Re: Finger Stick/Becky/Shannan

[Guest guest]

> Isn't it okay to reuse the puncture needles? I think they may be

> called lancets or something like that. I can't see how I could be

too

> big a hazard to myself reusing them a little.

Hi Becky,

Sometimes I do reuse my lancets, but never in my right hand since my

breast cancer was on the right side. Because of the nodes being

taken out, it is much easier to get an infection.

Also, I recommend that you wash your hands with warm soapy water

before doing a test.

hugs

Eunice

[Guest guest]

I often reuse my lancets. Probably not the smartest, but w/o health

insurance, they are $$..

Re: Finger Stick/Becky/Shannan

>

>

> > Isn't it okay to reuse the puncture needles? I think they may be

> > called lancets or something like that. I can't see how I could be

> too

> > big a hazard to myself reusing them a little.

>

> Hi Becky,

> Sometimes I do reuse my lancets, but never in my right hand since my

> breast cancer was on the right side. Because of the nodes being

> taken out, it is much easier to get an infection.

>

> Also, I recommend that you wash your hands with warm soapy water

> before doing a test.

>

> hugs

> Eunice

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Diabetes homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/diabetes/

>

> To unsubscribe to this group, send an email to:

diabetes-unsubscribe

> Hope you come back soon!

>

[Guest guest]

Wineberg wrote:

> You will probably get differing opinions on this. I, for one, use them

> repeatedly. In fact, everyone I know does, as well. For some, it is

> because of cost. With my insurance, I pay either 1 or 2 dollars per

> 100, so I am not doing it to save money. On most lancing devices, I

> have to use the highest or second highest setting to get blood, and I

> change lancets about every 4 uses, if I think about it. Sometimes I

> am sure the number gets up to 10 or more before it occurs to me that

> perhaps it's feeling a little dull, and I change it.

OMG! This just appalls me. I asked my husband (the diabetic in our

family) and he said he would NEVER reuse a lancet. To you people doing

this, have you ever discussed it with your doctors?

Amber

[Guest guest]

Does your husband use cotton balls and alcohol every time he sticks

himself or takes insulin? I think we all stray a bit from 'the

book'. I change lancets at least every morning, using one between 2

and 4 times. I've occasionally reused a pen needle or two when

traveling if I was running real low. I guess I don't get appalled

easily.

Jim

> OMG! This just appalls me. I asked my husband (the diabetic in

our

> family) and he said he would NEVER reuse a lancet. To you people

doing

> this, have you ever discussed it with your doctors?

>

> Amber

[Guest guest]

Big problems with reusing your lancets:

1. increased risk of infection (like you don't already get that being

diabetic)

2. it may muck up your readings having bits of stray glucose still on the

lancet (might be a negligible effect, but still....)

The lancets aren't that big of an expense. As irritated as my fingers

already get from the constant sticking, I do NOT re-use the lancets unless

the monitor errored and I have to start the test over. It seems to do this

about every 9 or 10 tests... just error for no reason. I usually recalibrate

and it does fine on the next stick. I think it's okay to re-use if you have

a problem like that. My fingers sure don't appreciate those extra holes,

though. Being an artist I have my hand in all sorts of stuff sometimes all

day long, so I'm having to watch these pinholes pretty close. And it's

really bad when I go to play my drums. I'm a hand drummer and the sore

fingers are sucking the fun out of my drumming. I need to find a cheap

One-Touch or something. :-p

Aazari

The Art of Jolie E. Bonnette

http://www.aazari.com/art/

Art Protection League

http://www.artprotectionleague.org/

[Guest guest]

Aazari wrote:

> I do NOT re-use the lancets unless

> the monitor errored and I have to start the test over. It seems to do this

> about every 9 or 10 tests... just error for no reason.

My goodness. My husband's machine doesn't have that problem. Do you

need a new machine?

> Being an artist I have my hand in all sorts of stuff sometimes all

> day long, so I'm having to watch these pinholes pretty close.

> Aazari

Don't they have a machine now that you can use on your arm or leg to

test, rather than the fingers?

Amber

[Guest guest]

That's why I use a monitor that will take from the arm. I use the computer at

work a lot, and I play the piano, so. . . .

Re: Finger Stick/Becky/Shannan

Being an artist I have my hand in all sorts of stuff sometimes all

day long, so I'm having to watch these pinholes pretty close. And it's

really bad when I go to play my drums. I'm a hand drummer and the sore

fingers are sucking the fun out of my drumming.

[Guest guest]

Jim Hart wrote:

>

> Does your husband use cotton balls and alcohol every time he sticks

> himself or takes insulin? I think we all stray a bit from 'the

> book'. I change lancets at least every morning, using one between 2

> and 4 times. I've occasionally reused a pen needle or two when

> traveling if I was running real low. I guess I don't get appalled

> easily.

>

> Jim

Sorry, but the thought of using a dirty/old bloody needle got to me. I

asked my husband about it and the only time he reuses a lancet is if he

has a machine failure, which is very rare for him. He does not yet

take insulin.

Amber

[Guest guest]

I reuse my needles and lancets....if it starts to feel dull I change

it....

[Guest guest]

> My goodness. My husband's machine doesn't have that problem. Do you

> need a new machine?

It's a brand new machine, so I don't think the machine itself is the

problem. I also notice the error problem tends to coincide with me not being

able to get a good droplet of blood to form.

> Don't they have a machine now that you can use on your arm or leg to

> test, rather than the fingers?

They do and I'll be saving to get one (they're rather expensive). I didn't

have a choice of monitors as mine was given to me by the county health

district for free.

Aazari

The Art of Jolie E. Bonnette

http://www.aazari.com/art/

Art Protection League

http://www.artprotectionleague.org/

[Guest guest]

Aazari wrote:

>

> It's a brand new machine, so I don't think the machine itself is the

> problem. I also notice the error problem tends to coincide with me not

> being

> able to get a good droplet of blood to form.

>

>

> Aazari

>

That must be the problem.

Amber