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View Poll Results: How often do you change your lancet? | |
Every time
|    | 23 | 13.29% | |
Every 1 - 3 pokes
|    | 11 | 6.36% | |
Every 4 - 10 pokes
|    | 24 | 13.87% | |
More than 10 pokes
|    | 55 | 31.79% | |
You're supposed to change the lancet?
|    | 60 | 34.68% |
 | | 
09-19-2008, 07:57 PM
|  | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Bucks County, PA, USA
Posts: 1,065
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by buddy7  Hey- Guys!!
Lancets are designed to only be used once, and then disposed of in a safe way. Using a lancet just once will make it more blunt, and therefore more painful to use. There are a variety of ways of getting rid of used lancets safely as they can carry infection. Some companies sell sharps boxes, and GPs can even prescribe sharps bins to dispose of lancets safely.
Be safe, you no it makes sense.
B/7 ESSEX UK. | You got stock in a lancet company? We've proven many times over that you don't need to change them until your darn well good and ready.
__________________ 
Unless otherwise stated, the opinions expressed here are my own and are in no way intended to be considered as anything other than my opinion. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it. |
09-19-2008, 08:22 PM
|  | Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Long Island
Posts: 346
| | Only just noticed this thread - I love it because now I don't feel like a bad girl!  I change when I think, "Ouch, that hurt!" or when I test someone else and then switch back to me.
__________________  Anne
Diagnosis: April 9, 1968
Pump (508): September 2001
522 + Sensor: February 18, 2008
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09-20-2008, 06:56 AM
|  | Senior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Posts: 605
| | | I changed every time when I first started - that's what the nurse said to do. Now I change when I think about it or if I test someone else.
I think I probably have enough for the rest of my life at this rate. Strips on the other hand...
Mark
__________________
Dx May 2007
A1C @ Dx = 7.0
9/15/07 = 5.1 (Biosafe home test kit)
10/9/07 = 5.4
1/18/08 = 5.4
6/11/08 = 5.3
11/4/08 = 5.6
No meds - just diet and exercise |
09-20-2008, 04:24 PM
| | Junior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Texas
Posts: 67
| | HOW FUNNY!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!
I also thought I was the only one who didn't change much!! 
It does take much longer than 5 sec to change since I must first LOCATE some more lancets.
I have been diabetic almost 30 years and have never had an infection from a finger stick. (Of course when I was first diagnosed - I used urine testing. BLAHHH!) |
09-20-2008, 04:33 PM
|  | Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sunshine State (of Confusion)
Posts: 227
| | | I change them when I change the batteries in the smoke detectors, when daylight savings time begins and ends. |
09-20-2008, 05:42 PM
|  | Junior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: west of wind and water
Posts: 78
| | | I change every time I poke ... guessing at nine or ten times a day .......I have two fingers that look they have been smudged in ink. I change because of chances of infection... I have had two heart infections plus mrsa...
__________________
Old chickens make great soup....... |
09-20-2008, 06:36 PM
| | Junior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: dc 'burbs
Posts: 99
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by Busy Betty HOW FUNNY!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!
I also thought I was the only one who didn't change much!!
It does take much longer than 5 sec to change since I must first LOCATE some more lancets.
I have been diabetic almost 30 years and have never had an infection from a finger stick. (Of course when I was first diagnosed - I used urine testing. BLAHHH!) | 37+ yrs for me, and I had to call my husband over to read the poll too...we're both ROFL! I told him it's great to know I'm not the only one. 
Yeah, urine testing sucked. But back then, there weren't lancet devices either. We had to manually stick our fingers! I have the best intentions and do actually put several lancets in my tester case, but always forget to change until I can't get blood out anymore, just like many of you have posted. (Old habits are very hard to change, and I've never had a problem so there is no incentive for me to do so) I also change when I test someone else, then change again when back to me.
__________________
Type 1, dx Memorial Day 1971, age 9
Animas 1250, pumping 3 yrs]
POSTCARD EXCHG RND 2
Sent: 20/20
Rcd: 17/20
Vickie53|Valc3|Evermont|GretchO|birdyland|kmac|Tee Jax|Davef|becks7|techgirl12|Yannah|Bigcity rich|EllieK|trowter|Jerryn|Cassini|Keezheekoni... |
09-20-2008, 08:36 PM
| | Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 100
| | | I change mine once a day... |
09-20-2008, 09:01 PM
| | Junior Member | | Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 8
| | | I change mine once every week or couple of weeks but what I do often is wipe it with my alcohol pad. |
09-20-2008, 10:28 PM
|  | Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: May 2008 Location: Staffordshire UK
Posts: 121
| | | Only change when they so blunt they hurt
__________________
Cloudedbrains aka Donna
Dx'd: T2 - 6th August 2006
New hba1c: 5.5%
Last hba1c: 5.3%
Regime: levemir & novorapid
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09-21-2008, 10:01 AM
| | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Michigan
Posts: 708
| | | I change mine when it's so dull it bounces off my finger and my finger doesn't bleed.
And on the infection thing... I'm immunosupressed, still don't change my lancets regularly and still no infection. So, I'm willing to bet the rest of you don't have much to worry about as long as you don't drop the needle in the dirt or some other such uber dirty place. |
09-21-2008, 11:42 AM
|  | Super Moderator
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Mid-West
Posts: 7,248
| | LOL!! It's funny to read the replies, because I'm over here nodding my head! I too, don't change lancets until they do all of what others have said (i.e. bouncing off the finger without bleeding, so dull they hurt, blunt, etc.). I've never had an infection from finger sticks, either (& I've had Diabetes for over 26 years). I also came from a time when there were only urine tests. Oy, the fun of those things (Not!)! Talk about a guesstimate of levels! 
One time, the lancet was so blunt, it not only hurt, but I could literally see that the end was curled over! lol. It's good to see others who've had similar or the same experiences! 
__________________ ALL my love, Carwy & Best wishes for a healthy new beginning! 
Saying prayers for him & all our friends, every day.
_______
Dewey's Thought for the day...
"Jesus himself could be president & someone would find a reason to gripe!"
______
Pumps & Meters Used:
MM506,7,8,11 & 12, Cozmo, Animas 1200 & 1250 Many
A1C: 6.4
Type I 26yrs, pumping 12
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09-21-2008, 08:25 PM
|  | Senior Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posts: 775
| | | Actually I only change the thing when I'm reminded that you're supposed to do that by one of these threads...
...Changing lancet now... It's been too long to mention.
__________________
That would be a good thing for them to cut on my tombstone: Wherever she went, including here, it was against her better judgment.
- Dorothy Parker
T1 18 years
26 years old
Minimed Paradigm 522... yay!
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09-21-2008, 08:35 PM
|  | Member
I am a: Type 1 | | Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Newnan, GA
Posts: 130
| | Quote:
Originally Posted by Kendall The box says "single use only" but I doubt most of us follow that advice. My husband sometimes gives me a hard time and asks me if I can even remember when I changed it last. (Then he changes it for me. What a great guy!) I usually wait until the needle feels dull or my fingers start complaining before I change it. | It's good to know that I'm not the only one that almost NEVER changes the lancet...hahaha!!
__________________
Tropical83
Type 1 since August 31, 1992
Pump lover since 2001 - currently on MMP515-Humalog
Lisinopril 2.5mg/day
Simvastatin 40mg/day
LowAspirin 81mg/day
One-A-Day multivitamin/day
Micardis (telmisatan) 20mg/day
A1C March 15, 2008: 11.0%  :
A1C September 8, 2008: 7.5% 
Low-carbing since September 22, 08. Quote:
My diabetes is under construction.  | |
09-21-2008, 10:35 PM
| | Junior Member
I am a: Type 2 | | Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Oregon USA
Posts: 33
| | Once a month or whenever it gets too dull to prick my finger. 
__________________
Dx'd 1/2001
Lantus/Humalog
Symlin
Last A1c: 5.2  |
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