Another question re: alcohol wipes

[Kyle's Mom]

I'm new at this (Oct. 06) and read the last post regarding alcohol wipes. This might be a stupid question, but . . . do you use alcohol wipes when injecting insulin? Our endo told us to clean fingers for bg and injection sites using alcohol, be it a wipe or on a cottonball. After reading the many posts I definitely stop using alcohol wipes to clean fingers! I just wanted to see if I should also stop using them at injection sites as well. My poor little 3 year old's fingers are so tiny and full of little needle marks, the last thing I want to do is dry them out! Thanx!!!!!

[BRANDYB]

Hey... Our Endo Says Not To Use Alcohol Wipes On The Tips Of Fingers But To Use It When We Do Our Injections. That Is Kinda Weird That You Can Do It On Certain Spots But Not The Fingertips. My Daughters Fingers Look Terrible!! We Just Started This In Jan. And She Is Already Full Of Holes On Her Fingers. The Other Night She Stuck Her Finger On One Side And When She Squeezed The Blood Came Out On The Other Side. She Thought That Was The Funniest Thing-my Heart Was Breaking....

[Abby-Dabby-Doo]

Kyle's Mom-
I'm also new to this (Jan. 07). Believe me when I say, nothing is EVER a stupid question. I've learned SO MUCH from this site. Everyone does something a little different, just like anything else we tackle in life. Doesn't make it wrong or right, just different.
We do use an alcohol wipe EVERY TIME we give an injection. Just a swipe with the alcohol pad, I'm not scrubbing the injection site or anything.

[CAGrandma]

It may be a little thing, but we found that buying the cheap, generic brand alcohol pads is the way to go - they tend to have less alcohol on them that the more expensive, 'better' ones do. We used them for injections (pumping now) and also for fingertips, cause little ones often have such dirty fingers and washing isn't always an option.

[Deannas mom]

We have been at this since July, so we are new, but not as new as some of you.

our endo said to use wipes for both testing and injections. except to also use a good non greasy lotion on her hands-fingertips ie:something especially used for Diabetes, to keep her fingertips from getting dried out. So far this has worked very well. her fingers still look poked, after 8 months of this there's no way they cant look terrible, but we use a new lancet nearly every time we test (we use the multiclick) and she uses the cream at bedtime every night. you can see holes if you look closley, but otherwise they look normal.

as a side note make sure that finger is free of lotion before checking Bg.

[Hollyb]

We were told it's not necessary to use wipes on the skin for injections -- that infection from a sterile needle (assuming you're changing the needle tip religiously) is extremely rare. They did, however, want Aaron to wipe the pen end where the needle tip screws on with an alcohol wipe, as it is definitely not sterile and could potentially contaminate the insulin.

I guess health professionals all have their own approaches.

[MLH]

I never use alcohol wipes for fingers, just soap and warm water. I know the little black marks you are talking about on those little fingers. I switch the lancet everytime and I see a huge improvement. We use the multiclix lancing device so we are not always dealing with sharps. :cwds:

We are on a pump, but when I used MDI I did not use alcohol on the site.

Good luck!

Michele
mom to AGH 9 dx'd 5, pump
LMH nonD

[cydnimom]

Our endo team told us not to use alcohol for either fingers or injection sites, but to make sure they are clean. They said to wash hands before pokes and to make sure the injection site is clean. Touch wood - we've never had any sort of infection at poke sites. We do clean the top of the vials with alcohol wipes.

For me, I even poke through my clothing and have never had anything happen.

[jpb286]

I use alcohol wipes on the fingers only if my hands are slightly dirty and a sink isn't nearby(which isn't often). But for injections(even less often since I'm on a pump) I always use alcohol wipes. I only use the high-grade hospital stuff(Smith & Nephew I.V. Prep Antiseptic Wipes) since I get them for free! :)

[Nelson]

I think I've heard it all, and all from "knowledgeable professionals". Always use wipes, always use wipes except on fingers, use wipes only on tops of vials and insulin pen cartidges . . .

I've also had a friend out drinking with a young college student with diabetes some time ago, and that person just stuck the pen needle through her jeans into her leg when the food arrived. Go figure.

From what I've gleaned at this point. Alcohol on finger tips is a no-no except when they are dirty and there is no other option to clean them, because the alcohol is really hard on the skin and if it is not completely dried, it can interfere with the blood glucose test.

In the six months since we left the hospital with Derek, I don't think we have ever cleaned his skin with alcohol before an injection and, as of yet, we have had no problems with any infections. Frankly, I don't remember any more why the nurses suggested to be concerned with cleaning injection sites.

I clean the end of Derek's insulin pen with an alcohol swab every morning, and that's all. As I figure it, the end of his pen is almost always covered up and pretty much never in contact with anything other than sterile pen needle ends.

Good luck all,
Nelson

[brianna]

Our endo told us to always wipe Brianna's fingertips and injection sites with the alcohol wipes. We never thought otherwise. It sounds like alot of people don't use the wipes for fingertips. Now I think we'll try just washing Brianna's hands more rather than using the wipes. Actually, her fingertips only look bad after taking a bath.

[A&Ds Mommy]

Usually, if Dylan is just playing in the house I use a wet paper towel to clean his fingers, but if we are out and he gets dirty I either make sure he cleans with soap and water or I use an alcohol wipe (like when at a park).

And we ALWAYS use alcohol to clean the injection site for the insulin.

[EmmasMom]

I use an alcohol wipe for every test, and an IV prep for every pump site poke. I moisturize Emma's fingers frequently and they look fine, not dry at all.

My T1D father died after a staph skin infection spread to his heart and lungs. Staph infections are not uncommon and some are resistant to antibiotics, (MRSA) and can actually kill you if you become septic. They are a very good reason to clean an injection site prior to giving an injection or changing a pump site. A clean needle will still push whatever is on your skin into your body!
I'm sure my history makes me a little more cautious than needed, but I'm not willing to risk it.

I think as long as fingers are clean and dry they're fine for testing, but with kids "clean" is relative...:rolleyes: A quick swipe with an alcohol pad always makes me feel better!