a reservoir??? LOL

Anyhow, when I was on MDI I constantly reused my needles. Don't ask me why, it just was easier and seemed to be a waste to use them just once. I used them till they hurt also. Usually 4-5 times.

Nancy

[Tony]

Originally posted by notme
I use a pump now so I don't reuse anything. Hmmm wonder if you could reuse a reservoir??? LOL

Some people do reuse the reservoir. They will use one reservoir for every two site changes.

Once in awhile I do that in the winter. If I have alot of insulin left and I need to do a site change.
I have only done that when I was plowing snow for 15 hours and need to get right back to plowing.

[Belinda]

zHell with the snow it will be there the next few days! Back in the old days I reused my syringes but the pump makes that obsolete now!

In TN you don't need a prescription to buy syringes. And for EBAY well it is addictive....I am bidding at school now....LOL

[Andrea]

Originally posted by Tony
Some people do reuse the reservoir. They will use one reservoir for every two site changes.


Hi Tony,

That is not reusing a resevoir! Reusing means actually filling it up twice. I use one resevoir for every two site changes almost every time. It saves time on site changes. I fill the resevoir to 200 units instead of 100 units and then after 3 days i only need to change the actual site and i leave the resevoir and tubing in place for a second 3 days. As far as i am concerned that is just one (6 day) use.

Minimed actually sells boxes of silhouette infusion sets where 5 sets come full with the tubing and the other 5 just have the "site" with no tubing. Buying a "combo set", as they are called, is cheaper than buying a box of full sets, it wastes less materials and it speeds up every other site change. I don't even pay for my supplies anymore and i still do it that way because it is so much more convenient. Of course, on a 511 or 512 i guess that wouldn't be possible for most people. You'd have to have a TDD of less than 25 units.

Andrea