300+ Pricks Per Lancet
How many times do you use the same lancet?
I might change mine 8 times a year - and that is a big might---
I might change mine 8 times a year - and that is a big might---
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by iroseland on
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ehh
I figure to each their own on the changing of the lancet guard..
Changing often or every time is probably more safe. But, I test like 10 times a day, and already carry more junk around than I want to. So, I pass on alcohol wipes and only change out the lancet once in a while. Heck even with syringes, when I am running low my urge to avoid running out will result in some reuse. A good BD syringe with a couple of uses is still way better than those nasty captain hook brand generic ones I was getting at the Kmart in Cudahy back when I was a poor University student..
Ivan!
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Permalink Reply by Lois on -
Ivan:
Do/did you go to UWM? I worked there for 20+ years. In fact, I have had diabetes for 20+ years! Do you think there is a connection!!!???????
I guess I went and put my foot in my mouth again. Of course, I can appreciate the cost but, if you all knew where I was coming from, you might want to cut me just a tiniest bit of slack. To do this, go to my site and read my profile. I think that is why I tend to try to prevent any further complications by following the guidelines more closely than others. Of course, as a student, you were probably next to dirt poor. I've been in the position lately that I can't afford to buy my pump supplies through the proper channels because I don't have $300-$400 up front to ship them to me!! I am so totally there with the cost thing. Since I went on the pump, I have almost a whole box of syringes that I was tempted to get rid of, but I can't seem to part with them just yet because I paid for them!! Talk about cheap....they cost me all of $5.00!
So, in an attempt to bow out of this gracefully and wipe that egg off my face, I want to tickle your funny bone. The other week, we were discussing on a site the politically correct term: is it "diabetic" or "person with diabetes?" Someone came up with the bright idea of changing the name of the disease. Get ready ... I thought it so funny I nearly wet my panties!!!
THEY CALL IT ............... C.R.A.P.
Catastrophic
Ruthless
Attack on the
Pancreas
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yup,
UWM in fact I was working there when I was in school.. I made baked potatoes in the north enclosure for a while, then was a second shift janitor and ended as a Unix consultant at CSD.
Don't feel too eggy.. fact is that reusing the same lancet is actually risky behavior. Thing is that for lots of type1's we get so used to treating these things the way we do that we stop thinking about it.
CRAP is good, I would go with "Person who we shall stay the hell out of the way from" They can call me what they want they just shouldn't call me late for dinner.. 8^)
Ivan!
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Permalink Reply by Natalie ._c- on -
Well, with the Multiclix, all you have to do to reuse is keep on clicking! You don't have to take out the barrel after 6 clicks, you just keep on rolling along.
I'm not too worried about infection (after 19 years), so I just change out the barrel when it occurs to me, and I'm not sure how often that is, but not very!
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Permalink Reply by MichelleStu on -
I'm like the rest.. not very often.. A whole box of lancets rarely ever gets used up.
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Permalink Reply by Maddy on -
wow... uhm my endo is having me change mine every saturday. and if i want to sooner. but i usually forget lol but ya i do every saturday
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Permalink Reply by Brian on -
8 times a year sounds about right. A box of lancets last me years... I reuse syringes too 1 per day.
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Permalink Reply by Sagwabetes on -
i use the new lancing device that came out with the accucheck aviva a couple years ago. you can rotate the lancet 6 times in a drum before it won't click to a new one... it's fantastic!
i click to a new lancet once a day... that's about 10 tests per lancet. so, i spend $14 for 102 lancets, which will last about 3 months !
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Permalink Reply by nytquill on -
Oh my gosh, I'm SO glad to know I'm not the only one who does this! I thought I was just some kind of horrible slovenly person for hardly ever changing my lancet. It's so cool to see that sooo many people are the same way. I almost never use alcohol either. I did when I was first diagnosed as a kid, but eventually it was just too much to keep track of. I heard from one of my doctors too that repeatedly swabbing with alcohol can actually harden your skin, so I didn't feel too bad about not doing it.
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Permalink Reply by Deanna on -
My dr and all the things I have read regarding the lancets tell you to use a new one each time you prick (your finger) that is. I try to change mine at least once a day since I test like 10-15 times a day and it hurts like hell the more dull it gets.
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Permalink Reply by art4change on -
I change mine when it begins to hurt my fingers. Probably once a month or so.
Thanks ya'll for making me feel better about some of my more cavalier habits!
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Permalink Reply by Vickie LeBleu on
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Ooouch! Read your replies, all talk about changing when it gets dull or painful. Why suffer! I change mine at least once a day just so it is sharp. Not to mention infection worries. The lancets are about the least expensive of our supplies, treat yourselves.
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