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Time To Change The Lancet!

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Posted 6/3/2007 5:57 PM (GMT 0)
OK. So, after trying to poke yet the fourth finger and still no blood comes out... Doh! It dawns on me that I haven't changed my lancet in oh, about 3 months!

How often do you guys change it out?

Go Sens go!
Kris
Posted 6/3/2007 6:01 PM (GMT 0)
LOL ... about as often as you!!!
Posted 6/3/2007 7:16 PM (GMT 0)

I use the BD 33 gauge lancets and they are virtually painless.  HOWEVER at 100 for about $10 or about a dime apiece I change them everytime I use them.  Im NOT gonna wipe them down with alcholol evertime I use them and they do dull and deform even after the fiirst use.  The whole point of using such an ultrathin lancet is for it to be painless so why in the world would you reuse it especially after its dulled itself.  A clean non jagged hole is less painful, runs less chance of infection and heals faster and is virtually painless......so seriously consider throwing that critter away after you use it once!!  Most of us can afford 20-30 cents per day.

scool Warren
Posted 6/4/2007 1:41 AM (GMT 0)
Kris,
I'm much like you... don't change it every time even though I have a few boxes of them in the cupboard. I think it's laziness on my part. One thing that helps me because I'm often a bit dehydrated when I test in the morning... I wrap one of those broccoli rubberbands around my finger then poke. Works as a mini tourniquet.
Posted 6/4/2007 2:05 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Warren... I agree with you that I should change my lancet more often but, I must admit, I can't see myself doing it 8 times/day. Now that my hubby's insurance has kicked in, I know I will make it a part of my routine to change my lancet daily but, I can honestly say it wouldn't be every time - life just gets too much in the way most days for me to be that diligent with the finger-poker.

When we didn't have insurance, changing my lancets everytime would cost me about $1.60/day or about $48.00/month (They're about $20.00 for a box of 100's here), and at the time I was more concerned with having "fresh" needles for injecting insulin 5 times/day. The needles alone cost me about $85.00/mnth. I know it's robbing Peter to pay Paul but, sometimes a financial situation calls for some tough decisions and well, lancets were one of them.

I don't know why changing a finger-poker lancet can be so un-routine for some but, I seem to recall reading somewhere that I'm not the only one who's not so good with that part of the Diabetes routine. That's why I am curious as to how often people do change them.

C'mon, guys, ring in :-)
Posted 6/4/2007 2:12 AM (GMT 0)
LOL! Jeannie... I read your post so quickly the first time that I pictured you with a piece of broccoli wrapped around your finger as a turniquet. (Must be after 10:00PM on a Sunday :-) Thanks for the laugh!

Cheers,
Kris
Posted 6/4/2007 2:58 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Kris, I change my lancet about once a week.  I use alcohol to clean it in between times.  That gets over 20 uses per lancet.  Too bad we can't do that with the test strips because they're so much more expensive.

Lanie


Posted 6/4/2007 4:12 AM (GMT 0)
Once a day, When I remember.
Posted 6/5/2007 3:19 AM (GMT 0)
Well, I have to admit that we don't change ours often. Usually when we poke several times and nothing happens.

Our endo told us we shouldn't have to change them very often because the lancet needle is much thicker than the shot needles.

Guess we should change more often, but normally it's about once a month or so.

Now I feel like a bad mommy. :( I think we'll start changing them daily at least.

D
Posted 6/5/2007 3:52 AM (GMT 0)
 

     For your own safety, it is much, much safer to dispose of each lancet after each use.  You are opening yourself up to infections, which can lead to loss of feeling, scarring, or worse.  Not to be a scaredy cat, but with a nursing background, I feel it is the safest thing to do...consider this: you have been drinking milk...you take an alcohol soaked cloth and "wipe" it out...do you think this would be clean enough to drink out of again......and this isn't even penetrating the skin/blood barrier!   Just food for thought.  $0.10 or $0.20 may sound expensive, but consider the cost of one extra office visit for antibiotics.............God bless

Posted 6/5/2007 3:55 AM (GMT 0)
PS: They really do become duller and more damaging to the skin and underlying tissues with each use....you Can get More Lancets...but you only get One skin and underlying tissues for Life!
Posted 6/5/2007 1:04 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I do believe y'all are right. My son checks his bg about 8 times a day. We have a lancet that has a drum of 8 needles (I think). So if we change it every morning we should be good for the day.

They are more expensive, and a little bit really does add up. And it's easy to say that something is better for you etc, but $20 here and $30 here all adds up to a large monthly pharmacy bill. And in 2 years we've never had a problem with infection. but I do see your point. (no pun intended! :) )

So I'm gonna be a good mommy and go change out the lancet! :D
Posted 6/7/2007 2:54 PM (GMT 0)
I guess I need to join the club here and change the lancet every time. I have to admit that I've been re-using them for a few times before I dispose of them, but I know I shouldn't do that. The test strips are really the pricey item anyway... I get frustrated when I get an error message and have to throw away a test strip without even getting a reading! One thing I found out was by my doc changing the wording on my Rx to "...and as needed" that my insurance charges me a few dollars less each time (suggested by the pharmacist)... and at the price of those, every dollar helps!

Bear
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