How often do you change the lancet?

[Ellen]

My son:

Spring forward (change the lancet). ;)

Fall back (change the lancet). ;)

[mimi5859]

Now what are you exactly talking about? I too have different views about changing lancets. I was wondering if you may know someone who has CP and Diabetes? I saw where you have posted alot of good info. Do you know where I could go to find out? Seems this is rare/// DRs do not know anyone as well. Thanks for your input.
Mimi

[Ellen]

My son changes the lancet when we change the clocks to and from daylight saving time.

I'm sorry, but don't have any resources re CP and Type 1 Diabetes.

[Amy C.]

That is pretty funny that your son changes the lancet when the time changes.

I am not sure my now 12 year-old son has EVER changed the lancet. I change it once or twice a week. It takes a long time to use a box of 100 lancets.

[faithe113001]

Wow, and I thought I was bad for not changing it every time! I change mine about once a day.

[AmberO]

the last time we went to go pick up supplies (not at our Endos office) the diabetes nurse has a checklist and was checking my daughters supply chart and mentioned it had been a long time since we've requested a box of lancelets. We got a little lecture about changing them... but I'm glad to see that we're not the only ones. Now I feel a little less guilty. ;)

I try to remember once a week, but it's gone much longer then that at times.

[nantomsuethom]

My son:

Spring forward (change the lancet). ;)

Fall back (change the lancet). ;)
If it weren't for me changing Thomas's lancet, this would be his schedual also!
I usually think about it every couple of days and change it for him.

[karpoozi123]

I change my lancet whenever it gets so dull that it doesn't poke me anymore....
not good, I know, I know!

[AmyMcCracken]

I always hated changing my daughters lancets. We use the Accu Check Multiclix. This has a drum that contains 6 lancets. No needles are ever exposed and you can throw them in the trash. I love it and her school loves it. Plus, I don't accidently poke myself when changing lancets. :p

The site is http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/d_06_2af.htm

[Boo]

...thanks for reminding me Ellen...I'll go change his lancet now!

[Mojo's mommy]

I was shocked reading through the posts about changing the lancets , we were taught to change them every time but granted it is easy to slip up and forget, that is until my little girl got a very bad strep infection on her finger and had to take antibiotics to get rid of an extremely swollen , ***** , fire engine red finger. Sounds like we were just plain unlucky if all you guys are using them for such a long time. Now I make sure I change the lancet to start fresh every morning!

[Mojo's mommy]

Looks like I had a mis-spell there , it was supposed to say puss(how do you spell that?)....LMBO :p

[cydnimom]

I change my son's every morning, but for myself I'm with Ellen's son. We always make sure our hands are clean though.

[munchkingirl]

Heehee, this is a fun post. I change my lancet when it takes 5-10 pokes to get any blood out. I just got the multiclix too. I love it! So, I might change my lance more often, probably not, though. :)

[rileysdteam]

I change my sons lancet with every finger poke. The nurses told us to not use the lancets over and over again.

[EmmasMom]

I try to remember to change Emma's lancet everyday, but occasionally I forget and go two or even three days. After reading these posts I don't feel nearly as bad about it!!

My husband only changes his when it no longer draws blood.

It's funny to see how much more relaxed you get over time... The first few months we used alcohol and a new lancet w/ every stick! (10-12 Times a day back then!!) :)

[pookas]

We change our lancet every morning. It's the very first thing we do before checking sugar every am. Hunter usually does it himself. Also, the school changes theirs every day.

Linda-[NEPA]-Mom to:
Hunter, 5 yrs, dx'd 11/14/05 type I
Colby, 6 yrs, migraines

[allisa]

I was faithfully doing it EVERY time we checked for about the first 2 years...then I started slipping and felt guilty if I used the same one more than twice a day....now I would say I change it about 2-3 times a day...so same lancet gets used for 2-3 checks.

I would NEVER reuse a needle and I always thought that lancets had the same problem...but they must not since every seems to be lax with them.

The other thing I KNOW I am too lax about is alcohol wipes.....don't always do that :rolleyes:

[akrickard]

I was told that you really dont' have to worry about alcohol wipes as long as you're getting the blood from somewhere other than the hands. We're only a week into my daughter's diagnosis, so we're changing the lancet each time. I'm afraid of it being more painful for her or getting dull and having to poke her more than once. She's already experiencing enough anxiety without extra pokes.

[Rob]

i remember back a few years ago when they used to teach that you only needed to change it once every few weeks (when i went to diabetic camp you'd get one lancett for the week :eek: ) then i got a nice infection like the one discribed by mojo's mommy, what an ordeal that was, bad advice from doctors, missing time from school, the whole nine yards. ever since around here they've been teaching to change it every poke. I'm bad tho, i still only change it when i remember, sometimes it's days, sometimes it's a week.

[wellsfamily]

I'm confused. I thought you were supposed to change the lancet every time. You are talking about the lancet that goes in the pen which you use to test BS right? I have never used one more than once, as I thought it would be damaging to the finger. That being said, we are less than five months into diagnosis.
Heather

[Mojo's mommy]

You are supposed to change it every time..at least that is what we were taught !

[Ben'sMommy]

I change Ben's lancet every morning.
I'm paranoid about changing them as he is only 2 and I am fully responsible for everything right now.
I'm sure when he's older and assumes the responsibilty he will not change them as often but for now I don't feel I have the right to be lazy as I'm not the one with diabetes.:o

[CHEKA]

we are pricking on the big toes which she hardly feels and dont change lancests very often maybe once every 2 weeks!!!!

[jvoyles]

About 6 times per year is the average.

[Ben'sMommy]

Can I ask if you all have to pay for lancets???

[Mojo's mommy]

We have to pay for lancets , but they are by no means expensive and they are fully covered , at least for us they are. I found this post very interesting.

[faithe113001]

Mine are covered, but I don't change it every time just cause it's easier to just prick and go. :) Laziness is what it comes down to....

[EmmasMom]

Ours are free on our insurance plan, we have about 12 boxes in the cabinet because we use a company that automatically refills our Rx. We will never use them all! :rolleyes:

[jvoyles]

The lancets are covered by my prescription plan. It's not a matter of cost that we don't change the lancet, it's a matter of why bother as long as it works. (Laziness)

[diabeticgirl101]

You are supposed to change it every time..at least that is what we were taught !

Mojo's mommy is right- you :eek: ARE :eek: supposed to change it every time~ We were told you can get infections if you use a lancet more than once! Would you use a insulin needle more than once?

[Hollyb]

... a little less often since reading this thread! We were changing diligently every time but Aaron is doing it once or twice a day now and finding it quite a bit more convenient -- especially for a quick check in the middle of a basketball game or something like that.

[momof2]

Hi all

We change Ben's lancet every time he checks his blood. Luckily here in the Uk, we are covered by the NHS, and do not have to pay for children's prescriptions.

I know we are only 3 weeks into diagnosis, but we were taught to change it every time, and that's what we've been doing.

Anyone else change it every blood sugar test?

Bit worried we may be being over precautious?????

Regards

:confused:

[Hollyb]

There isn't a thing wrong with changing it every time -- we've been doing it for 7 months and I'm sure it is the ideal. That said, it seems to me the risk of infection with reusing something that was sterile to start with and has only ever touched your own skin briefly is pretty low -- a lot less than getting a sliver, say, or stepping on a tack! And it is nice to know the world doesn't end if you skip a few, especially for an older kid on the go. It just saves him "fiddly time" so he's more willing to test frequently, and gives him less "sharps" garbage to bring home with him.

[jvoyles]

Actually it is not unheard of to re-use the insulin needle too.

[amberngriffinco]

Every few wks.. I've never gotten an infection and I do NOT share it! At times I'll test my DS or DH, but i use a fresh one on them.

Now, let's talking about changing out infusion sites.. lol THAT is a hot topic!

amber
CO

type I 35yrs
Pumping 10 yrs

[dawnegge]

We change it before every use.

[CinaRay]

HI Im Cindy Ray , I am mother who take a care of diabetes daughter that she has it in four years now. I know it is a lot of work and deal with it. I learned about changing lancet. I did thought suppose to chance two time a week but Im wrong. Nurses and Doctor told me must change every singles days. If dont changed the dead blood in the needles and will carry infection and will mess up in blood glocose in the meter. I just do what I was told. I guess...

[mom2emily]

Ok, don't think I am being dense here, but are you talkng about the lancet that pokes their finger? I use a new one everytime. Is it ok not to?:confused:

[Amy C.]

As you can tell from the variety of responses, some people change every day and other every now and then. The official response from any medical person is that the lancet should be changed each time. In practice, some folks let this slide. Whether or not this is OK seems to be a matter of opinion from the non-medical people.

If you are changing the lancet each time, this is a good practice to continue. However, the consequences will probably not be dire should you forget to change it.

[javamommyof3]

I try to change my daughter's lancet every night. The monitor we keep at school is changed every Friday

[zookpr]

We were told we had to change the lancet every time we tested. :eek:

[rsmom]

When my son was first diagnosed, we were also taught to change the lancet everytime. The reality is, though, that sometimes we get busy or are in a situation where it isn't convenient to change it, and will use it a couple of times before changing it.

It does get changed every day, though, at a minimum - and usually a couple of times a day. I don't like the thought of the duller needle being used, as I can imagine it must make the pokes a bit more painful than necessary.

[RobinKop]

Wow - I just found this thread.

We have been changing the lancet each time because I was afraid of it getting dull and hurting my baby even more than I had too.

I'll probably continue to - but it is interesting to hear what others are doing!

[bethdou]

I usually change every 2-3 pokes, but my daughter insists on changing every time and using an alcohol swab (even tho her endo said as long as she washed, she didn't need to use a swab). She swears that it hurts less with a swab :D and if she "catches" me not changing her lancet, she fusses at me! :p Ours are covered with a $10 co-pay; we get 200 a month, so we don't go thru them all in 30 days.

[butterflygal291]

i was told i didn't need to change my lancet every time i used it. i just change it when i begin to have trouble getting blood

[cakersmom]

We go through about 6 lancets a day (with every check). I'm new at this but, I prefer complete sanitation than risk an infection. I think in a combo of being a nursing student and having germ issues...makes me nervous enough to change it every time.
Nicole

[Red (aus)]

Taylors lancet gets changed maybe 6 to 10 times a year. I remember doing them every test for the first couple of weeks but then did some research and (not sure where to find it now) several of the companies had statements and research on reusing lancets and they stated it wasn't a problem so long as hands are washed each time.

[wendyc]

We just switched to the BD Ultrafine lancets, and I noticed that blood sticks to the needle and builds up. So, I really try and stay on top of changing them daily. Also, I often wonder if using a dull lancet is like trying to cut w/a dull knife?

[rickst29]

The other thing I KNOW I am too lax about is alcohol wipes.....don't always do that :rolleyes:
Yeah, you've doing it backwards: if the skin surface isn't disinfected, then you can easily punch germs in on the very first time... and, in theory, each of subsequent 2-3 times too. Every punch after the lancet gets dirty, including the one in which it gets dirty, is an unnecessary and bad risk.

Wipe and wait... give the alcohol several seconds to do it's job before you do the finger-prick. I actually wipe twice, for a total exposure of about 10 seconds. (At home, it's kleenex plus an alcohol bottle; away, it's wipes.)

Like Ellen, I tend to "Spring Forward, Fall Back".

[rickst29]

Mojo's mommy is right- you :eek: ARE :eek: supposed to change it every time~ We were told you can get infections if you use a lancet more than once! Would you use a insulin needle more than once?
Actually, yes I do. :D

I also use my Dexcom CGMS Sensors, which officially (per FDA) last for just 72 hours, for as long as they can last. My current one is starting day 9, my last one lasted into day 17 before it started missing readings. They cost $35 EACH. Instead of spending over $4200 per year per FDA (Cash, there's ZERO INSURANCE COVERAGE for CGMS), I expect to spend about $750-$800.

If you disinfect properly, off-label usage can be a VERY good thing.

[jeep_bluetj]

Mojo's mommy is right- you :eek: ARE :eek: supposed to change it every time~ We were told you can get infections if you use a lancet more than once! Would you use a insulin needle more than once?

I'll dredge up the old thread too. Yes, you're supposed to change every time.

But, life interferes with supposed to. Yup. We reused needles. One pen needle a day. More than 900 reused needles, making at least 3000 reuses. After use 4 or so they were definitly dulling. But there never was an infection. He's a little boy, cuts and scrapes are daily, the needle was by comparison quite clean At least the dog didn't lick the insulin pen... :)

We change out the lancet when we remember it, or it doesn't work very well, or it hurts. Probabally about 2-3 times a week.

I'm all for finding what works for the individual. If a CGMS sensor works for 20 days, and the user can easily identify when it doesn't work, wear it for 20 days. (And I'm pleased to hear it, as we're debating getting one, but the cost is a problem) We had all kinds of sharps disasters with pen needles when changing them every time: it was just easier to switch them every morning when we were standing right by a sharps container.

So sure, we're increasing the risk of infection by resuing a lancet. But by how much? I doub't it's even a percent or two. But physicicans and drug companies lose the case if that percent is proven, so they go overboard on the protocols. (The pump training video had me sooooo annoyed when it kept repeating that I needed my endo to approve every button press... sheesh...)

[Rob]

well, since it was dredge up...

i was told i didn't need to change my lancet every time i used it. i just change it when i begin to have trouble getting blood

just curious, but where did you hear that from? general consensous from the medical staff is that it should be changed every time to avoide possible infection (and it is possible, like i said, i've had it).

jeep_bluetj; i know how you feel being anoyed by the video, i never consult any form of doctor before making any changes to my pump. or for any thing else for that matter. my visits are usually just so that they know what i'm doing. although there are people out there that are totally clueless about diabetes. i know a family who has a diabetic son, one night when his ketones where immensly high, his mom didn't know what to do so she didnt give him any insulin and instead gave him juce :eek: .

[badshoe]

You get one of those Accuchex MultiClix six shooters and you can go a loooooooong time.

[Pammers]

Rofl!!!!!!!

[kiwikid]

Thats the key to remembering to change it apparently. For teens and others who don't think of changing it themselves, you can tape one to the top of each box of strips.
I change ours much more often that that, but I'm a Mum caring for my daughters delicate little fingertips. Those caring for themselves can afford to be more ruthless.

As an aside - in New Zealand, we are only given 100 syringes per 3 months subsidised on prescription. For some people that means lots of reusing unless they can afford to buy more themselves. :(
Pumps and Pump supplies are not subsidised at all and there are no insurance schemes that cover them.

[Chase's mom]

:D We change my son's every morning, we also have the multi clik pen. It's great and my son says it doesn't hurt as bad as the others.:D

[monkey97]

About lancets...here in NZ we don't get them on script but they're not expensive. It says on the box to change every time but the diabetes nurse said they could be used up to six times. I'm not sure how often Phillip changes his. When I remind him, I think. As for needles, we only get 100 to last three months. We need to use them more than once or we run out. The nurses also told us it was ok to use them more than once.
Stacie

[Mariel's Mom]

I always hated changing my daughters lancets. We use the Accu Check Multiclix. This has a drum that contains 6 lancets. No needles are ever exposed and you can throw them in the trash. I love it and her school loves it. Plus, I don't accidently poke myself when changing lancets. :p

The site is http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/d_06_2af.htm

We just got one of these - the refills are quite expensive - does your insurance cover the multiclix device? How many do you order at time. I believe the over the counter price is $23 for a drum. Just curious to see the expense if one changes it for every finger stick.

[Animan]

We change once a day, that's about 6 sticks. The insurance seems to think you should do it every test so when I order we get a bazillion of them. The diabetic pharmacy always asks "...you sure you don't need any lancets?..." "No no no, thanks, got 10,000 now, I'm good". LOL.

[Connie(BC)Type 1]

I change when needed, but I do clean lancet before poking most times, not all(with alcohol swabs), even though my CDE said not to clean it. She said cleaning the lancet removes the lubricant????? I prefer clean

[butterflygal291]

i hardly ever change my lancet, just whenever it gets dull. my doctor told me once that there was no point in changing it every time. not sure she meant to keep it as long as i do, but i haven't had problems.

[Momof4gr8kids]

I try to remember to change it after each prick, but most of the time it only happens once or twice a day. How horrible is that? :o

[sherlynn01]

we mite change stacey;s once every week. if we remember.lOL

[toriajj]

ok, so we were taught to change it every single poke-isn't that necessary? i'm surprised-i thought it had more to do wtih cleanliness(risk of infection) than anything else...thanks for this. didn't know

[Rhonda]

We change Lilly's lancet daily at first we did it every 2 days now every day since endo said to

[LantusFiend]

I would never re-use one of my syringes because they get bent so easily and I've seen the pictures of what those needles look like after four injections.
I have reused pen needles twice.
I started out changing my lancets every check (and it often takes more than one poke to get enough blood) but now I change them them 4-12 times per week. I can get blood on a lower setting with used lancets.

[payam7777777]

There is a photo of a used lancet somewhere in CWD i couldnt find it. I wish somebody can find/[post it here because it SHOWS hoy BADLY the tip of the lancet will be after 5-10 uses. Hence It's VERY important not to neglect changing the lancet frequently.

[kiwikid]

With the Accu Chek MultiClix its just so easy to change it :D

[cassandra]

this is funny. yeah... i have a ton of lancet boxes filled to the brim, and yet, continue to receive more because the hospital just issues them at every visit here. but... i change maybe once a week. but only when i suspect that i am not getting blood because perhaps the lancet needs to be changed. alcohol swabs, never.

[bensgirl]

We change the lancet everytime we do a finger prick on Alexander. When finished it goes straight into the sharps container. We are all three so used to this routine, it just comes automatic. We are checking 8 to 10 times a day, and use a new lancet each time. I guess we just stuck with what we were taught at the hospital.

[cassandra]

kind of scary... but yeah. i found that picture. in the CWD survey area. yikes!

http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/gifs/products/needlereuse1s.jpg
that is some pretty nasty stuff

[LantusFiend]

Are you sure those are the lancets? That's the picture I thought was a bd syringe needle after various numbers of usages.

[cassandra]

yeah. i found it in a survey about reusing lancets, but, the picture is of a BD syringe. however, it says that the same bending occurs in the newest lancets too.

http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/poll/poll20061015.htm

[Brandon B]

I change them for Brandon once a week at least.:cool:

[KatelinsMom]

My daughter rarely changes her lancet. I think for the first couple weeks after diagnosis she changed it every day, now it may be once a week..:eek:

[Jen Jen]

I still rarely change mine. A couple times a year maybe, but I do use a couple different machines through out a week with three different lancet devices in general. I imagine with the newer finer gauge lancets, it does occur similar to the needle shown, maybe not quite as fast though.

[JeffBasquez]

We change them once a day.:D

[BRANDYB]

I Have Been Changing The Lancets Everytime We Check Haleys Bs. I Did Not Know We Could Wait A Little While!! Sometimes It Is A Pain To Try To Get A Lancet And Change It If We Are Out And About. Does It Dull The Tip?

[Mama Belle]

Man ... we aren't great about changing them, maybe once every two weeks. Although I have been far more dilligent after seeing that picture! :eek:

[deafmack]

Now what are you exactly talking about? I too have different views about changing lancets. I was wondering if you may know someone who has CP and Diabetes? I saw where you have posted alot of good info. Do you know where I could go to find out? Seems this is rare/// DRs do not know anyone as well. Thanks for your input.
Mimi

I think a good lancing device for someone with CP and diabetes may be the multiclix by Accu-Chek. It uses a barrel that holds 6 lancets so you do not have to have fine finger coordination to change the lancets. You do not have to change the barrel with the lancets till you have used all 6 lancets. I use it and really like it. You just pop it in and when it is time you just pull out the barrel and throw it away and pop a new barrel in. All of the lancets are self-contained within the barrel so there is no chance of accidentally poking yourself. also very comfortable to use.

[mom23boys]

Our endo's office said about once a week is okay, but I know sometimes a month will go by. Heck I am having a hard time remembering to change the infusion site every three days for the pump.

Terri

Mom to Christian 12, dx-d 4-06
Gunner 10 and Micah 6

[Moondancer]

My DH uses a new one every time. But he works with his hands so he needs a sharp lancet everytime. There have been times where I've had to test him myself and was in a hurry and did not change the lancet... haste makes waste... no blood came until I changed the lancet! I like the sounds of the multiple lancet cartridge/barrel. Will have to tell him about that.

[A&Ds Mommy]

In the beginning we were changing it every time, but for the past few weeks we change it once a day and we still get blood on the smallest prick hole setting on the 5th and usually final test of the day.

[Rhonda]

:) We change Lilly's lancet daily that's what the endo told us to do

[Illinifan]

When Zach was first dx, faithfully every poke.

When he started to do his finger sticks himself, hit or miss once a day.

After a year, whenever Mom or Dad would think of it.

After we switched Drs and got the disapproving stare...once a day. Almost every day. Almost...

[butterflygal291]

i don't change my lancet hardly at all. ii just change it whenever i start having trouble getting blood

[asalhany]

last time i changed my lancet was when i dx'd back in october.
i know that nikki changes hers everytime she tests and she keeps telling i should change mine but i tell when i cant draw blood i'll change it until then it's good

[millssixatl]

I have a question. Still pretty new to all of this, so maybe I'm being overly paranoid. But I change the lancet at least every other time, not just because the doctor said to change it after every use, but also? Because I noticed a very trace amount of blood gets on the tip of the lancet and I figure that even if it doesn't cause an infection, shooting that back into my daughter's finger might contaminate the fresh blood and mess with the test results. Am I being ridiculous thinking this way?

As for infection, it depends on the person. Some people are truly more susceptible to them in my experience.

[s0ccerfreak]

I couldnt tell you the last time I changed mine. I change it whenever it starts getting dull(when i can't get any blood out of my finger).

[kiwikid]

This is a post I found on the very good site www.realitycheck.org.au
I hope its okay that I posted it here. I think its great

Public service announcement – guidelines to appropriate lancet use.

It has come to my attention that certain members of this forum are not following medical advice regarding the changing of lancets. This is a serious matter, which I know for a fact as a friend of my Grandmother’s Brother’s Educator, who works at a well respected hospital, once knew someone who knew someone who lost a finger due to their inappropriate lancet changing practices. Or they might have lost it to a bandsaw while hypo, but the injury was likely at least partially caused by their dirty lancets. In order to prevent further such injuries I propose the adoption of “National Lancet Changing Day”.

Many of us are now in the habit of changing our smoke alarm batteries on April fools day, due to a successful media campaign. I suggest that all reality checkers adopt a system of changing lancets on December 1st each year – to be known forewith as National Lancet Changing Day. In addition, I would like to propose the following guidelines regarding lancet use:

1) Each time a new blood glucose monitor is purchased, a new lancet should be used. This is not compulsory if a decision is made to continue using the previous lancing device. Extremist behaviour, such as taking a used lancet out of old lancing device and fitting it to new device is to be discouraged.

2) If the owner of the lancing device finds themself performing tests on friends or family (e.g; after forcing them to consume large quantities of soft drink), the lancet should be changed for each participant

3) If there is reason to believe that the lancing device has been “borrowed” by friends, flatmates or siblings and they have tested its ability to lance through wood, plastic or metal, the lancet should be changed. Additionally it is suggested that the lawful owner of the lancing device provides culprit with an opportunity to see just how effective the device is on human flesh when set to 5.5 and used with alternate site testing cap on fingertips. – please also refer to point two after this demonstration.

4) If the lancing device is subjected to conditions of extreme filth (eg; dropped in nightclub toilet) the lancet should be changed, or the lancing device abandoned.

It is my sincere hope that by strict adherence to these rules, cases of finger loss due to crustyolfingerprickeritis subtype 1 will be minimised or even eliminated entirely.

Kind regards,
Diana.

References:

Checker, R.C. (2007). Does repeated use of lancets cause infection: Results of repeated trials on food nazis. Proceedings of the 1st National Conference on Infection Control in Sugary Populations (pp. 34-36).

Croney, O.L. (2005). “I once knew someone who..”: a narrative exploration of the issues of truth and exaggeration within verbally communicated history. Tall Tales, 12 (2), 43-45.

Dickinson, B. (2000). Encouraging sales of medical supplies by scare tactics: why sales of lancets are dropping- the influence of online forums. Journal of Effective Marketing to Niche Markets, 22 (3), 127-130.

Youngun, U, (2006). Reducing landfill and other common excuses for excessive duration of lancet use: Type 1 and associated compliance issues. Journal of Extreme Knowledge in Diabetes Care, 4, 167-180


Thanks to Diana who penned it :cwds:

[Lee]

Too Funny!!!!! This entire post had me laughing, I 'll have to tell a friend who has a cat who is diabetic that has a friend of an owner who test blood sugar of a parakeet....

Oh, I gotta change that lancet tonight!

[clb1968]

Time changes this weekend , I will change mine then. Last time was in the spring.

But if I drop lancet or lancing device in a nightclub toilet, I will just throw the whole thing away.:eek:

[KatelinsMom]

Public service announcement – guidelines to appropriate lancet use.

[I]It has come to my attention that certain members of this forum are not following medical advice regarding the changing of lancets. This is a serious matter, which I know for a fact as a friend of my Grandmother’s Brother’s Educator, who works at a well respected hospital, once knew someone who knew someone who lost a finger due to their inappropriate lancet changing practices. Or they might have lost it to a bandsaw while hypo, but the injury was likely at least partially caused by their dirty lancets. In order to prevent further such injuries I propose the adoption of “National Lancet Changing Day”.

ROFLMAO!!! :D

[Seans Mom]

oh that is soooooo funny, thank you so much for the laughs, i needed it!!
:D:D

[Brandon B]

1-2 times a week at least.

[Kaitlyn's Crew]

We change lancets every evening.

[KeltonsMom]

I change my lancet every other day, sooner if I have to stick myself more than once to get a good sample...Now I do not go to Night clubs so I do not have to worry about dropping the lancing devise in the toilet :D I just have to make sure to change the lancet if I ever get the urge to test the dog's glucose, that is after I get back from requiring stitches from the bite I will no doubt get from even attempting this task:D

[Nancy in VA]

I am actually finding right now that Emma's fingers are so rough because of all the extra testing with pump start and then getting sick that I need to change more frequently b/c I'm having trouble drawing blood without a huge depth. I think I need to actually wrap a couple in bandaids to give them a couple days off because they are so chewed up - and we've only been at this 7 months. :(

[dnkool]

So I guess waiting until it does not work anymore is not the indication that it needs changing? LOL, just kidding. Every week was what I was told to do. I think it is a waste though, I like the time change rule!! ;)

[KeltonsMom]

So I guess waiting until it does not work anymore is not the indication that it needs changing? LOL, just kidding. Every week was what I was told to do. I think it is a waste though, I like the time change rule!! ;)

LOL!!! I did this today, poked and poked and still no blood..Changed the lancet and bingo, blood, lots of it..I had to lower the setting :D

[AaronsMom]

Aaron uses a Multiclix and he changes every time. Our insurance won't cover them but I still want him to us a fresh one. I guess I'm a germ-a-phobe. :o

[Jodicol]

I have been told every time you test Blood Sugar Number, to change the lancet. The needle gets dull after one use, I have been told. There are pictures of the lancets after one use, and the needle looks very bad. Dr's say it can also hurt the kids more. I do change the lancet, after every prick.

Daughter dxd at 5 now 7 (1 1/2 yrs dxd)

[RosemaryCinNJ]

We use the Accu Check and I use a new lancet needle every day just by turning the handle..I test Amanda up to 6 times a day so we need a new one everyday.. I change the lancet drum probably once a week...Im pretty good about this because this is what I was "trained" to do..so it just became part of the "routine" (sigh)

[Heather(CA)]

Seth tests his arms and his fingers, I change it every time before I test his finger...I don't think he ever changes it on his own, or at his dad's:rolleyes:

[fredntan2]

I was cleaning out our cabinets yesterday, seems we are on the same box of lancets from when she was first dx. and they were 25 gauge!!
Yikes!!
I'd like to change them every week. Not sure if sara even knows how to change/or has-even with time change. Got a box of 33 gauge bd's-these should last us until they find a cure:D