Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by JaninaWalker on March 4, 2011 at 3:07am

Over 60 for me, but I recap it immediately. Done this for over 20 years of the 30 I've been on insulin and no problem. I take very small injections. I do have a different syringe for different vials, so as not to mix them. I store the needle beside the vial in the fridge in a tiny juice glass. I am on my second box of 100 syringes in 30 years and I am even using them for B vitamin injections. Guage 31 so it doesn't break easily like a 29 guage would.

Permalink Reply by Jason Durbin on March 14, 2011 at 6:32pm

one per day. usually use it three times. only time i have ever bruised is when i re puncture a site

Permalink Reply by alwaysacanuck on March 20, 2011 at 12:24pm

I just got the Novolog Pen. How many times do you use the needle you put on that?

Permalink Reply by JDavid on April 17, 2011 at 10:09am

I also use a pen for mealtime insulin, humalog in my case.I REuse my pen needles for days at a time, when it HURTS, I KNOW its time for a pen-needle change.

I take Lantus twice a day and use syringes for usually 2 days, or 4 shots before getting a fresh one.

I DO NOT use alcohol pads, haven't for decades. TRIAD had a recent recall due to CONTAMINATION, so in that case using them could CAUSE an infection. Once upon a time I read about a study on this, infectino rates varied little if any between users and non-users.


I also have MS (Multiple Sclerosis) and take a Copaxone injection for that daily as well, can you say HumanPinCushion? My Copaxone comes in single dose per-filled GLASS syringes, so there is NO reuse of them.

Gomer

Permalink Reply by ChicaRossi on November 1, 2011 at 6:19pm

I use my pen needles 4x a day and change the needle every 3 days. BUT if i have bent the needle or it hurts I change it right away. I do not have insurance so I told my Dr. about my usage and she said do what works but no longer than 3 days max!
Good Luck~

Permalink Reply by Lucas on February 14, 2012 at 6:43pm

i usually do 3-5 injections per needle

Permalink Reply by MissKitka on January 30, 2012 at 2:20pm

Ryan,

When I was poor and out of work I used to use one syringe twice a day for a week, therefore a box of syringes lasted 2 years. I use one a day now twice per day. I do not use DMI methods so inject just twice a day.

Don

Permalink Reply by Phill Dill on January 30, 2012 at 4:47pm

I use all pens now but i do use a clean needle one each one for each injection. I had a reaction to one insulin and i was not sure if it was the reuse of a needle or the insulin so i changed sites and found a reaction to the insulin after this scare i decided to be more careful and not take the chance.

Permalink Reply by Zolar1 on February 14, 2012 at 9:57pm

@ $14/100 why reuse?

When I have to split dose, I fill the syringe and inject 1/2 in one spot and the other 1/2 in another within seconds of each other. Then pitch the syringe. One infection and it can cost you a lot more than the money you saved trying to be frugal.

Also, when using an insulin pen, if you leave the needle cap on the pen, it can leak.

Permalink Reply by Michael McClure on February 15, 2012 at 3:09pm

>> @ $14/100 why reuse?

Waste, I guess. I don't like that part of this disease, so I rabidly re-use.

This is an ancient thread, but like JaninaWalker who answered here back in mid-2011, I reuse my 3/10s and 5/10s for as long as possible -- until the numbers have rubbed off the outside of the syringe, or until the point hurts. I'm averaging about 20 days per needle these days. I don't clean the syringe with alcohol as that leaves an alcohol residue in the syringe that I do not want to inject subcutaneously.

Never had a site infection. Ever. And I have been doing this a while (a long while). A few uncomfortable injections, sure, but I've had those even with a brand new needle when I happen to catch a nerve, so that doesn't really put me off.

/\/\

Permalink Reply by MissKitka on February 15, 2012 at 3:46pm

Michael,
Good for you! The infection thing I know is propaganda to sell more of them. I was very low income for several years and used one, twice a day, for 7 days and never had a problem. I have more money these days so use them only twice. I used to sharpen my 26 gauge steel needles with Emory cloth once a week so a dull modern needle means nothing to me now. We have it made in the shade!!! I also use the stabber for my meter for a year before replacing because then I always get guaranteed blood.
Don

Permalink Reply by Bec on February 17, 2012 at 10:28am

When I was on the pen (during the first few months of my diagnosis) I did not realize I was supposed to change them and was using them up to 4 or 5 times...then I met a guy in university and his dad is an endo, he FREAKED when he found I used them more than once - then a few years after that, I switched to syringes (my life changed for the better after that, the pen and I are not friends!) and I use one per injection (which is usually 4-6 syringes a day).

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