Guest guest Posted July 12, 2004 Report Share Posted July 12, 2004 Hi Everyone, My name is Faith although I am not a newbie anymore and I have had diabetes for ten years I have a newbie question. I hardly ever change my lancets and 10 can last me a year or longer. I was told by my doctor that I should change lancets everytime I prick my finger. I had never discussed this with anyone because I felt it was unimportant because I am the only to use my test kit. I now wonder if changing lancets is very important. It can't change the reading of the blood can it? I use an alcohol swab with each test. Does anyone have really know this answer? Thanks in Advance, Faith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2004 Report Share Posted July 12, 2004 HI faith. I was told by my doctor to change it everytime or it can cause you to get an infection even if your the only one using it. I was also told not to use alcohol to clean them that it removes a protective coating. I still dont change everytime. About every 4th time I change or my fingers get sore because its not as sharp. I have got one finger infection. It depends on the person. Some change everytime and some dont. My pharmasist also told me to change every time because infection isnt good for diabetics. He said germs from the air get on it anyways. fran Hi Everyone, My name is Faith although I am not a newbie anymore and I have had diabetes for ten years I have a newbie question. I hardly ever change my lancets and 10 can last me a year or longer. I was told by my doctor that I should change lancets everytime I prick my finger. I had never discussed this with anyone because I felt it was unimportant because I am the only to use my test kit. I now wonder if changing lancets is very important. It can't change the reading of the blood can it? I use an alcohol swab with each test. Does anyone have really know this answer? Thanks in Advance, Faith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2004 Report Share Posted July 12, 2004 > HI faith. I was told by my doctor to change it everytime or it can cause you to get > an infection even if your the only one using it. I was also told not to use alcohol to > clean them that it removes a protective coating. I still dont change everytime. > About every 4th time I change or my fingers get sore because its not as sharp. I > have got one finger infection. It depends on the person. Some change everytime > and some dont. My pharmasist also told me to change every time because infection > isnt good for diabetics. He said germs from the air get on it anyways. fran > > I am ashamed to admit I have exceptionally horrible lancet-changing habits. Probably once I month or so I remember to change it. I test 8-10 times a day. My fingers are ripped apart! But even when I tried to be 'good' for awhile and change the lancets frequently, it didn't help the fingertip problem. Now I use a pummace stone now and again to slough off the callouses and little black dots. I have never suffered an infection in my fingertips (knock wood!). Oh, and I use the One Touch Ultra metre. I tried drawing blood from my forearms and other suggested alternative sites, but had too difficult a time, so I gave up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 12, 2004 Report Share Posted July 12, 2004 This is a YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary) issue. Before testing I wash my hands in warm soap and water, this makes alcohol wiped a waste (they are great for cleaning computer mice). Alcohol will dry your fingers out very quickly. I do not change the lancet unless it hurts testing, for me that is about 4 times a year. Now if my kit is to be used by anyone else I will change lancets. Vern Catron www.history-buff.org http://www.history-buff.org/> Meddle ye not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup (or HP). [alldiabeticinternational] Lancet Question Hi Everyone, My name is Faith although I am not a newbie anymore and I have had diabetes for ten years I have a newbie question. I hardly ever change my lancets and 10 can last me a year or longer. I was told by my doctor that I should change lancets everytime I prick my finger. I had never discussed this with anyone because I felt it was unimportant because I am the only to use my test kit. I now wonder if changing lancets is very important. It can't change the reading of the blood can it? I use an alcohol swab with each test. Does anyone have really know this answer? Thanks in Advance, Faith pancreatitis info http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ThePancreatitisPlace/ diabetic recipes http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/diabetic_recipes/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2004 Report Share Posted July 13, 2004 hi faith! wow! 10 lancets a year?! lol...i've tried to strike a compromise and change them once a day...but i often forget. i test a lot and i think the needles get dull. know they get ragged, which the say is harder on the skin. but i often forget! rach p.s. oh, and i don't do the alcohol swab thing either, except for when i do prick fingers (which is rare, i go for arms & legs). the red cross stopped recommending alcohol to clean wounds (at least in my area), because it's actually caustic. they recommend plain ol' soap and water now. in fact, bought a new first aid kit today and it came with castille soap swabs. fancy that. > Hi Everyone, > My name is Faith although I am not a newbie anymore and I have had > diabetes for ten years I have a newbie question. I hardly ever change > my lancets and 10 can last me a year or longer. I was told by my > doctor that I should change lancets everytime I prick my finger. I > had never discussed this with anyone because I felt it was > unimportant because I am the only to use my test kit. I now wonder if > changing lancets is very important. It can't change the reading of > the blood can it? I use an alcohol swab with each test. Does anyone > have really know this answer? > Thanks in Advance, > Faith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2004 Report Share Posted July 13, 2004 In a message dated 7/12/2004 6:27:01 PM Pacific Standard Time, lovewish4u@... writes: Hi Everyone, My name is Faith although I am not a newbie anymore and I have had diabetes for ten years I have a newbie question. I hardly ever change my lancets and 10 can last me a year or longer. I was told by my doctor that I should change lancets everytime I prick my finger. I had never discussed this with anyone because I felt it was unimportant because I am the only to use my test kit. Hi Faith, I also use my lancet until it feels less sharp. I have never had a problem, hope I am not courting one! I do not use alcohol wipes, either, unless I have lotion on my hands or arms. hope this helps. Marilyn Moderator for Diabetic_Recipes dnevessr@... Opinions expressed are solely my own and should not be mistaken for Professional advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2004 Report Share Posted July 13, 2004 Hi Faith... I have to say, I'm sort of the same way as you in regard to my lancets - I hardly ever change them. Lazieness on my part? I know that over time, they get dull, like a razor does. And when lancets get dull, they hurt more. I have noticed that the newer a lancet is, the easier it is to draw enough blood, with less pain. My educators say that if you are the only one using your kit, change your lancets regularily - not necessarily after every use, or even every day. But maybe once a week, or a month, or something else that you can live with. I'd like to challenge all of us to change our lancets today (unless you just did, LOL) and test the difference... Melisma (going back into hiding here under her Rock) > Hi Everyone, > My name is Faith although I am not a newbie anymore and I have had > diabetes for ten years I have a newbie question. I hardly ever change > my lancets and 10 can last me a year or longer. I was told by my > doctor that I should change lancets everytime I prick my finger. I > had never discussed this with anyone because I felt it was > unimportant because I am the only to use my test kit. I now wonder if > changing lancets is very important. It can't change the reading of > the blood can it? I use an alcohol swab with each test. Does anyone > have really know this answer? > Thanks in Advance, > Faith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2004 Report Share Posted July 13, 2004 Hello Faith and Marilyn I too do not change my lancets every time I use them. I have never had a problem and I do have problems with infections in my feet but I have never had one in my hands from lancets or any other reason. So with the cost of things these days I see no reason to change the way I test my blood. Also I test around 8 to 10 times a day due to my Bike riding and other exercise that I do when my pancreas allows me to do so. God Bless you and yours dnevessr@... wrote: In a message dated 7/12/2004 6:27:01 PM Pacific Standard Time, lovewish4u@... writes: Hi Everyone, My name is Faith although I am not a newbie anymore and I have had diabetes for ten years I have a newbie question. I hardly ever change my lancets and 10 can last me a year or longer. I was told by my doctor that I should change lancets everytime I prick my finger. I had never discussed this with anyone because I felt it was unimportant because I am the only to use my test kit. Hi Faith, I also use my lancet until it feels less sharp. I have never had a problem, hope I am not courting one! I do not use alcohol wipes, either, unless I have lotion on my hands or arms. hope this helps. Marilyn Moderator for Diabetic_Recipes dnevessr@... Opinions expressed are solely my own and should not be mistaken for Professional advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2004 Report Share Posted July 13, 2004 Hello Faith and Marilyn I too do not change my lancets every time I use them. I have never had a problem and I do have problems with infections in my feet but I have never had one in my hands from lancets or any other reason. So with the cost of things these days I see no reason to change the way I test my blood. Also I test around 8 to 10 times a day due to my Bike riding and other exercise that I do when my pancreas allows me to do so. God Bless you and yours dnevessr@... wrote: In a message dated 7/12/2004 6:27:01 PM Pacific Standard Time, lovewish4u@... writes: Hi Everyone, My name is Faith although I am not a newbie anymore and I have had diabetes for ten years I have a newbie question. I hardly ever change my lancets and 10 can last me a year or longer. I was told by my doctor that I should change lancets everytime I prick my finger. I had never discussed this with anyone because I felt it was unimportant because I am the only to use my test kit. Hi Faith, I also use my lancet until it feels less sharp. I have never had a problem, hope I am not courting one! I do not use alcohol wipes, either, unless I have lotion on my hands or arms. hope this helps. Marilyn Moderator for Diabetic_Recipes dnevessr@... Opinions expressed are solely my own and should not be mistaken for Professional advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2004 Report Share Posted July 13, 2004 Hello Faith and Marilyn I too do not change my lancets every time I use them. I have never had a problem and I do have problems with infections in my feet but I have never had one in my hands from lancets or any other reason. So with the cost of things these days I see no reason to change the way I test my blood. Also I test around 8 to 10 times a day due to my Bike riding and other exercise that I do when my pancreas allows me to do so. God Bless you and yours dnevessr@... wrote: In a message dated 7/12/2004 6:27:01 PM Pacific Standard Time, lovewish4u@... writes: Hi Everyone, My name is Faith although I am not a newbie anymore and I have had diabetes for ten years I have a newbie question. I hardly ever change my lancets and 10 can last me a year or longer. I was told by my doctor that I should change lancets everytime I prick my finger. I had never discussed this with anyone because I felt it was unimportant because I am the only to use my test kit. Hi Faith, I also use my lancet until it feels less sharp. I have never had a problem, hope I am not courting one! I do not use alcohol wipes, either, unless I have lotion on my hands or arms. hope this helps. Marilyn Moderator for Diabetic_Recipes dnevessr@... Opinions expressed are solely my own and should not be mistaken for Professional advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2004 Report Share Posted July 13, 2004 Hi Faith-- I have been using a blood test meter for 25 of my 30 years with diabetes. I have spoken with my doctor, diabetes educator and pharmacist. This is what they told me. First of all using an alcohol swab can raise your test results. If you wash your hands with soap and water before testing that would make your tests more accurate. Second, it is each person's choice about how often to change lancets. It is SUGGESTED AND RECOMMENDED to change after each use, but it is NOT ESSENTIAL. I change mine once a day because I have noticed that if I don't they become dull and often take more than one poke to get a decent blood drop. HTH, Sharon in California [alldiabeticinternational] Lancet Question Hi Everyone, My name is Faith although I am not a newbie anymore and I have had diabetes for ten years I have a newbie question. I hardly ever change my lancets and 10 can last me a year or longer. I was told by my doctor that I should change lancets everytime I prick my finger. I had never discussed this with anyone because I felt it was unimportant because I am the only to use my test kit. I now wonder if changing lancets is very important. It can't change the reading of the blood can it? I use an alcohol swab with each test. Does anyone have really know this answer? Thanks in Advance, Faith pancreatitis info http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ThePancreatitisPlace/ diabetic recipes http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/diabetic_recipes/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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