Multiclix - reusing lancets

[twodoor2]

Since there's been so many threads lately on this wonderful device, I thought I'd ask another one (well three if you see below). I hear many people reuse the same lancet more than once.

Question 1: Do you think it hurts more if you reuse it?
Question 2: If you don't think it's a good idea to reuse it, why?
Question 3: If you do reuse it, how many times?

I usually don't reuse each lancet due to fearing infection and the fact that the first time may dull the lancet (???) and cause more pain. However, I was wondering what everyone else's opinion on this was.

Thanks!

[Lee]

Question 1: Do you think it hurts more if you reuse it? Yes - it will after a while - the end gets duller
Question 2: If you don't think it's a good idea to reuse it, why? We reuse them!
Question 3: If you do reuse it, how many times? Usually for a day - we try and switch it over for every evening, but sometimes forget.

Thanks!

We have to reuse - our endo only writes an RX for enough for 1 lancet a day - not one a test. If we changed after every test - it would be a drum a day! One of the reasons my DD likes it so much is because she can change it as soon as it feels dull - it is a simple thing - she would never bother to do it until it REALLY hurt with her other lancets!

[sammysmom]

When Sam was first dx, we changed each time. Now that we are hitting 6 years (EEEEKKKKK), and sam does most of his testing, he just does not think to turn the barrel of the mulitclix. He has never had an infection. His hands are clean when he pokes (most of the time) and the lancet is only used on him. If he complains that it hurts, we tell him to turn it. If not then I usually turn it when I get a hold of it. It seems like we have been in a patter of using one per day. I have been turning it every morning before I toss it in his backpack.

[jules12]

We change every day - I like the multiclix too because it is easier to change for him - my ds would sometimes let it go longer - I have also told him if he thinks it hurts more to go ahead and change it.

I also like it for school in that the lancets are not exposed.

[Kaylee's Mommy]

I try not to reuse, but we do end up doing it.. we get enough so we dont' have to reuse, but I just haven't gotton into the routine of rotating it either right before or right after I use... I try to change the drum every few days (In a way I wish it would advance for you, that way its one less thing that I have to remember.. but then it would be hard for others that need to reuse..)

[TracieandJim]

Since there's been so many threads lately on this wonderful device, I thought I'd ask another one (well three if you see below). I hear many people reuse the same lancet more than once.

Question 1: Do you think it hurts more if you reuse it?
Question 2: If you don't think it's a good idea to reuse it, why?
Question 3: If you do reuse it, how many times?

I usually don't reuse each lancet due to fearing infection and the fact that the first time may dull the lancet (???) and cause more pain. However, I was wondering what everyone else's opinion on this was.

Thanks!

Whend first dxd we reused only cuz the educator said that it was ok to reuse once but even then the needle is already dulled a bit. I had a flyer about how a needle, any needle, dulls even after one use so the more you use it the more dull and the more painful it will be. But we only reuse once and then turn the dial. Lately I have been using the lancet once each time. I got our endo to prescribe more so we wont run out. There is always a possibility of infection but we havent had a problem yet and we also alcohol the area first. We always use a fresh lancet however when pricking our own or our non-D.

[khannen]

I advance the drum, changing the lancet, once a day. I just do it every morning as I'm about to test her for breakfast. I figure it's not as good as changing with every test, but it could be much worse! Plus, I'd be sailing though them if I changed it each time as she's tested 8-10 times a day.

[Thoover]

We don't change unless its dull, but we change it before that happens normally.. If we changed it after 6 times we would blow right through a box. When we remember to change it we change it. Never had a problem with it.

[sarahconnormom]

We get enough to use a new lancet each time but I don't always remember to turn it. Connor never thinks to do it when he does his own testing so most of the lancets get used twice.

[KatelinsMom]

We also use the Multiclix. I think one drum will last my daughter at least a couple months...:eek: She never changes her lancet until it starts to hurt.

[caspi]

I advance the drum, changing the lancet, once a day. I just do it every morning as I'm about to test her for breakfast. I figure it's not as good as changing with every test, but it could be much worse!

I do the exact same thing! :D

[brownkkeb]

I do this too, and am another who loves this device because DS is only 4 and the lancets are not exposed. That was always a concern of mine, not only for DS but for the future with school and friends, etc.

Kathy

[clb1968]

after 18 years of testing, I try to remember and change the lancet a couple of times a year, usually when the time changes,LOL

but just for everyone at CWD, I will turn the multiclix next time I test.

[thebestnest5]

When Liv was first dx'd, we changed the lancet, everytime, no exceptions.

Now, I think it gets changed at least once a day, maybe more. I switched to the multiclix from BD/BD 33g because I felt that she would be more likely to use a fresh lancet when she tests herself. If we are out and about and Liv is on the last lancet of the multiclix then we just use it and don't stress. I try teach Liv to use good hygiene & common sense without driving her nuts by being too anal about the small stuff.

I see lancets as different than syringes as far as reusing goes. I don't plan on having the lancet do anything more than *nick* the skin for a tiny drop of blood. The syringe is actually penetrating much deeper and delivering vital insulin.

[TracieandJim]

We also use the Multiclix. I think one drum will last my daughter at least a couple months...:eek: She never changes her lancet until it starts to hurt.

WoW ! Talk about fingertips of Steel !!

[BrendaK]

Well, when I was diagnosed last year, I was shocked at how much more it hurt my fingers when I reused a lancet. It really really hurt after the first poke. And then I felt SO guilty about not changing Carson's lancet more than once a day or every other day. He would sometimes have 20 pokes with the same lancet. Lots of guilt there....

So that's why we switched to Multiclix -- it was so much easier to change the lancet. We do end up using that last lancet probably 2-3 times because I forget to change it. But generally we use a new one every time.

We have to reuse - our endo only writes an RX for enough for 1 lancet a day - not one a test.
Why in the world won't your endo write a prescription for more?? That's just being a tightwad a$$ of an endo!!

I thought by law they had to write a prescription for as many lancets as test strips. (I could be totally wrong on that). But they can't tell you to reuse a syringe, it wouldn't be sterile. How can they tell you to use an unsterile lancet???

[bgallini]

after 18 years of testing, I try to remember and change the lancet a couple of times a year, usually when the time changes,LOL

but just for everyone at CWD, I will turn the multiclix next time I test.

LOL!!! My son's only been testing for 2 1/2 yrs but this seems to be his current method! He changes the lancet when he's in the mood. He says it doesn't hurt. He's never had an infection (and at 17 yo, I doubt his hands are spotless every time).

I don't comment on it. We've got many other issues to worry about.

[sugarmonkey]

I'm not sure how often Phillip changes his. Every couple of tests I think. He says he does it when it starts to hurt. He definitely changes it more often with the multiclix than he did with his other lancets. Those he probably only changed once every three or four months.

[clb1968]

Just for my friends at CWD, I turned the drum on my multiclix and changed out my one freestyle lancet, so I am testing with a fresh lancet, next time I testing.LOL

[Scotty]

After 12 years, I have decided to choose my battles, and have got Scott into the routine of changing the lancet when he puts a new site in. Its an improvement on what it used to be!!! So one drum lasts us 18 days.

[wilf]

After realizing that DD had gone some weeks without changing a lancet, I try to change when I measure at bedtime so we use each lancet about a day now ..

[Sandy's mom]

She uses the same one for a couple weeks.

[tracy true]

we change are lancets everytime its empty ,never thought of reusing them .

[miss_behave]

I don't use the Multiclix, I use the Softclix. I only change the lancet about every time it gets too dull to pierce my skin, so I have no interest in a lancing device that has drums full of lancets to use! I've never had an infection, I don't think it hurts more and I don't think its an issue at all for me!

[twodoor2]

I have to tell you that all this talking about reusing a lancet makes MY fingers feel like they hurt!! I go through about 2 multi-clix drums a day (at least). My babysitter likes to test A LOT. She just feels that she has added responsibility (because she's not her parent) and that makes her feel better. On normal days, we test about 10 times a day, but with warmer weather and her basal rates dropping, we've been testing more often and during sleep as well.