[Janke]

I know the purists and the nurses and medical professionals will say to never use a 'sharp' more than once, but since it is my own microscopic blood and DNA and fluids and germs on the tip, does it really matter?

I found that one of my fingers doesn't bleed as well as the others, so when I pricked it, nothing happened so I used the sharp again on another finger.

I suppose that keeping an old lancet and using it hours later would create different problems because it could be exposed to more contaminates. Probably shouldn't nickel and dime with my health issues. I was just wondering what the big deal was.

Also, how do all of you dispose of your sharps? The nurse said I needed to treat it as hazardous waste.

Also, how do you know how many test strips your insurance will pay for each month? Depends upon the doctor's prescription and the individual insurance? So far the doctor said to test twice a day, but I notice many of you test more than that. I'll follow the doctor's advice for now, but again, am curious.

The Metformin did affect my stool today. Hope I can get used to it. I am also missing my gall bladder and already had problems there. Can I take Imodium? I'll call the doctor.

Lots of questions for the first day on meds and blood checking.

[alicat61]

Hi Janke,
A few weeks ago the subject of using lancets more than once came up and most people use them lots more than once. Myself I had forgotten when I had last changed it!!
(went and bought a new box ) I haven't heard of anyone getting infections from reusing lancets.(it is as you say your own germs DNA etc)
As for disposal I have an empty Diet Coke bottle that I put all my sharps into You can buy special containers.
As For the strips here in Australia we have a different system so can't help with that question
Now for the metformin it can cause loose motions. You may find this settles down once your body gets used to it. I never know wether to blame shift work metformin or the curry I had the night before LOL

[Chappo]

My sharps i will usually dispose of safely at home - inside a box or container. If i'm out and about i'll keep the pen needle with me until i get home.

For lancets, i use the single one for a month or so (with testing up to 10 times a day) then change.

As with anything, and especially with BGLs the more the better. I guess your most important tests will be 2-hours postprandial, so do these as a must if you are going to limit your BGL tests. I'm Type-1, but i test around 6-10 times a day, depending on what i'm doing/what i'm eating/how i'm feeling.

Definitely call your doctor re: Immodium, especially if you're having effects already from Metformin and you've had your gall bladder taken out.

Hope it helps!!!

Alex

[tfisher63]

I use mine at least a week or more... I know I've been told not too...but I work construction and believe me, that used lancet is alot cleaner than anything else that has ever drawn blood on me...lol

[LarryTango]

Hey Janke , welcome to the forums and all that stuff hehe.

when i was first diagnosed i changed the lancet every time but i very rarely change now , i think its one of those things that everyone does lol (altho i may just be lazy)

the metformin problems should disapear within a week or so

[davef]

Janke,

Welcome to the forums, you have found a great source of information and support, the people here are really great.

Originally Posted by Janke

I know the purists and the nurses and medical professionals will say to never use a 'sharp' more than once, but since it is my own microscopic blood and DNA and fluids and germs on the tip, does it really matter?

I generally use a new lancet for each test, but sometimes (like your example where the first time doesn't work or if I have forgotten to put enough lancets in my case to see me through the day, I will re-use them. Of course, I'm in the lucky situation where I get my lancets "free" under a government scheme, I have paid tax all my life so I have paid for what I'm getting.

If I have found that, the lancets will dull when reused a few times and this can lead it to be slightly more painful when using an old lancet.

Originally Posted by Janke

Also, how do all of you dispose of your sharps? The nurse said I needed to treat it as hazardous waste.

I have Bayer lancets, where the needle/sharp has a plastic cap that you remove. Generally what I do is after using the lancet I'll wipe/rinse it and put the cap back on, but not into the hole it came out of (basically stab the plastic cap) so the needle is covered and then dispose of it with my household waste.

Originally Posted by Janke

Also, how do you know how many test strips your insurance will pay for each month? Depends upon the doctor's prescription and the individual insurance? So far the doctor said to test twice a day, but I notice many of you test more than that. I'll follow the doctor's advice for now, but again, am curious.

As I mentioned I get my supplies for free and I tell the doctor how many times I want to test and he writes the prescription accordingly. I too was told to test twice a day, but only did that for about 1-2 days until I found this forum. I cannot stress enough how important testing is if you want to get good control. You need to test in order to find out what foods work for you and which ones cause a spike in your Blood Glucose (BG). I don't know if you are watching your carbs, but would advise you to do so as carbs are generally one of the things which will give you a rise in your BG. So I test about 4-6 times a day, when I started out I tested two hours after the first bite of a meal, this will show you how what you have eaten will increase your BG. I aim to have a fasting blood glucose of below 110 and to be below 140 two hours after first bite. Things like white bread, pasta, potatoes and rice are full of carbs and for many of us they are something we eat very sparingly or avoid. The thing about this disease is that we are all different and so some people can eat potatoes and others can't, or to phrase it better, we choose not to as it causes too much of a spike.

Originally Posted by Janke

The Metformin did affect my stool today. Hope I can get used to it. I am also missing my gall bladder and already had problems there. Can I take Imodium? I'll call the doctor.

Metformin can cause some people gastric problems, the side effects do generally wear off as your body gets used to it. I have been lucky as I did not experience any nausea at all, I have had a few "Metformin Moments", these occurred if I took the Met on an empty stomach, ate a big meal or a greasy meal. It caused cramps, awful wind and then diarrhea.

One other thing, it does take a while (in my case about 2-3 weeks) for the Metformin to really take effect on helping to reduce my BG readings, so don't get upset when you don't see an immediate drop in your readings.

Originally Posted by Janke

Lots of questions for the first day on meds and blood checking.

Well you have found the place to ask the questions, don't hesitate to ask ANY question, even if you think it's a silly question, asking questions is how we all learn. There is also tons of information in the older threads.

Things get easier, it can be a bit overwhelming at the start but it really does get so much better and we are all here for you.

[Stuboy]

Some people change their lancet every use, some people change the lancet once a year lol. It's propbably not so much of an issue for someone who only tests twice a day. But for type 1 people who test 8+ times a day (and some type 2's) changing the lancet gets old very quickly...

Much like changing the needle on an insulin pen everyuse... i change my needles maybe every other day, and my lancet needle once a week or once a fortnight... whenever i remember really!!

If you get a chance, or choice, try and get the Accu-Chek Softclix lancet device... it's by far the best i've ever used and hurts much less than the one touch lancets.

[shutterbug]

Originally Posted by Janke

I suppose that keeping an old lancet and using it hours later would create different problems because it could be exposed to more contaminates. Probably shouldn't nickel and dime with my health issues. I was just wondering what the big deal was.

I change mine once a day. I test anywhere between 2-4 times a day.

Originally Posted by Janke

The Metformin did affect my stool today. Hope I can get used to it. I am also missing my gall bladder and already had problems there. Can I take Imodium? I'll call the doctor.

Same here.. Initially Metformin caused problems but in a few weeks (4-5 weeks) I'm back to normal. I gave away my gall bladder 4 years ago!

[fgummett]

I used to change my lancet every time but since reading here I have been stretching them to maybe once a day... it is easier for carrying supplies and sharps disposal that way. I agree with David that they dull over use... as do the needles.

Here in Canada the pharmacies give out (usually free) sharps-containers which you simply return for safe disposal and replacement when full... I have one at work and another at home.

[morrisma]

I test 8x or more a day and change the lancet when it hurts 2 times in a row. This usually takes many months.

The only other time I'll change it when an office mate wants his bg tested. He doesn't want my blood & I don't want his so I change twice then. That happens once or twice a year.

[princesslinda]

I reuse my lancets until a stick "hurts," then i'll change it. Usually I change a couple times a week (I stick 4-5 times a day).

You can put your used lancets in a pop bottle, a milk jug or any container with a lid...or you can buy a sharps container at your pharmacy.

I got a free one off the "freebies" thread here...but generally use a pop bottle with a lid on my desk (I work at a doctor's office and so I can then put it in a biohazard container when full).

It make take a short time before you adjust to the metformin. I don't see a problem with your taking whatever anti-diarrheals you may have on hand to help with it. I also noted that when I ate "greasy" foods, I would have this problem,

[Maya_Papaya]

I change mine everytime....i just always have....i dont even leave the lancet in the thingy....i just take it out an throw it away like with my strip...i dunno maybe i'm ocd cause its just part of my little routine...

tho my girlfriend prolly gets tired of the little tops you twist off, to the lancets ending up all over the place cause thats the one part i always do forget to toss lol

I just use like a coffee can to put them in....and i guess when its all filled up i'll figure out how to dispose of it, cause truth be told i've never filled one up yet ....

I always have to tell my doctor i test 4 times a day or they wanna only write a prescription for me to test like twice a day....and then they look at me like i'm crazy that i wanna test more....~shrugs~ but i dunno how all that actually works....

[Keezheekoni]

I change my lancet when I change to a new bottle of strips. I have 50 strips in my bottles, so it's usually about every 4 days.

I liked one person's response to this question a while ago... "I change it every time one of these threads comes up!"

[dlayne]

Used to change every time for the first couple years. Now I change the lancet when I remember and have time, and/or when it's become dull enough to be painful or difficult to draw blood. I test as often as 12 times a day these days (while unmanaged and going low often) but used to test 5 times a day when managed.

[Scrabblechick]

I change lancets about every 2-3 tests, so about twice a day. My fingertips are sensitive, and it starts to hurt once I've used it more than 2 or three times. Lancets are $5.95 for a box of 100, though, so it's not expensive. I dispose of my lancets and strips in an empty plastic water bottle with a cap. When the bottle is full, it goes in the garbage.

I'm on Metformin and I had some of those gastric issues the first couple of weeks. Always remember to take it with food, and these symptoms should diminish in the next couple of weeks or so.

Welcome to the forums!