Quick question about changing needles...

[Diabetic-Canada]

I have been using a pen for a while, and I reused the needles for the pen several times with no problems, but I am curious about using syringes. Can you do the same with syringe needles? or not?

[JediSkipdogg]

I have been using a pen for a while, and I reused the needles for the pen several times with no problems, but I am curious about using syringes. Can you do the same with syringe needles? or not?

Medical community answer is no because it could cause disease promotion if someone else picks it up and accidentally touches the needle. But truthfully, heck yeah. WHen I use to be on MDI, I would use a needle for about 10 times (5 days) before I replaced it. I would just do whatever you were doing with the pen and continue that method with regular needles.

[jeggeman31]

WHen I use to be on MDI, I would use a needle for about 10 times (5 days) before I replaced it.

I did that ONCE because I was unable to get any due to being in B.F.E. It hurt so bad I have never done that again, nor would ever try to again.

[Diabetic-Canada]

Medical community answer is no because it could cause disease promotion if someone else picks it up and accidentally touches the needle. But truthfully, heck yeah. WHen I use to be on MDI, I would use a needle for about 10 times (5 days) before I replaced it. I would just do whatever you were doing with the pen and continue that method with regular needles.


Yeah, I just switched from premixed to MDI and Lantus in Canada doesn't have a pen yet, so I have to use syringes. I would like to be able to re-use the needles like I do with the pen, but I was unsure if the fact that because the needle is a two way thing...drawing the insulin into the syringe, then injecting it...if that would make any difference. I have never had any problems using the needles for my pen several times, so if it is the same, then I'll probably do that.

[KickStart101]

Hi D-C: I've always used my syringes 4-5 times each and haven't had any problems. I do push the plunger in to make sure it is totally empty and run a bit of alcohol over the needle or use an alcohol swab to sterilize it. :)

[jen_slc]

Hi D-C: I've always used my syringes 4-5 times each and haven't had any problems. I do push the plunger in to make sure it is totally empty and run a bit of alcohol over the needle or use an alcohol swab to sterilize it. :)I sometimes reuse my syringes, but only once or twice because beyond that it hurts too much. The needles are coated with silicone to help glide the needle in more smoothly and therefore with less pain, so the more you reuse (or if you run an alcohol swab over it I imagine), the less silicone left on the needle and the possibility of more pain. Also, though you can't see it, the needle itself will become bent/blunt with multiple reuses, so again, possibility of more pain. But hey, if it doesn't hurt and nobody else is going to get a hold of your syringes, why not?

[KickStart101]

Hey Jen: Thanks for the mention. Yes, I am well aware of the silicone coating, and I have used them with or without alcohol(I suppose since alcohol is only on them a few seconds it didn't make any diff to me). I am
used to many types of pain, but I find 4 or 5 times is time to toss them for me
not because they hurt much more just cause that's the number I said, that's enough. Funny how skin can deteriate(sp) steel. Everyone has always known
in our house, Don't touch my pills or my needles. They have never been in reach of little Kids. :)

[Mark C]

I have found that a good needle, one that does NOT hurt or is not misplaced back is not the orange needle guard, is reusable. Of course, I keep my pre-loaded syringes in the refrigerator so as to minimize bacterial growth during the reused period.

Lantus: I take 48 units per day currently. I buy the Walmart ReliOn brand of 100 unit syringes for $12.52 per box of 100. Cost $0.125 each. I draw 96 units at the time I inject and push 48, leaving 48 in the syringe and refrigerate until the next injection time. Costs are cut to $0.0625 per use.

If I use a Vial of Novolog/Humalog that I get for free from the doctor's office: I take from 20 to 26 units per day currently at three different times. I buy the Walmart ReliOn brand of 30 unit syringes for $12.52 per box of 100. Cost $0.125 each. I draw 26 units at the time I inject and push appropriate to my carb counting, leaving the next push's in the syringe and refrigerate until the next injection time. Costs are cut to $0.041 per use. If I fail to use the entire drawn dose in that day, I will save it until my next injection time and use it then. I then draw the appropriate remainder needed for the rest of that day's planned meals. Cost per day is still $0.125, as I will reuse the same syringe for 3 to 4 times.

If I use a Novolog Pen that I get as a prescription (the usual method and source, and I like the pen the best): I take from 20 to 26 units per day currently at three different times. I buy the Walmart ReliOn brand of pen needles for $9.82 per box of 50. Cost $0.098 each. I will reuse the same pen needle for that entire day of 3 to 4 injection times.

If I use a Lantus Pen refill that I get occaisionally from the doctor as a sample: I use a new pen needle every time because I cannot refrigerate the electronically indicated pen.

IMPORTANT: If I am travelling and do not refrigerate my syringes or pen, I do not reuse them at all. The travelling will likely cause the pressure changes that will allow easier leaks and air incursion with the needles being attached and obviously lack of refrigeration will not inhigit bacterial growth.

ALSO IMPORTANT: I NEVER use a used needle to REDRAW the dose from the vial of insulin. This will place bacteria and possibly fungus and molds into the vial's sealed environment.

You must concentrate and not push more insulin than you should! You must be able to read your syringe markings through your glasses as you push. For that reason, at home, I seek to do this with as little distraction as possible and have only pushed once more than I needed of Novolog. (It was the excuse I needed to have two slices of my homemade bread! ;) )

I have NEVER had a reaction site infection. I try to always clean the puncture site of the vial and the injection site with an alcohol swab.

I have found factory blunted or damaged needles that hurt like hades the first use. (Two BD brand needles have been bent before use from the box. No WalMart' brand have been so far.) You also must take care to replace the needle carrier back STRAIGHT onto the needles so as to not blunt the needle by forcing it into the plastic. WalMart Needles are also packed individually in a wrapper and are far more useful while travelling because of this.

[someone]

i could see maybe reusing once if that was all you had, but i have found that it really does cause more pain to reuse. this is one of the advantages to using a pen.. the needle never has to go through rubber. the rubber slightly dulls the needle, i am sure your skin is worse.

[sydneya]

The "rule" from the educators is only to use a needle once. :hypocrite I have reused a needle a few times. I don't like pain, so I change after two or three times. Each time used it dulls the needle. As long as I know that needle is just going into me, I just don't see the harm.

[Mark C]

I have experienced no correlation between the number of times (under 4) a needle has been used and how painful the stick is. Some hurt upon first use more than others.

I also inject through my denim jeans into the thigh.

Sometimes the needle hurts upon first use and does not the second or third... Go figure.

The above plan I use allows me to really stretch my budget. The BD needle/pen needle packages are a $30 copay for 100. The WalMart Brand syringes are better IMnsHO because they are wrapped individually and cost significantly less per each. $12.52 for 100 syringes and $19.64 per 100 pen needles (Two boxes of 50).

[someone]

the lubricant comes off and the tip of the needle shears a bit upon multiple uses.. i will admit, it is not a significant difference to use it 2 times, but 3 i can tell the difference.